Vancouver, July 19, 2017 – The Law Society of British Columbia welcomes the opportunity to work with Premier John Horgan, Attorney General David Eby, QC and the new cabinet on access to justice issues in BC.
“We look forward to working with the new government to maintain and improve upon the benefits the justice system affords British Columbians and to ensure that access to justice in British Columbia is fair, timely and affordable,” said Law Society President Herman Van Ommen, QC. “We are optimistic that Premier Horgan, Attorney General David Eby and the newly appointed cabinet will acknowledge and act on the long overdue restoration of adequate funding for legal aid, as well as other measures to assist the legal profession to improve access to legal services.”
As the Law Society noted in its recent report, A Vision for Publicly Funded Legal Aid in British Columbia, the rule of law is a fundamental precept of a democratic society, and legal aid ensures that all members of society enjoy the benefits of, and are subject to, the rule of law. Appropriate legal aid funding is a significant measure, among others, that will reduce the number of people representing themselves and provide greater access to justice for families and First Nations in the province.
The Law Society of British Columbia upholds and protects the public interest in the administration of justice by ensuring the independence, integrity and competence of lawyers, establishing education and professional development standards for lawyers, regulating the practice of law and preserving and protecting the rights and freedoms of all persons.
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