Legal Aid Program

A strong legal aid system is one of the pillars supporting Canada 's system of justice. Legal aid ensures that economically disadvantaged people living in Canada have equitable access to justice system.

The responsibility for the provision of legal aid is divided between the federal government under its authority in matters of criminal law, and the provincial governments under their authority for the administration of justice and for property and civil rights. While civil legal aid is a matter of provincial and territorial responsibility, the federal government contributes to such programs through the Canada Social Transfer. Through agreements with the provinces and territories, the federal government provides contribution funding in support of legal aid in Criminal Law, Youth Criminal Justice Act and Immigration and Refugee matters. Provincial and territorial governments are responsible for the management and administration of their legal aid programs.

IF YOU NEED LEGAL AID SERVICES, PLEASE REFER TO THE BLUE PAGES OF YOUR LOCAL TELEPHONE DIRECTORY OR CONSULT THE PROVINCIAL AND TERRITORIAL LEGAL AID SERVICES' WEB PAGES LISTED BELOW.

Criminal Legal Aid

Under the current Legal Aid Renewal Strategy (2003-06), the federal government has increased its funding to the provinces and territories. This additional funding enables provinces and territories to continue to respond to the most pressing legal aid service delivery challenges, as well as to address identified gaps in the delivery of criminal legal aid services - particularly at the early stages of the criminal justice system.

Civil Legal Aid

Civil legal aid (such as family law and poverty law issues) is a provincial and territorial responsibility.

Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Permanent Working Group on Legal Aid (PWG)

The FPT PWG provides a forum for discussion about legal aid related issues. The resultant collaboration promotes the development and implementation of legal aid policy in Canada . The PWG comprises FPT representatives and members from each provincial and territorial Legal Aid Plan responsible for the delivery of legal aid services. The PWG is accountable to the FPT Deputy Ministers Responsible for Justice for its activities.

Provincial and Territorial Legal Aid services

• British Columbia http://www.lss.bc.ca
• Alberta http://www.legalaid.ab.ca/
• Saskatchewan http://www.legalaid.sk.ca/
• Manitoba http://www.legalaid.mb.ca/
• Ontario http://www.legalaid.on.ca/
• Quebec http://www.csj.qc.ca/francais/commission/index.asp
• New Brunswick http://www.sjfn.nb.ca/community_hall/L/lega6030.html
• Prince Edward Island http://www.gov.pe.ca/infopei/onelisting.php3?number=46064
• Nova Scotia http://www.gov.ns.ca/just/legad.htm
• Newfoundland and Labrador http://www.justice.gov.nl.ca/just/Other/otherx/legalaid.htm
• Nunavut http://www.nulas.ca/
• North West Territories http://www.justice.gov.nt.ca/legalaid/LegalAid.htm
• Yukon http://www.legalaid.yk.net/

Publications and Resources

For further information on legal aid and access to justice issues, please consult the Department of Justice's Research and Statistics Branch web page at http://canada.justice.gc.ca/en/ps/rs/who.html

Contact Information

Programs Branch
Department of Justice Canada
284 Wellington Street
Ottawa , Ontario
CANADA
K1A 0H8

Telephone: (613) 952-5759
Fax:(613) 954-2423
E-mail: prgmbranch@justice.gc.ca