It will obviously have a bigger impact, because one of the criteria for getting legal aid, at least in the province of Ontario, is that you have to face a substantial likelihood of jail. If this increases the likelihood of jail, then there are going to be more people requiring legal aid. Right now, the province of Ontario is facing a $10 million shortfall in legal aid for this year—and that's just at this point in this year, since Ontario's fiscal year ends at the end of March. So it will put a much greater pressure on the legal aid system, and I would think that would apply across the country.
On October 16th, 2006. See this statement in context.