VANCOUVER — A three-day hearing has begun in British Columbia Supreme Court, with a group challenging the provincial government's stance that it doesn't have the capacity to take a case regarding legal aid to trial.
The Single Mothers' Alliance launched the constitutional case five years ago saying eligibility for legal aid does not meet the needs of low-income women, especially those escaping domestic violence.
Raji Mangat says that means many working mothers must represent themselves in what is essentially a"broken" system, leaving some retraumatized because they could be cross-examined by a former partner's lawyer.Mangat says women who are working full time and earning minimum wage can end up being treated like they have disposable income to spend on legal fees while having to take time off to be in court.
"The abusive ex is typically somebody who's not going to be reasonable, so these are not cases that have a prospect of settling out of court," Mangat said of an"intimidating" process.
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