Dalhousie Legal Aid Service Funding

Public funding for Dalhousie Legal Aid Service will continue. The Nova Scotia Legal Aid Commission made the decision after considering a new business plan put forward by the service.

Funding has been approved for the next two years, but there are conditions. The commission approved $208,000 for this fiscal year and up to the same amount for fiscal 2001/02.

"The Dalhousie service has to show that it is operating on the same system as the commission," said commission chair Glen McDougall. "We expect it will take clients that are referred by us and provide services according to the priorities of the commission."

Funding for the fiscal year 2001/02 will be made in installments. The commission will grant Dalhousie Legal Aid Service $69,000 in four equal installments and another $139,000 if the service meets the conditions set by the commission.

"The two year transition gives Dalhousie Legal Aid time to make the changes needed," said Mr. McDougall. "It has to provide legal services to individuals consistent with the service priorities of the commission."

The commission has also instructed the service to develop an effective time keeping system so the time of staff lawyers can be assigned to a particular case or individual file.