I agree wholeheartedly with what my colleague just said. The Law Society of British Columbia has struck a committee to study legal aid. We had a colloquium about a month ago, and one of the participants said that part of the issue with the funding of legal aid is a marketing problem. The public doesn't understand that there are real financial payoffs to investing in legal aid. If we can establish that with the right studies—and many of them have already been done—then we can recognize that this is really a bipartisan issue. It's about the strength and the value of our democracy and the individuals who are struggling to deal with issues within society, and I have no doubt that people will support wholeheartedly the proper funding of legal aid programs.
As for contributions, in British Columbia, it's the cut-off. In a criminal case, if you're below a certain line, then you get it, but if you're above it, then you don't. There have to be ways to ensure that people can contribute, so that they can get help, as well. It can be for people with some means, but not adequate means.
Yes, I agree.