'I'm frustrated': Sask. government cuts ties with legal clinic, CLASSIC
The Saskatchewan government has cut ties with an organization that provides free legal help to those living in poverty.
Community Legal Assistance Services for Saskatoon Inner City (CLASSIC) aims to break down barriers in the justice system. It's best known for programming that pairs people needing legal representation with law students, who are supervised by lawyers.
The province has provided annual funding to CLASSIC since 2007. Over the past two years, the government gave $100,000 to CLASSIC — funnelled through the College of Law.
On April 1, the government ended its contract with the organization.
Chantelle Johnson, executive director of CLASSIC, said she's frustrated by the decision.
"I'm frustrated because right now, as the only community legal clinic in Saskatchewan, we know we need more support like CLASSIC, not less," Johnson told CTV News.
"CLASSIC is here and will walk with you through your legal process and treat you with dignity. What message is being sent to [our clients] if we're defunded? We don't care about people walking with you, or your dignity.
The funding cut comes at the same time the government gave $100,000 to the College of Law, aimed to help students work in different communities during their internships.
In a statement to CTV News, the Ministry of Justice said "CLASSIC's services are limited to clients in Saskatoon. The government of Saskatchewan wanted to expand student opportunities across the province."
These new student placements are all in government agencies — including public prosecutions and Legal Aid.
"I don't begrudge more student opportunities. I love law students and I think more student opportunities are better, but we need more agencies that are in the communities doing actual access-to-justice work in the trenches, not just government agencies," Johnson said.
"We're asking the government to reconsider its decision because $100,000 in the grand scheme of the Ministry of Justice budget is little but what we can do with it at CLASSIC is big."
To fill the funding gap, CLASSIC said it's looking at grant options and turning to private donors.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Speaker kicks Poilievre out of Commons over unparliamentary comments
Speaker Greg Fergus kicked Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre out of the House of Commons during question period today.
Man dies after suffering cardiac arrest while waiting in ER, widow wants investigation
When an ambulance took David Lippert to the hospital in March of 2023, the 68-year-old Kitchener, Ont., executive was hoping to find out why he was feeling weak and unable to walk. Some 24 hours later, he was found unresponsive in the ER.
Baby, grandparents among 4 people killed in wrong-way police chase on Ontario's Hwy. 401
A police chase which started with a liquor store robbery in Bowmanville Monday night ended in tragedy some 20 minutes later when a suspect fleeing police entered Highway 401 in the wrong direction and caused a pileup which killed an infant and the child's grandparents, as well as the suspect, investigators say.
Freeland previews omnibus budget bill, proposed capital gains tax change left out
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will be tabling yet another omnibus bill to pass a sweeping range of measures promised in her April 16 federal budget, though left out of the legislation is the government's proposed capital gains tax change.
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
McGill requests 'police assistance' over pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University says it has 'requested police assistance' about the pro-Palestinian encampment on its lower field.
Judge raises threat of jail in hush money trial as he holds Trump in contempt, fines him US$9,000
Donald Trump was held in contempt of court Tuesday and fined US$9,000 for repeatedly violating a gag order that barred him from making public statements about witnesses, jurors and some others connected to his New York hush money case. And if he does it again, the judge warned, he could be jailed.
Court upholds Milwaukee police officer's firing for posting racist memes after Sterling Brown arrest
The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a former Milwaukee police officer was properly fired for posting racist memes related to the arrest of an NBA player that triggered a public outcry.
Video captures deadly wrong-way police chase on Highway 401 in Ontario
A new video has surfaced showing a vehicle being pursued by police in the wrong direction on Highway 401 moments prior to a fatal crash that killed four people, including an infant and their grandparents.