About Legal Aid Ontario
Fact Sheets
How is Legal Aid Ontario funded?
Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) receives the majority of its funding from the Government of Ontario.
Included in this contribution is an allocation of funds by the federal government in connection with criminal law, the Youth Criminal Justice Act, refugee and immigration cases, and other expenditures covered under a cost-sharing arrangement with the province.
LAO also receives revenue from the Law Foundation of Ontario (LFO). The LFO administers the interest earned on lawyers' trust fund balances and Legal Aid Ontario receives 75 per cent of this income.
These revenues are highly dependant on two factors: the Bank of Canada overnight interest rate, and real estate activity levels.
Revenue (In millions) |
2003/4 |
2004/5 |
2005/6 |
2006/7 |
2007/8 |
2008/9 |
2009/10 |
Province of Ontario*‡ |
$256.05 |
$254.77 |
$261.53 |
$269.11 |
$283.89 |
$285.81 |
$315.44 |
The Law Foundation of Ontario |
$24.21 |
$18.63 |
$30.72 |
$51.53 |
$56.42 |
$26.20 |
$4.84 |
Client Contributions |
$13.09 |
$15.21 |
$15.67 |
$17.28 |
$18.95 |
$21.50 |
$21.88 |
Judgments, costs & settlements |
$1.70 |
$1.51 |
$0.28 |
$0.41 |
$0.28 |
$0.30 |
$0.26 |
Investment & other incomes |
$4.58 |
$2.98 |
$2.12 |
$1.35 |
$3.11 |
$3.28 |
$1.67 |
Total |
$299.63 |
$293.10 |
$309.32 |
$339.68 |
$362.65 |
$337.09 |
$344.09 |
‡This figure also includes additional funding from the Province of Ontario earmarked for supporting new justice practices and services for vulnerable clients.
*Federal government contributions:
2003/04 |
2004/05 |
2005/06 |
2006/07 |
2007/08 |
2008/09 |
2009/10 |
|
(in millions) | $50.6 |
$50.6 |
$50.7 |
$50.7 |
$50.4 |
$50.1 |
$53.3 |
Questions?
For more information on this topic contact media@lao.on.ca
