Justice Education Society of British Columbia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 27, 2009
Contact: Rick Craig   
604-612-7585; Rick.Craig(@)JusticeEducation.ca    

Justice Education Society’s Funding Slashed by BC Government
20th anniversary sees staff and programs cut
 
Vancouver, B.C. – As a result of government cutbacks, the Justice Education Society is announcing major direct service cuts to its legal education programs throughout B.C.

Established as the Law Courts Education Society of B.C., the newly-named Justice Education Society (www.JusticeEducation.ca) is a pioneer of public legal education in Canada and, over the past 20 years, has helped more than one million British Columbians. But recently announced funding cuts mean that current service levels cannot be maintained.

The non-profit Society’s funding from the BC Ministry of Education was eliminated last week - a loss of $200,000. In addition, funding from the Ministry of the Attorney General has been cut by $110,000. In sum, the Society’s provincial funding has been reduced from $500,000 last year to just $190,000 this year.

“Five months into our fiscal year, we suddenly have less than 40% of the funds we were expecting,” said Executive Director Rick Craig. “This has forced us to make deep cuts to staff and programs.”

The Society will be closing four of its eight offices (Victoria, Kamloops, Prince George and Tri-Cities) and reducing work hours at its four other locations (Kelowna, Surrey and two in Vancouver). At its head office, the Society also eliminated positions and reduced work hours.

Thousands of British Columbians will be impacted by the loss of Society services. Hardest hit will be students and teachers throughout the province. Cuts to regional offices will terminate legal education programs for more than 15,000 students, 600 youth-at-risk and 1,000 Aboriginal students in remote communities.

“This retroactive loss of funding instantly puts the Society into a deficit of over $100,000, due to costs incurred since April,” said the Honourable Judge Pedro de Couto, president of the Board of Directors. “However, our commitment to improve access to justice for British Columbians will not waver during these challenging times.”

About the Justice Education Society
Established in 1989 as the Law Courts Education Society, the Justice Education Society is dedicated to improving access to the legal system through hands-on, targeted, two-way education between the public and those working in the justice system. A non-profit organization with ongoing public and private sector financial and volunteer support, the Society offers a unique and comprehensive collection of justice-related educational services with the goal of creating a justice system that is accessible to all.

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For more information please contact: Rick Craig at 604.612.7585 or Rick.Craig(@)JusticeEducation.ca or Dave Nolette at 604.660.1943 or Dave.Nolette(@)JusticeEducation.ca

Read this article written by the Vancouver Sun for additional information.