Learn about how empirical research has found that legal aid eligibility thresholds lead to disproportionate ineligibility of single women who are in poverty, compared to other specific groups, as well as about the application of Canada’s legal framework for equality and what both suggest in terms of program design and population-based access to justice.

We note that this session builds on a webinar discussion about the legal aid landscape in BC that will occur on February 6, by diving into the impact of legal aid rules and criteria.
 

About Dr. Lindsay Tedds

Dr. Lindsay M. Tedds is an Associate Professor in the Department of Economicsat the University of Calgary.  Her primary research fields are in tax policy, public economics, and public policy design and implementation. Her transdisciplinary approach to research harnesses the strengths of economics, law, public administration, and intersectionality in the study of public policy problems. Her objective is to make both an academic contribution and to have an impact on Canadian policymaking and policy implementation. She has served on several expert panels, is the co-author and editor of a number of books, and has published a number of book chapters, technical reports, interactive guides, and papers in peer reviewed journals. She recently sat on the Deputy Prime Minister’s Task Force for Women and the Economy and the Royal Society of Canada’s Working Group on the Impacts of COVID-19 on Women in Canada.
 

About Gillian Petit

Gillian Petit is currently a Senior Research Associate at the University of Calgary. She holds a PhD from the University of Calgary and a JD from Queen’s University. Her work in applied economics and public policy focuses on the design and implementation of income and social supports, spanning several areas including tax policy, municipal policy, poverty policy, and access to justice. She has advised expert panels, published in peer-reviewed academic journals, co-wrote a book on basic income, and contributed book chapters in other books. She works on intersectionality-informed, data-driven solutions to economic and social issues.
 

About Monique Pongracic-Speier, KC

Monique maintains a general litigation practice. She acts for clients in trial and appellate proceedings in a variety of public and private law matters, including constitutional cases and other claims against government.  Monique’s constitutional law practice includes counselling and representing clients in Charter claims, claims under s. 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 and with respect to federalism issues. Monique is lead counsel for the plaintiff in Single Mothers Alliance of BC Society v HMTQ, an action which challenges the constitutionality of BC’s family law legal aid scheme for matters where family violence is at issue.
 

We recommend all participants review these requirements and run the test at least 48-hours before the course date to ensure proper access to the webinar.

ZOOM - We will be using Zoom for this webinar. If you have not used Zoom before, familiarize yourself with the platform -- Click Here!

You will be sent the webinar link and log-in instructions 24-hours before the webinar.
• Pre-reading materials will be sent with the webinar instructions. Additional materials may be sent post-session.
• The webinar audio will be delivered over the computer. Please check that your computer speakers are working properly before you join the session. Participants who require transcript or other audio assistance can turn on these settings once you join the Zoom webinar room.
• Headphones or speakers are recommended for the best sound quality