GOAL 9. Improve funding strategies
Government budget priorities generally focus on areas like healthcare and education. And of course those are important to Canadians.
But did you know that Canadian and global studies confirm that investments in making justice more accessible generate returns of between 100% and 2000%? These returns often materialize quickly and have profound effects over time and on future generations.
Improved funding strategies would see more money allocated to legal aid in Canada and to supporting the most vulnerable, as well as to preventative approaches to understanding and managing conflict. Strategic use of the money means working together across the country, avoiding duplication, and learning from each other.
2022 Progress
In 2022, Governments, law foundations and other institutions focused on sustainability and organizational capacity building through funding. Some law foundations more than doubled the amount of their grants and switched from annual to multi-year granting structures.
9.1 Coordinate to spend money well
Learn what the real costs of legal issues are and divert funding to prevent legal issues and minimize the demand on other social services.
9.2 Better fund legal aid
Increase funding of legal aid, to make more people eligible and to expand the types of legal problems that are eligible.
9.3 Make sure the money lasts
Maintain the focus on access to justice to ensure that improvements can be sustained and changes are funded indefinitely.