Premier Doug Ford was slammed by opposition MPPs during question period Thursday over his “empty promise” to provide free legal aid to anyone who gives him a call.
On April 22, Ford made an impromptu call to a radio station, AM640 Global News, and said, “If anyone needs support on legal aid, feel free to call my office. I will guarantee you that you will have legal aid.”
He made that statement after his government slashed funding for legal aid by 40 per cent.
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In the days following Ford’s promise, staff attempted damage control and raised the issue of political interference, according to emails recently obtained through a freedom of information request by Michael Spratt, an Ottawa criminal defence lawyer.
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During question period Thursday, NDP MPP Gurratan Singh demanded clarification on what the premier meant by his promise.
“Which is it, Speaker: the empty promise that the premier made on radio that Ontarians will be guaranteed access to legal aid or what his staff have decided that the cuts (to the Legal Aid Ontario budget) will continue?”
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Read Samantha Beattie and Emma Paling’s full article: Huffington Post
