The agreement aims to improve access to legal aid for members of Nishnawbe Aski Nation communities
Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) has signed a new service agreement with the Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services (NAN Legal) to improve access to legal aid for members of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) communities.
LAO confirmed that it has been working with NAN Legal under a memorandum of understanding since 2004. Over the last year, they have dedicated time and resources to developing the agreement.
According to LAO, the agreement aims to establish a “strong foundation for providing the tools to do the important work of delivering legal aid services in a culturally appropriate way” for members of the NAN communities. It also ensures a “successful transition” to delivering such services within the NAN territory.
The agreement also includes key improvements, which LAO said assist NAN Legal’s ability to serve the members of the NAN communities better. Under the agreement, NAN Legal will be granted the following:
- More autonomy in the administration of LAO’s certificate and duty counsel services;
- More input on LAO’s selection of the roster of lawyers providing those services;
- The authority to develop and manage its staff lawyer program.
Through the agreement, LAO likewise agreed to increase its funding for legal aid services and programs administered and delivered by NAN Legal. Moreover, the agreement allows LAO and NAN Legal to commit to an open dialogue forum to specifically discuss issues of mutual interest and concern relating to the funding and delivery of legal aid services in the NAN territory and across Ontario.
“In the spirit of Legal Aid Ontario’s reconciliation initiatives, we look forward to implementing this service agreement and working with Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services to support the delivery of their services, specifically the implementation of the duty counsel program, the certificate program, and the staff lawyers program,” LAO chair Steve Pengelly said.
“We will ensure Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services has what it needs to be successful in these areas, so they are able to provide legal aid services to their members in a culturally appropriate way. The ongoing dialogue process between the two organizations will ensure that we continue on this path,” Pengelly added.
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