THE ALBERTA LAW FOUNDATION LAUNCHES “DEFEND ACCESS TO JUSTICE” CAMPAIGN

Calgary, Alberta – In response to proposed changes by the Government of Alberta to how Legal Aid Alberta is funded, the Alberta Law Foundation is launching a public awareness campaign in an effort to protect non-profit funding and access to justice in the province.

The Alberta Law Foundation's revenue is generated from interest earned on lawyers’ pooled trust accounts. The Foundation manages these funds to provide grants to a variety of non-profit organizations that support everyday Albertans and vulnerable populations accessing, or involved with, the legal system.

Currently, the Foundation has a statutory requirement to contribute 25% of its annual revenues to help fund Legal Aid Alberta. The remainder of the Foundation's annual revenues are given as grants to fund non-profits, as referred to above, and other access to justice initiatives across the province.

The provincial government is now proposing to double the Foundation's statutory contribution rate to 50% without a commensurate increase to the budget of Legal Aid Alberta. As a result, the Government of Alberta will reduce its financial obligation to Legal Aid at the expense of the more than 65 non-profits that rely on grants from the Alberta Law Foundation, often as their sole funder.

“The Alberta Law Foundation plays an essential role in stabilizing the access to justice ecosystem in Alberta. By funding programs and initiatives not covered by Legal Aid, the Foundation ensures continuity and sustainability in services that are critical for those who would not otherwise have access to justice.”

- Byron Chan, Executive Director, Alberta Law Foundation

“Legal aid is important. The Government should continue to fund it without taking money from non-profits."

- Paul Chiswell, Board Chair, Alberta Law Foundation

As a result of this proposal, the Alberta Law Foundation is launching the “Defend Access to Justice” campaign. The Foundation will work with grantees, stakeholders, and the general public to raise awareness of the provincial government’s proposal in an effort to highlight the unintended consequences that arise from doubling the Foundation’s statutory contribution rate, including an ultimate one-third cut in funding to other non-profit organizations.

“Alberta Law Foundation has been CLG’s largest funder for over fifty years and their ongoing support is critical to sustaining Calgary Legal Guidance's invaluable services that address gaps within the justice sector. Increasing Alberta Law Foundation’s statutory contributions to Legal Aid Alberta will mean an overall reduction in resources to the justice sector including community-based programs.”

- Lisa Stebbins, Executive Director, Calgary Legal Guidance

“Rural communities across this province experience more barriers to accessing justice than do their urban counterparts. This proposed change will fundamentally impair the ability of Albertans, particularly those who live outside the major urban centres. Many vulnerable Albertans will be left with no where to turn.”

- Kathy Parsons, Executive Director, Community Legal Clinic – Central Alberta

“The Alberta Law Foundation has stepped up and supports The Indigenous Justice Centre of Alberta (IJC) in its development. This is an indicator of the significance that the Alberta Law Foundation places upon the implementation and substance of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Calls to Action. Particularly Article 30 and 31.The Alberta Law Foundation has provided opportunities for Indigenous lawyers and legal practitioners to provide competent and culturally appropriate service by supporting the Indigenous Justice Centre of Alberta.”

-Noreen Demeria, Indigenous Justice Centre

Quick Facts

  • Concerned Albertans can visit DefendAccesstoJustice.ca to send a letter to the Government of Alberta opposing this proposal and participate in the campaign in other ways.
  • Alberta Law Foundation revenues are highly volatile as they are subject to Canada’s prime interest rate, which has declined by 1.75% in the past six months. As a result, increasing the contribution rate creates additional funding uncertainty for both Legal Aid Alberta as well as the Foundation’s stakeholders, particularly during periods of low interest rates.
  • Despite the proposed increase to the Alberta Law Foundation’s statutory contribution rate, the Government of Alberta has advised that it will commensurately decrease its financial contributions to Legal Aid Alberta, resulting in an overall net reduction of resources to the justice sector.
  • Last year, the Alberta Law Foundation granted more than $20 million to various non-profits organizations across the province. In 2024-25, this number has increased to $45 million, and is projected to reach between $65-70 million by the end of the fiscal year.
  • Alberta is only one of four jurisdictions in Canada with a statutory requirement for its law foundation to fund its respective legal aid plan. All other provinces and territories fund legal aid entirely through government revenues, without reliance on law foundation contributions for core operational funding.
  • For a list of non-profit organizations that rely on funding from the Foundation, please visit https://albertalawfoundation.org/our-work/grants-awarded/