The publicly-funded society which provides independent legal aid for disadvantaged Albertans says its contract with the government has expired, and that the province has decided not to renew it.Legal Aid Alberta, a publicly funded, non-profit organization that provides affordable legal services to disadvantaged Albertans says without an agreement with the province its operations will be forced to cease.
In a statement, the Office of the Minister of Justice did not directly address LAA's claims that it had halted negotiations or terminated the agreement. Instead, it said it would continue to work with LAA to ensure it is properly resourced going forward. Ryan Callioux, LAA board chair, said in a release that he was only made aware of the new grant agreement in a letter from Malcolm Lavoie, deputy minister of justice, sent on June 27.
Callioux says the new grant agreement proposed by the province is a departure from the previous governance agreement in that it would curtail LAA's independence, sever any involvement with the Law Society of Alberta, and give the government greater discretion over how the society uses its funds.