TORONTO, April 13 /CNW/ - The McGuinty government is proposing to improve access to justice for vulnerable people by increasing funding for Legal Aid Ontario by $51 million, as announced in the recent provincial budget, Attorney General Michael Bryant announced today.   

"We are strengthening Legal Aid Ontario now and for the future," said Bryant. "We are working to ensure that Legal Aid Ontario remains the strongest and most dynamic legal aid system in the country."    The new funding would enhance access to legal services, helping the most vulnerable Ontarians, including victims of domestic violence. These people might otherwise have to go through complex proceedings involving child support, custody and access cases without a lawyer. As well as supporting access to justice, this funding would address the impact of guns and gang cases and increase the legal aid tariff rate for lawyers.  

  "This is a great day for access to justice in Ontario; in particular thisnew investment demonstrates the Attorney General's powerful leadership andcommitment to access to justice. He is to be commended," said Janet Leiper,Chair of the Legal Aid Ontario Board of Directors. "We are particularly pleased that the Attorney General has spoken directly to the needs of vulnerable families across Ontario and the legal practitioners who make these services available."    Legal Aid Ontario is an arm's length agency of government. The Province is Legal Aid Ontario's largest funder. The new funding would be awarded over three years, including $15 million in 2007-08.

The McGuinty government has increased funding to Legal Aid Ontario every year since it took office,something no other government has done in 13 years.    "We are very, very pleased with this budget initiative," said James Morton, President of the Ontario Bar Association. "This will be enough to allow more people to get legal aid assistance and speed up the system."    "With this additional funding for Legal Aid Ontario, the government hasassured that more low-income Ontarians will have proper representation in our legal system," said Louise Botham, President of the Criminal Lawyers'Association.    "This announcement is most significant in that it marks the beginning ofa new chapter in increasing access to justice for Ontario's most vulnerable,"said Paul Kowalyshyn, Chair of the County and District Law Presidents'Association. "The Ontario government is ensuring that those persons in Ontario who require legal aid services the most will now have a much-improved opportunity to receive them."