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My mother literally spent the last months of her life fighting the Harris Conservatives from gutting Ontario’s System of Legal Aid Clinics. She had spent her career helping build the system because she knew that individuals cant always protect their communities acting alone. /1
She started a career in community law working for the Cdn Environmental Law Assc. One of the first legal clinics in Ont, CELA was one of the first legal teams to fight for justice along side the people of Grassy Narrows. She moved to the Law Society to help start more clinics/2
She played a role in starting & growing legal clinics for the South East Asian, The African Cdn, Injured workers, the Parkdale Clinic and so many more. It was a Progressive Conservative Govt with Att Gen Roy McMurtry that championed this rights based approach to legal services/3
The Clinic system grew to almost 90 by the end of my Mum’s career. Her focus on Women’s Rights, Housing Rights & Indigineous Rights not only produced a network of clinics to advance civil liberties for these groups. Her work is the foundation that my life’s work is built on/4
Walking in the woods up north she stopped to listen to the birds. An owl feather landed on her shoulder as she breathed in the stillness of the forest. An elder who was with her used the feather to make a dream catcher for her. It hung in her hospital room until the end/5
The elder who made the gift, told her it would add wisdom to her dreams. Her dream was fairness for all, the wisdom she gained drew her to changing the legal system to protect those without power. Today’s cuts do immense dishonour to this vision & hurts vulnerable communities/5
Today’s cuts to legal aid are a nightmare, they lack wisdom & will hurt people who need justice & communities that seek help in building a fairer & more just society. If the Conservatives need to cut something its the word Progressive from their party name. @LegalAidOntario /6
