Thank you, Chair.
I'm happy to be here today and covering for my colleague, MP Randall Garrison.
Welcome, of course, Minister and Honourable Mr. MacLauchlan.
My question as it relates to the question here that's front of mind for me is that we're seeing a reduction in access to legal aid. We're seeing applications being refused. The result is an increased number of unrepresented accused and litigants before the courts.
Just as an example, we know that women are the majority of family and legal aid recipients. We know that there's a disproportionate impact on those who are already marginalized within our communities, such as racialized people, indigenous people and people living with disabilities, to name just a few. Finally, one other example is from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and two-spirited people, and I quote: The “distinct disadvantage in their access to justice and justice-related resources necessary to respond to violence” is a barrier for individuals to access the support they need. We know this is a direct result of the ongoing impacts of colonization.
With these examples in mind, my question is, what are the ramifications for the legal system as a whole and what action is the federal government taking to ensure equitable access to legal aid for all Canadians?