The Globe and Mail published this story today on Legal Aid Ontario‘s  $56M shortfall.

According to the story, as the economy slumps, LAO has been losing revenue from the Law Foundation, which grants three-quarters of its income to LAO. The income mainly consists of interest accrued in Ontario lawyers’ trust accounts. (See my blog on the Law Foundation, “Trust Money & Interest” on January 21, 2009.)

This year, the LAO is facing a $56 million shortfall. The CEO and president of LAO said that it will likely be years before LAO’s revenue from the Law Foundation recovers.

Unless LAO receives adequate funding from the province immediately, the agency will likely start making cuts. The staff lawyers at Legal Aid clinics across the province are understandably angry, as they may be forced to spend less face-to-face time with their clients, who in turn would have to seek legal advice from the internet or over the phone.

This will likely create more confusion than assistance to low-income Ontario residents, who are often ill-equipped to participate in legal proceedings on their own.

Let’s hope the certificate program (which I participate in extensively) won’t be affected as much as the staff lawyers. After all, my mechanic is already charging me an hourly rate that’s well above my LAO tariff rate.

PSWLaw gladly accepts legal aid certificates.