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For more information on the Commission des services juridiques, members of the media should contact Mr Nadine Koussa, Communications responsible at 514-873-3562 ext: 5249.
Press Releases
Press Releases 2006
Montreal, December 19, 2006. – Me Denis Roy, Chairman of the Commission des services juridiques, announces that the eligibility scales for legal aid in Québec will increase on January 1, 2007.
The increase forms part of a plan to gradually raise the legal aid eligibility thresholds during the period from January 2006 to January 2010. As a result, some 900,000 new individuals will have access to legal aid and enjoy legal services at no cost or upon the payment of a contributory amount.
«Under the contributory scheme, for example, the increase will give a family with annual income of $27,000 the possibility of availing itself of legal services at a reasonable cost determined in advance. I therefore invite all those who have a need for legal assitance and who may be affected by the increase to verify their eligibility by contacting the legal aid office nearest their place of residence, » stated Me Denis Roy.
In addition, the legal aid eligibility threshold ill henceforth be indexed annually by a percentage equal to that of benefits paid under the social solidarity program. The increased thresholds, combined with the annual indexation, will provide financial eligibility that better reflects our economic reality.
The Commission des services juridiques is the agency charged with applying the Legal Aid Act in Québec. Legal aid may be granted to anyone who is financially eligible, in order to cover various legal services involving civil, family, administrative or criminal matters or matters relating to youth law.
The new eligibility scales for services at no cost are as follows:
Category of Applicant : Maximum Annual Income
- For a single person : 10 504 $
For an applicant whose family is comprised of:
- one adult and one child : 13 864 $
- one adult and 2 children or + : 15 816 $
- spouses without children : 14 717 $
- spouses with 1 child : 17 090 $
- spouses with 2 children or + : 19 042 $
Legal aid may be available in consideration for the payment of a contribution ranging from $100 to $800, based on the following eligibility scales:
Category of Applicant : Maximum Annual Income
- For a single person : 14 968 $
For an applicant whose family is comprised of:
- one adult and one child : 19 756 $
- one adult and 2 children or + : 22 536 $
- spouses without children : 20 971 $
- spouses with 1 child : 24 354 $
- spouses with 2 children or + : 27 135 $
For more information, please contact your local legal aid office or visit the Web site of the Commission des services juridiques at: http://www.csj.qc.ca .
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Source:
Marie-Noëlle Trottier
Agente d'information
(514) 873-3562