8.54°C Vancouver

Sep 1, 2022 5:59 PM - THE CANADIAN PRESS

Alberta criminal defence lawyers escalate job action in legal aid battle

Share On

Criminal defence lawyers have escalated job action in an ongoing dispute with the provincial government over the amount of compensation paid by Legal Aid Alberta.

Organizations representing lawyers in Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer and southern Alberta began job action three weeks ago by refusing to accept certain bail and duty counsel files.

Today, they are to start refusing new cases for the most serious criminal charges, including sexual offences and homicides.

Lawyers in Calgary and Edmonton are also planning a 90-minute walkout for Friday.

Alberta Justice Minister Tyler Shandro says the government is monitoring the situation to make sure nobody is denied access to justice.

He also says nothing is going to be done until a review of the Legal Aid Alberta administrative system is complete.

Latest news

AlbertaFeb 23, 2026

Calgary volunteer soldier recovering from Ukraine injuries hopes to return to front lines as war marks four years

As Ukraine marks four years since Russia launched its full scale invasion, a Calgary man recovering from serious injuries says he intends to rejoin his unit once he is medically cleared. Mac Hughes has been serving with the Ukrainian armed forces since the early months of the conflict in 2022. He was badly burned last year when an exploding drone pinned him between a vehicle and a wall, leaving him with significant injuries that required ongoing treatment. Now recovering, Hughes says the anniversary of the invasion is unlikely to carry special meaning for troops still stationed along the front
WorldFeb 23, 2026

Mexico Violence Erupts After Reported Death of CJNG Leader ‘El Mencho’

Widespread violence has been reported across parts of Mexico following the reported death of a senior drug cartel leader during a military operation, according to statements from the country’s defence authorities. Officials said the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, widely known as El Mencho, was detained by Mexican armed forces on Sunday in the town of Tapalpa. During the operation, an exchange of gunfire broke out between his security detail and military commandos. Authorities said the suspect was seriously injured and later died while being transported to Mexico City. Mexico’
punjab-police-demolish-part-of-sukhpal-khairas-residence-in-bhulath-mla-calls-action-politically-motivated
IndiaFeb 23, 2026

Punjab Police demolish part of Sukhpal Khaira’s residence in Bhulath, MLA calls action politically motivated

A portion of the residence of Punjab Congress MLA Sukhpal Khaira was demolished on Monday in the Ramgarh area of Bhulath, as a team from Punjab Police and local administration carried out what officials described as an action against alleged unauthorized construction. Supporters of Khaira gathered in large numbers at the site during the operation. The legislator sat in front of a JCB machine in protest and began a sit-in against the Punjab government and police, accusing authorities of targeting him. Administrative officials said the demolition was limited to structures deemed illegal under ap
registration-numbers-rise-as-canada-monitors-situation-affecting-canadians-in-mexico
CanadaFeb 23, 2026

Registration numbers rise as Canada monitors situation affecting Canadians in Mexico

Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says the number of Canadians registering with federal officials while in Mexico has increased sharply, as Ottawa works to assess the situation and provide assistance. Anand said 26,305 Canadians have now registered with Global Affairs Canada. As of the previous day, that number was approximately 8,000. She cautioned that the actual number of Canadians currently in Mexico could be significantly higher, as not everyone has completed registration with the federal government. According to the minister, Canada’s Emergency Watch and Response Centre r
AlbertaFeb 23, 2026

Edmonton flights to Puerto Vallarta cancelled after violence in Mexico’s Jalisco state

Flights between Edmonton and the Mexican resort city of Puerto Vallarta have been cancelled following reports of widespread violence in the state of Jalisco over the weekend. Edmonton International Airport confirmed that one outbound flight to Puerto Vallarta and three return flights to Alberta were cancelled after unrest broke out in several parts of Jalisco on Sunday. The disruptions have left a number of Edmonton-area travellers stranded in Mexico and families in Alberta seeking updates. The Government of Canada has issued a travel advisory for the state of Jalisco, urging Canadians to exer

Related News