Concerned Parkdale is delighted to hear that the “Transformation Project” is finally and formally dead, as per the email below from Jack de Klerk, Co-Chair of the GTA Transformation Group.
This email seems to confirm that the Transformation Project — whose mandate was to close community clinics and replace them with mega service centres — was an initiative of Legal Aid Ontario, and was led by neither clinics nor clinic users.
This success is undoubtedly a result of the incredible community mobilization that sustained opposition to the Transformation Project. Nonetheless, the legal aid system remains inaccessible to many marginalized people; we look forward to continuing to support community voices and initiatives on access to justice issues.
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Thursday, June 18, 2015
From: Jack DeKlerk (NLS)
Subject: News regarding the GTA Legal Clinics’ Transformation Project.
Dear Colleagues:
On Monday June 15 Marjorie and I met with the GTA Regional Vice President and the CEO and President of Legal Aid Ontario. We were told by LAO that they no longer believed that the deliverables set out in our funding agreement were achievable. It was their opinion that the Steering Committee’s proposed work plan, and the tasks set out by the various sub-committees , would not result in the original objectives of the project being realized. They could see, notwithstanding an ostensible agreement by all with respect to what are the principles of transformation, that there was no agreement amongst the participating clinics as to what the objectives of the project were going forward. It is LAO’s view that the project was taking steps backward to more discussion rather than moving forward with action. On the basis of these observations and conclusions LAO is not prepared to continue funding the project. We are told a letter to this effect will be forthcoming in the next few days, and that Flemingdon Community Legal Services will be asked to return the funds outstanding.
Our next Steering Committee meeting is scheduled for July 14th. We have already been told that the North York Civic Centre committee rooms are not available on July 14th so it is likely we would again meet in downtown Toronto.
We would like to know the will of the Steering Committee with respect to holding this meeting. Please let me know whether your clinic will still be attending the next meeting of the Steering Committee. We need to know whether we are likely to achieve quorum. In addition, please let me know, if you plan to attend, what your clinic would like to discuss on the 14th. We do need to have a substantive agenda in order to justify asking people to come out. Please let me know by June 26th (the end of next week) your views on a further Steering Committee meeting.
Jack de Klerk
Barrister, Solicitor, Notary
Director of Legal Services
Neighbourhood Legal Services
333 Queen St. E, Toronto, ON M5A 1S9
Tel: 416-861-0677 x706
Fax: 416-861-1777
Concerned Parkdale 