The Young Bar of Montreal Reacts to the Government's Final Offer Regarding Legal Aid Fee Reform in Quebec

Montreal, February 19, 2024 – The Young Bar of Montreal (hereafter “YBM”) expresses its deep disappointment with the lack of flexibility shown by the Government of Quebec regarding the reform of legal aid fees. Despite the sustained efforts of the Independent Committee on Legal Aid Fees (CITAJ) to reach a consensus, the government persists in its refusal to implement the necessary changes to guarantee access to justice for all Quebecers. The government’s most recent proposal, deemed final, was unanimously rejected by the members of the CITAJ. This proposal is considered inadequate and threatens access to justice for the most vulnerable citizens who depend on legal aid. It is important to note that the social cost of a person not adequately represented by a lawyer is higher.

The YBM recalls the mandate entrusted to the CITAJ by the Minister of Justice in 2022, as well as the numerous recommendations made to reform the structure of legal aid fees. These recommendations, aimed at improving access to justice within reasonable timelines, specifically address the remuneration of private practice lawyers and the protection of interns.

Thus, the YBM supports the CITAJ in its rejection of the government’s proposal, particularly emphasizing the incomplete analysis of the fees, unsatisfactory indexations, and the unacceptable proposal for a pilot project concerning interns. Furthermore, the YBM stresses the urgency and necessity of resuming negotiations. It strongly encourages the government to collaborate with the CITAJ for the benefit of access to justice in Quebec.

About JBM

Founded in 1898, the JBM brings together lawyers practicing in Montreal for ten years or less, with over 6,000 members. This makes it one of the largest associations of young lawyers in the world, in terms of numbers for a single city. Its mission is twofold. On the one hand, it defends and promotes the interests of its members. On the other, it provides pro bono legal advice and information to various segments of the population, and organizes charitable activities. Overall, it aims to improve access to justice and contribute to the collective well-being. As such, in August 2021, the JBM was awarded the Lieutenant-Governor's Medal for Exceptional Merit, "in recognition of the remarkable dynamism demonstrated by its members in the ongoing pursuit of collective well-being". To find out more about our initiatives for the public, visit the Public Services section of our website: http: //ajbm.qc.ca.

Information and interviews:

Adam Alaoui | 514 954-6936 | aalaoui@ajbm.qc.ca |

Communications and Public Relations Manager

Young Bar Association of Montreal