FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 3, 2010

Confirmed dates and locations across the province give British Columbians opportunities to inform recommendations on the future of legal aid

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA – The Public Commission on Legal Aid (Public Commission) announced today the locations and dates of its upcoming hearings. The Public Commission will visit 11 communities throughout British Columbia in September and October of this year to gather input from the public and stakeholder groups regarding their views on the future of legal aid. The list of locations and dates include:

• September 20 – Williams Lake
• October 4 – Nanaimo
• September 21 – Prince George
• October 5 – Victoria
• September 23 – Terrace
• October 7 – Vancouver
• September 27 – Kamloops
• October 8 – Surrey
• September 28 – Kelowna
• October 12 – Chilliwack
• September 30 – Cranbrook

The Commissioner, Leonard Doust, Q.C., notes the importance of the Hearings to the overall success of the Public Commission. “One of the principal goals of the Public Commission is to engage the people of British Columbia regarding the future of legal aid in the province," says Doust. “Our visits to B.C. communities will provide important opportunities for the Public Commission to hear directly from individuals, community groups and justice system stakeholders. Shared stories, experiences and ideas for the future will provide the Public Commission with the B.C.-wide perspective required to ensure our understanding is well-informed, current and relevant,” says Doust. “This input will be key to the development of a range of solutions-focused recommendations that I trust will contribute positively to the future shape of legal aid.”

The Public Commission also announced today that it is accepting both written submissions and expressions of interest to make in-person presentations. Submissions can be made by organizations or individuals who have had dealings with, thoughts on, or innovative ideas about the provision of legal aid in British Columbia. In-person presentations of selected submissions will be made directly to Commissioner Doust in each of the 11 communities the Commission visits. Hearings are open to the general public, though scheduling considerations mean that a limited number of submissions will be selected for presentation.

A submission guide and further details regarding the times and exact locations of the Public Commission Hearings can be found on the Public Commission website at www.publiccommission.org.

About the Public Commission on Legal Aid
The Public Commission on Legal Aid has been established and is supported by six funding partners including The Canadian Bar Association British Columbia Branch, The Law Society of British Columbia, The Law Foundation of British Columbia, the British Columbia Crown Counsel Association, the Vancouver Bar Association and the Victoria Bar Association. Led by Commissioner Leonard Doust Q.C., the purpose of the Public Commission is to engage British Columbians and determine their priorities in regard to legal aid. From September through October 2010, the Public Commission will convene meetings across British Columbia and invite submissions from interested parties, including residents, community organization representatives, and justice system stakeholders.

The Public Commission will, at its conclusion, make recommendations to improve legal aid in B.C., based on a series of questions and the answers provided throughout the provincial hearing process. Further information can be found on the Public Commission website at www.publiccommission.org.

For more information contact:

Michael Litchfield
Commission Coordinator
coordinator@publiccommission.org
Tel: 250.862.5715

-30-