“We still have had no meaningful communication with (Justice Minister Tyler Shandro), no meaningful commitments made.' YYC
Defence lawyers in Alberta say they will stop taking new legal aid files on Sept. 26 as an ongoing dispute with the provincial government about funding continues to escalate.
On Sept. 2, defence lawyers stopped taking new legal aid files for serious crimes like homicide and sexual assault while also staging walkouts at courthouses in Edmonton and Calgary. “We received a letter last week that essentially said the same thing, that the letters we’ve received to date have said the same political doublespeak from Minister Shandro.”Alberta defence lawyers walk out of Edmonton, Calgary courts as part of latest job actionPreviously, Shandro said a review of the lawyers’ arguments for increased funding is underway, and any increases would come as part of the fall budget process.