CUPE members working in Saskatchewan’s 13 Legal Aid offices deal with emergency family and criminal matters for the poorest and most vulnerable people in Saskatchewan. This work is important.
The organization has experienced a growing silent crisis as positions have been cut and resources scaled back across the province. Legal Aid Saskatchewan’s eligibility requirements are among the hardest to meet in the country and well below the poverty line.
The Legal Aid Commission is now making further changes that threaten the future of this vital public service by:
- Laying off 6 full-time staff in Saskatoon
- Eliminating 3 lawyer positions in Saskatoon
- Replacing in-person client contact with an impersonal call centre in Regina
All changes create further barriers to accessing Legal Aid assistance. All were made without meaningful consultation.
Legal Aid should be expanded, not cut.