Further to the federal government’s August 12, 2019 announcement of $25.7 million in one-time funding for immigration and refugee services, we are pleased to announce that Legal Aid Ontario is restoring services in these areas for the remainder of the fiscal year.
Beginning August 16, 2019, legal aid coverage for immigration and refugee services will resume at levels offered prior to April 15, 2019, when certain services were suspended. LAO will begin issuing certificates to lawyers on this date.
For Refugee Protection Division matters, while coverage remains the same, the way LAO authorizes it has changed for an interim period. They will now issue a Basis of Claim-alone certificate and a second nine-hour certificate for the RPD hearing. Clients who received a BOC preparation-only certificate between April 15, 2019 and August 16, 2019, will also be eligible for a hearing certificate.