Presented by the Access Pro Bono Society of B.C. and sponsored by the Canadian Bar Association, the event was meant to provide free legal advice to those who can’t afford legal service and to bring attention to what the lawyers say is a lack of legal aid in the province.

Salmany says he suffered 10 months of racial slurs at work and was let go after he complained to WorkSafeBC about dangerous practices at his machine shop. The 49-year-old resident of Marpole said his former employer of 12 years claimed he had quit, and Salmany has been unable to collect employment insurance.

But finding legal help for his fight is harder than it was in the past. Last year, the Legal Services Society, which oversees legal aid in B.C., was forced to discontinue its LawLINE, among other services, because the society lacked funding. The B.C. branches of the Canadian Bar Association, the Law Society and Law Foundation, the B.C. Crown Counsel Association and the Vancouver and Victoria bar associations have established a public commission on legal aid that starts touring the province Sept. 20. The commission wants to hear the experiences and suggestions of groups and individuals.

Revenues of foundations that partially fund the Legal Services Society dried up when interest rates plummeted during the economic downturn, while the demand for legal aid services increased. It was a “flash point” for the aforementioned groups, says Stephen McPhee, president of the B.C. branch of the Canadian Bar Association.

He hopes the commission will find a secure source of money for the Legal Services Society.

“Not funding that fluctuates through a budget year because of the vagaries of a financial system, you suddenly realize that you’re short $3 million or $2 million.”

McPhee said research from Commonwealth countries shows money spent resolving legal issues at an early stage saves on healthcare and social services costs.

Salmany said that he was feeling so stressed at work, he had been seeing his doctor every month. Reached Monday, he said he was pleased to finally receive advice he could act on.

Attorney General Mike de Jong has expressed support for the commission, according to McPhee, and McPhee expects Liberal and NDP politicians to attend the hearings.

Vancouver’s hearing on legal aid is scheduled for Oct. 7. The commission is accepting written submissions and expressions of interest for presentations. The commission aims to complete a report with recommendations by the end of the year.

crossi@vancourier.com