NDP seeks clarity on original plan for offices
The Saskatchewan NDP is calling on the provincial government to be more transparent about what has been described in a legal document as an abandoned plan to shut down two Legal Aid Saskatchewan offices in Saskatoon.
Legal Aid, a government agency responsible for representing vulnerable people in court, is in the midst of a controversial restructuring that includes six layoffs, three vacant positions not being filled and files being handed to private lawyers.
Speaking to reporters outside Saskatoon provincial court on Tuesday, NDP justice critic Nicole Sarauer said the government needs to come clean about what was “originally planned” for the agency’s Saskatoon offices.
“(We need to know) what is actually going on with the Saskatoon Legal Aid offices, what was in the plans for the future of the Saskatoon Legal Aid offices, and whether or not there was any talk about actually closing this office,” she continued.
The alleged and apparently jettisoned plan to shut down the agency’s criminal and family law offices in Saskatoon is outlined in a union official’s sworn affidavit filed with the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board last week.
Dale Hunter, a communications officer in Premier Scott Moe’s office, forwarded a statement from the Ministry of Justice, citing the proceedings before the Labour Relations Board and saying it would be “inappropriate” to comment further.
In a separate statement, Legal Aid spokeswoman Kyla Shea said only that the agency currently “has no plan to close down either of the Saskatoon offices” and is “in the process of amalgamating (them as part of the restructuring) to better meet and serve the needs of our clients.”
Citing the Labour Relations Board proceedings, Shea said she could not comment further.
In the affidavit, which supports an unfair labour practices complaint and request for relief, Canadian Union of Public Employees official Ann Iwanchuk said Legal Aid called an emergency meeting on March 14, and then abruptly cancelled it.
“In June 2018 (Justice) Minister Don Morgan informed the union that the purpose of the emergency meeting in March was to shut down the family and criminal Legal Aid offices in Saskatoon,” Iwanchuk alleged in the document.
“Minister Morgan advised that the rationale for closing the two offices was related to ‘personnel issues’ in the offices.
“He further advised he intervened and prevented the closure from happening.”
Iwanchuk is the national representative for CUPE Local 1949, the union representing Legal Aid Saskatchewan lawyers and administrative staff, which is deeply opposed to the ongoing restructuring.
Her affidavit has not been tested before the tribunal.
The Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board is scheduled to hear the union’s complaint and request for interim relief on Thursday morning in Regina.
Sarauer said concern about Legal Aid is widespread in legal circles as well as among the general public, but information is limited because the agency refused to release records in response to a freedom of information request.