Who handles legal aid & access to justice?
Legal Aid & Access to Justice
Access to justice involves all levels. Federal funds legal aid and operates federal courts, provinces administer legal aid plans and clinics, and municipalities administer by-law courts for local infractions.
⚠️ Shared Jurisdiction: This area involves multiple levels of government. The information below shows the primary responsibility at each level, but overlap is common. When in doubt, start with the level most directly related to your issue.
Key Facts
- ● Legal aid in Canada is primarily a provincial responsibility, with each province operating its own legal aid plan and funding thresholds.
Federal
Parliament of Canada
- ● Federal legal aid funding
- ● Federal courts (Tax Court, Federal Court)
- ● Supreme Court of Canada
- ● Criminal legal aid (federal contribution)
💡 Example: Contact your MP about access to justice funding, or the Federal Court for federal matters.
Provincial
Provincial Legislature
- ● Provincial legal aid plans (e.g., Legal Aid Ontario, Legal Aid BC, Aide juridique du Québec)
- ● Community legal clinics (provincially funded)
- ● Provincial courts and tribunals
- ● Duty counsel services
- ● Family law legal aid
💡 Example: Contact your provincial legal aid plan, or your MPP/MLA about access to justice.
Municipal
City / Town Hall
- ● Municipal by-law courts (administered locally for provincial offences)
- ● By-law enforcement and fines
💡 Example: Contact your city councillor about by-law enforcement issues or municipal court matters.
Quick Reference — Who to Contact
🏛️ Federal
Your Member of Parliament (MP)
🏢 Provincial
Your MPP, MLA, or MNA
🏘️ Municipal
Your City Councillor
How to Get Involved
You can make your voice heard on this issue by contacting your elected representatives at all levels of government.
- ● Contact your MP about federal policies and programs
- ● Reach out to your provincial MLA/MPP about provincial programs and regulations
- ● Attend municipal council meetings to discuss local initiatives
- ● Join advocacy organizations focused on this issue
- ● Contact your provincial MLA/MPP about expanding legal aid eligibility and funding in your province.
- ● Volunteer at or donate to local legal aid clinics that provide free services to low-income Canadians.
Ready to Take Action?
Use MyCivicVoice to find your representatives and draft a letter about the issues that matter to you.
Take Action →Frequently Asked Questions
Legal aid provides free or low-cost legal services to people who cannot afford a lawyer. It is administered by provincial legal aid societies with federal funding support.
Eligibility is based on income, the type of case, and financial resources. Criminal and child welfare cases have broader eligibility than civil cases. Contact your provincial legal aid society.
Legal aid typically covers criminal cases, child welfare, domestic violence, eviction, and some family law matters. It generally does not cover wills, personal injury, or business disputes.
Duty counsel are legal aid lawyers available at courthouses to provide immediate legal advice to people who cannot afford a lawyer. They are available for criminal and some family law matters.
Contact your provincial legal aid society, law school clinics, community legal clinics, or call Law Society Help (1-800-668-8258 in Ontario) for referrals.