New legislation for Legal Aid Ontario

Published: December 9, 2019

Legal Aid Ontario welcomes the provincial government’s announcement of a new Legal Aid Services Act, a bill that, if passed, would establish a new framework in which we deliver legal aid services.

The proposed changes to the act would ensure continuity and Legal Aid Ontario’s status as an independent corporation accountable to the government and people of Ontario.

The updated legislation—last revised in 1998—would give LAO greater scope to develop and adapt services and policies to more responsively serve clients, and work with service providers. It offers opportunities for innovation, and allows us to address gaps in the justice system.

We will continue to consult with clients, service providers, staff and stakeholders, as we prepare for the possibility that the bill becomes law.