First, concerning the division of costs between the provinces and the federal government, I would say that this is already somewhat the case in practice, even if it isn't in theory. The federal government must indeed meet these needs. However, last year, the funding fell $10 million short of the actual cost of legal aid services across Canada. The provinces then cover these additional costs. This is happening because a need exists. This shows that access to better representation up front helps to avoid issues down the line, as we say.
Lastly, a clearer agreement on this topic, which both parties would understand, could help to provide better services and proper legal representation up front. Unfortunately, this isn't happening right now. This may also be one reason why—