Alberta Law Foundation

Minister Amery says: “Albertans expect robust oversight of public interest dollars.”

Facts: 1️⃣ The Foundation’s funds are not public funds. There is a distinct difference between public funds, which generally refer to money held and managed by the government, and public interest funds. 2️⃣ The Foundation already publishes every grant, audit, and annual report.

Bill 39 adds political control, not oversight.

Get the facts on Bill 39 here: https://action.albertalawfoundation.org/

Minister Amery says: “[Bill 39 is intended] to ensure the Alberta Law Foundation’s long-term financial stability.”

Fact: The Foundation has managed volatile revenue for 50+ years without government interference. The real threat to stability? Being forced to fund the government’s Legal Aid shortfall.

Get the facts on Bill 39 here: https://action.albertalawfoundation.org/

Minister Amery says: “$281 million is what the Alberta Law Foundation sits on in reserves…The Alberta Law Foundation is an incredibly well-funded organization.”

Fact: $100M of those reserves were already committed to an Indigenous Law Institute at the University of Alberta. The rest is needed to stabilize funding through the upcoming drop in interest rates.

Get the facts on Bill 39 here: https://action.albertalawfoundation.org/

Minister Amery says: “…the grants will continue to flow as they were,”

Fact: He’s already cut $10M from board-approved grants, before the legislation even passed. 14 organizations have been denied or reduced with no clear explanation

Get the facts on Bill 39 here: https://action.albertalawfoundation.org/

Bill 39 gives the Minister of Justice the power to override independent funding decisions—decisions that support over 65 legal programs across Alberta.

Already, 14 grants have been denied or reduced, delaying or cancelling services that help Albertans navigate domestic violence, housing instability, and family breakdown.

Two government-appointed board members have resigned. A $100 million Indigenous Law Institute has been halted. Clinics are grappling with shrinking resources and longer wait times.

As lawyers, we understand that access to justice doesn’t happen without stable, community-based legal supports. This legislation undermines those supports, and the public’s trust in an independent profession.

Contact your MLA to speak up against Bill 39: https://action.albertalawfoundation.org

Bill 39 gives the province veto power over major legal funding decisions. That authority has already been used to cut nearly $10 million in grants to frontline legal clinics, Indigenous justice programs, and services for survivors of violence and newcomers.

These aren’t optional programs—they’re essential supports that help people navigate family breakdown, eviction, and domestic violence.

We need a legal system that puts people first.

Contact your MLA to speak up against Bill 39: https://action.albertalawfoundation.org

Reconciliation requires sustained investment in Indigenous-led justice. Bill 39 puts that at risk.

"What we're seeing now from the provincial government and the introduction of Bill 39 is distrust in the ability of independent organizations and Indigenous peoples themselves to chart their own destiny," said Drew Lafond, President of the Indigenous Bar Association.

"And that's something that's deeply concerning because it squarely challenges all of the recommendations in over 20 national reports that have been released in the last 30 years."

By giving the province veto power over major grants, the bill creates serious uncertainty for Indigenous justice programs across Alberta and has already halted the development of a new Indigenous Law Institute based out of the University of Alberta.

These programs were built by and for Indigenous communities, grounded in trust, culture, and lived experience. They are not optional. They are essential.

We urge the province to listen to the voices calling for a justice system that is fair, independent, and culturally appropriate.

Contact your MLA:

Speak Up Against Bill 39 For over 50 years, the Alberta Law Foundation has strategically managed resources to advance Access to Justice in the province. In that approach, the Foundation has worked closely with organizations, reviewing and developing grant applications to ensure funds distributed to agencies support effectiv...

Fact Check: In response to a recent press conference, Minister Amery said “the grants will continue to flow.”

Here’s what’s actually happening because of the Minister’s decisions:
• 15 grants were approved by the Alberta Law Foundation board
• 5 were denied outright
• 9 were significantly cut
• Only 58% of requested funding was distributed

That’s nearly $10 million in access-to-justice funding lost for community and student legal clinics, legal services and supports for victims of violence, youth and newcomers, and Indigenous justice initiatives — which doesn’t even include the projected $100M investment for the board-approved construction and endowment of an Indigenous Law Institute out of the University of Alberta that will no longer proceed.

Bill 39 gives the Minister veto power over almost all major grants — and shifts Legal Aid costs onto the Foundation, reducing funding for community-based legal services.

This isn’t “stable funding.” It’s a fundamental change to how access to justice is supported in Alberta.

👉Read the full story by Jonny Wakefield in the Edmonton journal to learn more:

Alberta law foundation says minister nixed $10M in funding for legal groups as new bill threatens to 'politicize' grants The United Conservative government's Bill 39 is politicizing funding for legal groups, leading to $10 million in lost funding for low-income community law clinics and Indigenous legal services, a group of non-profits say.

Bill 39 poses a serious threat to the future of legal services in Alberta.

If passed, it will cut funding to over 65 legal non-profits and give government complete control of the Alberta Law Foundation’s granting authority, undermining the independence of our justice system.

Programs supporting Indigenous justice, legal clinics, public legal education, and vulnerable communities will be among the hardest hit.

The Alberta Law Foundation is calling for a sustainable, transparent, and collaborative approach.

We urge the legal community and the public to speak out. The time is now.

Contact your MLA and speak up:

Speak Up Against Bill 39 For over 50 years, the Alberta Law Foundation has strategically managed resources to advance Access to Justice in the province. In that approach, the Foundation has worked closely with organizations, reviewing and developing grant applications to ensure funds distributed to agencies support effectiv...

Alberta Law Foundation board members quit over bill giving minister power on grants

Full story on our DiscoverAirdrie app and website.



Photo credit to: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson