With the St. Paul office ranking third on the caseload list outside of Edmonton and Calgary, a new legal aid deal takes effect in Alberta on Friday, Sep. 6.
The St. Paul legal aid office issued 3,221 certificates last year and covers areas from Athabasca, the Lakelands, Lloydminster, Vermilion, Vegreville, and Wainwright.
Legal Aid Alberta has been negotiating with the government since July and the new arrangement will see $110 million going to pay the cost of Albertans needing legal aid in 2024-25. Albertans earning under $30,000 a year may be eligible for the assistance.
“Access to justice is a fundamental right for all Albertans. Key to this is an independent legal aid system and this agreement specifically codifies these values. We continue to respect that the Government of Alberta has a critical role to ensure fiscal responsibility. Strengthening legal aid will include ongoing conversations that involve the parties to this agreement and our funders, stakeholders, and partners, with a commitment to supporting the legal needs of Albertans,” says Ryan Callioux, KC, board chair, Legal Aid Alberta.
The new agreement continues until Sept. 5, 2029.
The Alberta government, the Law Foundation, and the federal government fund legal aid.
