It appears we do disagree.
"They were entitled under our judicial system to have representation"
The only problem with that is where do those that don't own properties or have any money suffer this:
2002-2005
* The BC government cut funding to the Legal Services Society – the provider of legal aid - by 40%;
* They closed 85% of the legal aid offices throughout BC;
* Reduction of 75% of staff;
* Eliminated all legal aid Poverty Law services;
* Eliminated all assistance for Human Rights complaints
* Cut family law by 60%.
2005-2008
* Minimal increases did not supported the demand for legal aid.
* LSS sought and received pilot project funding from non-government funding sources, but those were tightened up in the face of the economic meltdown of 2008.
January 2009
* The Legal Services Society announced huge cuts to staff and services over the year.
April 2009
* Elimination of 38 staff positions (16% reduction) in the Vancouver and Surrey offices, including all staff caseload lawyer positions (resulting, for example, in the closure of the LSS family law clinic) and 6 LawLINE lawyer positions;
* Reduction in LawLINE scope, resulting in coverage of fewer legal issues;
* Reduction of public legal information services due to decreased staffing (reduction in fieldworkers and publications staff);
* Family law: Family law services largely eliminated. Extended family services, which give lawyers extra time to complete difficult cases, reduced. Dispute resolution services, available to clients with significant family law problems but without safety concerns, entirely eliminated;
* Criminal law: Category One offences, such as breach of probation, petty theft and failure to appear, no longer covered for adults;
* Immigration and refugee law: Stricter merit screening introduced, restricting how many people will be eligible for legal aid coverage.
November 2009
* LSS announced further cuts including the closing of five regional offices and the closing of LAWLine.
January 2010
* Kamloops lawyers announced they were withdrawing services in opposition to legal aid cuts.
* The British Columbia branch of the Canadian Bar Association will hold a ‘People’s Commission’ on the sorry state of legal aid in the province.
April 2010
* LAWLine - LSS's telephone legal advice service will be discontinued.
* The Society will close its regional centres in Kamloops, Prince George, Kelowna, Surrey and Victoria
* Elimination of all of LSS’s civil non-family legal aid advice services, including LawLINE (staffed with lawyers and paralegals offering free telephone legal advice to low income people across BC), the Community Advocate Support Line (staffed by a lawyer who provides legal supervision, advice, and support to advocates throughout BC), and all but one staff position at the Nanaimo Justice Access Centre
* Elimination of an additional 58 staff positions throughout BC, including all but five of the remaining LSS staff lawyer positions in BC.
The BC Liberals have cut $22.4 million from the legal aid system since 2002- where does that leave the poorest , yet Basi and Virk get a 6 million dollar tab written off?
"While I and others share your concern for the poor, the aging and ailing in this province, we also realize that we can't afford what it would cost to create a perfect world."
I can get by without the latest tax cut, instead of watching my mother in law suffer for 1.5 years - so far - waiting for knee replacement.Now her hip is going as a result of not being able to walk properly.The reason for this malarkey? Lack of funding. How can one applaud tax cuts while suffering continues?
"Was Campbell perfect? of course not! but He's resigned. It's over. Get over it!
The next leader/ government will have their flaws as well. Save some of your disdain for them because they won't be perfect either."
Let's at the very least hope for some empathy, honesty and a willingness to work with and for the electorate, and not run the province like a tin pot dictator.
And don't worry- I have a ton of disdain that I'm willing to use.
BUT I'm still waiting for you to point out any inaccuracies from my earlier post........