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By Canadian Press

Alberta’s legal aid lawyers vote to end job action

Dec 22, 2022 | 2:48 PM

CALGARY – Alberta’s defence lawyers have voted to put months of job action on pause after the province announced an interim increase to legal aid funding.

Alberta Justice Minister Tyler Shandro announced Wednesday the government will hike the amount of money it pays legal aid lawyers from $100 to $125 per hour.

Organizations representing lawyers in Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer and southern Alberta launched job actions in August and have largely refused to accept new legal aid cases since late September.

The lawyers were demanding an increase in pay for legal aid cases and for broader eligibility criteria so that more Albertans qualify for help.

The four groups representing the defence lawyers voted last night to pause the job action.

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Kim Arial, from the Criminal Defence Lawyers Association in Calgary, says Shandro has demonstrated his commitment to a properly-funded legal aid system in Alberta.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 22, 2022.

The Canadian Press