Legal Aid lawyers to attend first-appearance hearings in plan to streamline courts

The Alberta government is making Legal Aid lawyers available at first appearance bail hearings.

It says the measure will reduce court backlogs and help Albertans understand their rights.

The duty counsel will provide advice and may also attend bail hearings and speak on behalf of the accused.

The NDP government says by reducing the number of court appearances, it will free up time and resources in the courts and remand centres.

Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley says a review of Alberta’s bail system in 2016 found it’s crucial decision-makers have the most important information in front of them.

“Making Legal Aid duty counsel available at first appearance bail hearings is a key part of that,” she said in a release Wednesday. “This initiative will help balance public safety with the need to protect the rights of individuals.”

Earlier this week, the president of the Criminal Defence Lawyers Association excoriated the government for its funding of Legal Aid.

In an open letter to Ganley, Ian Savage wrote that the program needs $150 million a year to operate properly, but only got $89 million in the most recent budget. He urged the province to bump up Legal Aid funding by 65 per cent over four years, starting with a 40 per cent increase this year.

He said defence lawyers would be withholding unpaid services to exert pressure on the government and highlight the true cost of the justice system.

The New Democrats have increased funding for Legal Aid by nearly 40 per cent since they took office in 2015. The province is in the midst of negotiating a new funding and governance agreement with Legal Aid Alberta and the Law Society of Alberta.