An injection of $29.1 million from the provincial government for free legal aid to those fleeing family violence is going to be nothing short of a game-changer.

含羞草研究社淭his is wonderful news,含羞草研究社� said Patti MacAhonic, executive director of the Ann Davis Transition Society in Chilliwack.

含羞草研究社淲e provide legal advocacy services but access to much-needed legal representation has been a significant barrier.含羞草研究社�

Up until this point, the likelihood that those with the 含羞草研究社渄eepest pockets含羞草研究社� would win in the family-law arena has created an unfair playing field for women 含羞草研究社� particularly during custody disputes or in division of assets.

含羞草研究社淭his is a significant win for women and children and we are extremely happy to see this,含羞草研究社� MacAhonic added.

Partners in this legal-aid expansion effort included the provincial government, Legal Aid BC and the Centre for Family Equity, according to the Feb. 16 release.

Chilliwack-Kent MLA Kelli Paddon, who is also Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity, said she sees potential for it being a game-changer.

含羞草研究社淲e know family violence too often impacts women, and far too often children are caught up in the trauma,含羞草研究社� Paddon said. 含羞草研究社淭hese new supports will make a difference for many people who are rebuilding their lives.含羞草研究社�

The new clinic addresses a longstanding constitutional challenge to the family law legal aid system by the Centre for Family Equity, which was formerly known as the Single Mothers含羞草研究社� Alliance.

含羞草研究社淲hen someone is fleeing family violence, they are often experiencing the worst trauma of their lives,含羞草研究社� said Niki Sharma, B.C. Attorney General in a release from LEAF. 含羞草研究社淲ith these changes, we are taking action to further improve services and better support people leaving dangerous situations.含羞草研究社�

Funding for the clinic is over three years from the province, and the clinic will be operated by Legal Aid BC.

The trauma-informed law clinic will offer both in-person and virtual services, and the new clinic is expected to open before the end of this year.

含羞草研究社淭his is a historic day for access to justice in B.C.,含羞草研究社� Michael Bryant, Legal Aid BC chief executive officer. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 the largest expansion of family law legal aid in a generation.含羞草研究社�

Legal Aid BC will draw on community input and the expertise of fellow agencies to develop and implement operations at the clinic. Applicants must be financially eligible for Legal Aid BC family law services and be experiencing family violence as well as one or more family law issues covered by standard representation services.

含羞草研究社淭wo decades ago, the provincial government significantly cut family law legal aid services. Following these cuts, many single moms could not get the help they needed in incredibly difficult circumstances involving family violence,含羞草研究社� said Raji Mangat, West Coast LEAF executive director.

含羞草研究社淭his expansion will provide a historic level of access to legal aid for people who often struggled to navigate the family law system on their own.含羞草研究社�

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