NEW JUSTICE CENTRE IMPROVES COMMUNITY ACCESS

NANAIMO – A newly expanded Justice Access Centre that gives people with legal disputes quick and affordable access to information and services was officially opened today by Attorney General Wally Oppal and Mayland McKimm, QC, chair of the board of directors of the Legal Services Society.

Located at 302 – 65 Front St. in Nanaimo, the Justice Access Centre is a pilot project that will test an integrated approach to providing information and services about civil and family justice issues. The centre expands on the services of Nanaimo’s Family Justice Services Centre, which has been in operation since April 2007.

“The success of the family justice centre confirmed that access to affordable, accessible services is key to early solutions and faster justice for people with legal problems,” Oppal said. “By expanding the centre to include civil justice services, we are creating a one-stop access centre that helps people resolve legal disputes on their own where possible or prepare for court when necessary.”

The pilot project facilitates legal, pro bono, advocacy, community agency and government services in working together. It provides legal support for people with family matters, such as child custody and access, or debt or financial problems, along with information on immigration, human rights and consumer, employment, housing and income assistance programs. The Justice Access Centre also assists with connecting clients to other agencies and services.

“This pilot project will serve a wide range of people in the Nanaimo and mid-Island area, including those experiencing economic hardship, literacy or mental health issues, people with disabilities, seniors, immigrants and Aboriginal people,” said Nanaimo-Parksville MLA Ron Cantelon.

“In times of economic hardship, it is particularly important that people have access to reliable information to effectively address their legal problems,” said McKimm. “I am pleased and proud that staff from the Legal Services Society and the Ministry of Attorney General have worked together to develop this innovative delivery model for legal information and advice.”

The new Justice Access Centre is just one of the reform projects in the ministry’s three-year plan, built around the concept of early solutions and faster justice. Justice reform projects are designed to test new ways for the criminal, family and civil justice system to meet the needs of individuals, families, businesses and communities in an effective, timely and meaningful way.

To support justice reform goals, government has provided $12 million over three years. Government has committed another $5.4 million in overall capital funding and $4.4 million in operating funding this fiscal year for Vancouver’s Downtown Community Court.

The Nanaimo pilot project is funded through the Ministry of Attorney General, the Legal Services Society and grants from the Law Foundation. Potential expansion of justice access centres to other locations will depend on the pilot’s success.

“The Law Foundation supports innovative initiatives that improve access to justice,” said Law Foundation board chair Warren Wilson, QC. “The Nanaimo Justice Access Centre is an excellent example of key justice system partners working together to improve citizens’ access to the services they need when dealing with legal issues.”

Created in response to recommendations by the B.C. justice review task force in June 2005, the Justice Access Centre builds on extensive efforts over the last several years to move the civil justice system away from an adversarial process.

Information on justice access centres and other justice reform projects is available at www.justiceaccesscentre.bc.ca/.

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Media contact:	Dave Townsend Senior Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Attorney General 250 387-4962 250 889-5945 (cell)

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