11.01°C Vancouver

Sep 23, 2022 6:03 PM - THE CANADIAN PRESS

Alberta defence lawyers to stop taking new legal aid files

Share On

Alberta criminal defence lawyers are taking another step in their dispute with the provincial government over the amount of compensation paid by Legal Aid Alberta.

Four organizations representing lawyers in Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer and southern Alberta began job action August 8th by refusing to accept certain bail and duty counsel files from legal aid.

Beginning Monday, the lawyers will refuse to take any new legal aid certificates.

Kelsey Sitar, vice-president of the Criminal Defence Lawyers Association in Calgary says she realizes the move is drastic but it's important to get the Alberta government's attention.

Alberta Justice Minister Tyler Shandro has indicated a review of legal aid is underway, but no changes will happen until the next budget year.

Sitar says the lawyers can't wait any longer and the problem needs to be addressed now.

Latest news

AlbertaApr 27, 2026

Edmonton police seek public help to locate missing 19-year-old

Edmonton police are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing 19-year-old man, identified as Prayag Dalbhatwala. According to an Edmonton Police Service news release, Dalbhatwala was last seen on April 23 at حوالي 4 p.m. at a residence near 99 Street and 90 Avenue. Police and his family have expressed concern for his well-being. Investigators say Dalbhatwala had planned to travel to Calgary but cancelled those plans at the last minute. His whereabouts since then remain unknown. Police describe him as approximately five feet nine inches tall, with black hair, and he wears
more-than-10-kg-of-suspected-drugs-seized-in-kelowna-trafficking-investigation-two-men-arrested
BCApr 27, 2026

More than 10 kg of suspected drugs seized in Kelowna trafficking investigation; two men arrested

Police in Kelowna say more than 10 kilograms of suspected illicit drugs have been seized following a co-ordinated investigation into drug trafficking and illegal firearms. According to an RCMP news release, officers executed search warrants at three homes on April 15 as part of an ongoing probe in the city. The searches resulted in the seizure of approximately seven kilograms of suspected cocaine, more than two kilograms of suspected fentanyl and about one kilogram of psilocybin mushrooms. Investigators also seized a loaded firearm and about $40,000 in cash, which police allege are connected t
three-liberal-mps-take-seats-in-house-after-byelections-boosting-government-majority
CanadaApr 27, 2026

Three Liberal MPs take seats in House after byelections, boosting government majority

Three newly elected Liberal members of Parliament formally took their seats in the House of Commons on Monday following recent byelections that strengthened the governing party’s position. Doly Begum, Danielle Martin and Tatiana Auguste were sworn in as MPs on Saturday, according to official parliamentary records. Their arrivals bring the Liberals to 174 seats in the House, reflecting gains from both the byelections and a series of defections over recent months. Begum and Martin won Toronto-area ridings previously held by former cabinet ministers Bill Blair and Chrystia Freeland. Auguste sec
WorldApr 27, 2026

Plane crash near South Sudan capital kills 14, officials cite poor visibility

A Cessna aircraft crashed Monday on the outskirts of South Sudan’s capital, Juba, killing all 14 people on board, according to the country’s civil aviation authority. Officials said the aircraft was carrying 13 passengers and a pilot. All were pronounced dead at the scene. Preliminary findings indicate the crash may have been caused by adverse weather conditions that reduced visibility, the authority said in an initial statement. No final determination has been made and an investigation is ongoing. Authorities said two of the passengers were Kenyan nationals, while the remaining victims we
IndiaApr 27, 2026

ED conducts raids at 11 locations linked to former Punjab DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar in money laundering case

The Enforcement Directorate conducted searches at 11 locations across Punjab and Chandigarh on Monday as part of an ongoing money laundering investigation involving former Punjab Police deputy inspector general Harcharan Singh Bhullar. According to an Enforcement Directorate statement, the कार्रवाई was carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and included premises linked to Bhullar, his associates, and individuals suspected of holding properties on his behalf. Officials said documents and digital evidence were seized during the searches. Investigators suspect th

Related News