News & Events

OUR SERVICES DURING THE PANDEMIC

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, our office building has been closed. Please do not come to our office as you will not be able to get in. Please telephone us at 905-455-0160 or email us at NpdInfo@lao.on.ca or use our online intake form on the Contact Us page of this website.

STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE BLACK COMMUNITY

Many in Canada and elsewhere are protesting against anti-Black racism. Sparked by recent incidents, the protests have grown to encompass frustration over the continuing presence of racism in Canada and the lack of progress on this front. Canada has a long history of racism and systemic racism continues to be imbedded in our society.

New Legal Aid Legislation

North Peel & Dufferin Community Legal Services is pleased that the new legal aid legislation introduced by Attorney General Doug Downey specifically recognizes the role of community legal clinics in protecting vulnerable members of our communities and providing them with critical legal services. We applaud the Attorney General for his leadership in announcing that funding cuts to legal aid planned for 2020-21 will not take place.

Ford Government Review of Legal Aid and Funding Cuts

The Ontario government is conducting a review of legal aid services: the Legal Aid Modernization Project. We are proud of the service that we provide and welcome the opportunity to work with Legal Aid Ontario and the Ontario government to continue to improve the services provided by community legal clinics. However,

Supporting our community

Legal Clinic Takes Online Applications

We now have an intake form on our website. On the Contact Us page, click on the link for our intake form and you can make a request for assistance whenever suits you – not just during our open hours. On the form we also ask you when is a good time (or a bad time) to try to reach you and how you prefer to be contacted (phone,

Celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day!

We join with the indigenous peoples of Canada in celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, 2019. Our community legal clinic will be open on that day to serve our clients, including our indigenous clients. We will also be joining in the celebrations and recognizing the importance of this day.

Future of Legal Clinics Uncertain

Ontario’s community legal clinics were notified of their 2019-20 funding by Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) on June 12, 2019. Most legal clinics, including North Peel & Dufferin Community Legal Services, had their funding reduced by a small amount (roughly 1% of total funding). Much deeper cuts are expected next year and the year after.

Funding for Community Legal Clinics Cut!

The provincial government has slashed funding to Legal Aid Ontario! The budget presented on April 11, 2019 cut the province’s contribution to Legal Aid Ontario by 35%, retroactive to April 1st. Legal Aid Ontario has announced that it will therefore cut the budget for community legal clinics by $15 Million – a 16% reduction.

Help for Injured Workers

As previously announced, we are assisting Peel and Dufferin clients of IAVGO (the Industrial Accident Victims Group of Ontario). IAVGO helps injured workers across Ontario with their workers’ compensation cases. However, IAVGO is located in Toronto and the trip downtown can be difficult for an injured worker. We provide a video link to IAVGO,