Clicklaw Blog

In 2009, West Coast LEAF’s Family Law Project identified the need for capturing a snapshot of the existing legal resources for women in BC. Project staff conducted a survey of advocacy groups and women-serving community based organizations, and released a report recently added to the Reform and Research section of Clicklaw:  Mapping the Gap: A Summary of Legal Resources for Women in British Columbia.

The report includes findings concerning gaps in legal information and resources for women, significant challenges with legal aid, and rural realities.

• Legal Services Society published an article in their newsletter Elan summarizing changes made to welfare benefits in recent months. The most recent edition of Your Welfare Rights: A Guide to BC Employment and Assistance is available on Clicklaw, and Legal Services Society is preparing an insert of updated information.
• Among the changes that came into effect on June 1, 2010 are new rules about welfare eligibility for people who have outstanding arrest warrants. Rebecca Cuttler interviews Pivot Legal Society lawyer Doug King in the podcast New Provincial Law Bans Social Assistance for People with Warrants.
• Earlier this year, major changes came into effect relating to coverage for health supplements for those on welfare. The BC Coalition of People with Disabilities has updated the help sheet Health Supplements for People with Disabilities, which summarizes the current range of medical services and supplies provided by the BC Ministry of Housing and Social Development.