Legal Aid Program

Criminal Legal aid ensures that economically disadvantaged people living in Canada, who are facing serious criminal charges and the likelihood of incarceration, have equitable access to the justice system.

Responsibility for the provision of criminal justice is divided between the federal government, under its constitutional authority for criminal law-making, and the provincial governments, under their authority for the administration of justice and for property and civil rights. While respecting the constitutional authority of the provinces, the federal government recognizes the importance of working collaboratively with its provincial and territorial partners to ensure that Canada has a fair, relevant and accessible criminal justice system. Neither level of government is able to carry out its mandate without the cooperation and involvement of the other. This is why since 1971 the federal government has collaborated with the provinces and territories by providing contributions for criminal and civil legal aid. Canada’s financial support for civil legal aid is provided through the Canada Social Transfer (CST) and falls under the mandate of the Department of Finance Canada.

NOTE: THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES NOT DELIVER LEGAL AID SERVICES. THEREFORE, SHOULD YOU NEED ASSISTANCE, PLEASE REFER TO THE BLUE PAGES OF YOUR LOCAL TELEPHONE DIRECTORY OR CONSULT THE PROVINCIAL AND TERRITORIAL LEGAL AID SERVICES' WEB PAGES LISTED BELOW:

• British Columbia
• Alberta
• Saskatchewan
• Manitoba
• Ontario
• Quebec
• New Brunswick
• Prince Edward Island
• Nova Scotia
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Nunavut
• Northwest Territories
• Yukon

Criminal Legal Aid

Canada’s Legal Aid Program provides contribution funding to the provinces and territories for criminal legal aid services for economically disadvantaged people accused of serious and/or complex criminal offences and facing the likelihood of incarceration and for youths charged under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Immigration and Refugee Legal Aid (I&R Legal Aid)

Through its Legal Aid Program, the government of Canada provides funding to six participating provinces (British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador) towards the cost of immigration and refugee legal aid services. I&R legal aid assists individuals involved in the immigration and refugee determination system under the provisions of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).

Public Security and Anti-terrorism (PSAT) Legal Aid

Dedicated funding is available to provinces and territories under Canada’s Public Security and Anti-terrorism (PSAT) Legal Aid Fund for legal assistance costs in PSAT cases.

Court-Ordered Counsel in Federal Prosecutions (COCFP)

The federal government provides funding to the provinces and territories (or their designated legal aid delivery agencies) to provide court-ordered counsel in federal prosecutions (COCFP) in instances where a court orders the Attorney General of Canada to provide funded counsel.

Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Permanent Working Group on Legal Aid (PWG)

The Legal Aid Program provides secretariat support for, and co-chairs, the FPT PWG. The FPT PWG provides a forum for negotiations of contribution agreements, as well as policy and legal discussions related to legal aid. It comprises representatives of the federal, provincial and territorial governments, as well as representatives from each provincial and territorial legal aid delivery agency. The FPT PWG reports directly to the FPT Deputy Ministers Responsible for Justice.

Publications and Resources

For further information on legal aid and access to justice issues, please consult the Department of Justice's Research and Statistics Branch web page.

Contact Information

Programs Branch
Department of Justice Canada
284 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario
CANADA
K1A 0H8
Telephone: 613 952-5759
Fax: 613 954-9423
E-mail: pb-dgp@justice.gc.ca