Programs that provide assistance for people who are having difficulty understanding and/or obtaining grants, payments, services or other benefits for which they are eligible. The programs may help people understand the eligibility criteria for benefits, the benefits provided by the program, the payment process and the rights of beneficiaries; provide consultation and advice; help them complete benefits application forms; negotiate on their behalf with benefits administration staff; and/or represent them in administrative processes or judicial litigation. Included are benefits counselling organizations that offer a range of advocacy services and legal aid programs that offer more formalized legal assistance.

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Programs that provide assistance for people who have legal issues that relate to federal and provincial legislation that outlines the statutory obligations of government for indigenous peoples including First Nations, Inuit and Métis people of Canada. Specific issues may include treaty rights including land and property compensation claims; claims to renewable and non-renewable natural resources; hunting, fishing and trapping rights; self-government; the fiduciary relationship between governments and indigenous peoples; government relations; economic development; taxation; and a variety of public policy issues such as education and health.

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Programs that investigate and attempt to resolve complaints made by or on behalf of residents of nursing facilities, residential care homes, assisted living facilities and other supervised living facilities for older adults. The program also promotes policies and practices that improve the quality of life, health, safety, welfare and rights of residents; monitors laws, regulations and policies that affect those who live in long-term care facilities; provides the public with information about long-term care options; and promotes the development of consumer organizations concerned about long-term care. Long term care falls under provincial/territorial jurisdiction and where no specific Ombudsman program is in place, appropriate complaints are directed to the provincial Ombudsman.

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Programs that provide information, education, advocacy and/or other forms of legal assistance which relate to the rights of people who are patients in a health or mental health care facility, who are residents of convalescent or other long or short-term care facilities including adult residential care homes, or who are incapacitated and are being cared for at home by family members. Services may also be available to significant others of these individuals.

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Programs that provide assistance for people who have suffered bodily harm or damage to their health as a result of an accident or other occurrence in which negligence was involved; or who have been injured through an invasion of personal rights such as libel, slander, malicious prosecution, false imprisonment or mental suffering. Also included are programs that assist people who have been accused of inflicting any of the above forms of personal injury. Some programs limit their services to personal injury defence.

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Programs that assist families in their interactions with the school system which may include help with school registration, enrollment of children in special programs, intervention on behalf of students facing disciplinary action or expulsion and other activities which facilitate communication between families and school staff.

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Programs that administer payment of wrongful injury, illness or death claims or claims for other losses involving acts of negligence or incompetence or actions of another type in situations where the courts have ordered the responsible organization to set aside funds as a means of reparation to victims. Examples include compensation for losses due to exposure to asbestos, thalidomide, residential school abuse or government actions such as the Japanese internment during World War II.

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Programs that help people obtain, complete and/or file official forms, certificates, documents, applications or other paperwork that is required to apply for benefits or services, initiate or respond to legal action or to officially handle or document the occurrence of a transaction; that help people acquire copies of official documents on file elsewhere; or that review legal documentation an individual has received to help explain its meaning.

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Programs that provide assistance for people who are involved in disputes or legal actions which affect their domestic relationships.

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Programs that provide assistance for people who want to appeal the denial of automobile, health, homeowners, renters or life insurance or cutbacks in insurance benefits; who need to file an insurance claim; or who need to initiate or respond to litigation regarding the settlement of an insurance claim.

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Programs that maintain lists of lawyers, paralegals, mediators and other legal professionals and services, and link people who need legal assistance with those who specialize in the required area of law.

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Programs that administer the laws in Canada which govern the conditions under which immigrants, refugees and visitors can legally enter and/or remain in the country or become citizens; and/or which provide assistance for people who need legal advice about how to proceed. Included are organizations that review and make administrative decisions regarding immigration, refugee and citizenship applications as well as those that help people complete and file application forms and/or appeal decisions.

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Programs that provide assistance for people who have cases involving violations of federal and provincial statutes governing sales and credit practices involving consumer goods, in situations where appeals to consumer complaints organizations have not resolved the issue. Consumer law cases involve deceptive or unconscionable advertising and sales practices, product quality, credit financing and reporting, debt collection, leases, and other aspects of consumer transactions.

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Programs that provide legal assistance (generally advice and representation in criminal investigations, plea negotiations, trials and appeals) for people who have been charged with an offence made criminal by federal or provincial laws or municipal or local ordinances and punishable by imprisonment, fines, restitution or other specified sanctions; individuals released on probation as an alternative to incarceration; or people who have been released on parole following a period of incarceration and remain in the legal custody of the correctional system which has the authority to suspend and revoke the parole of any parolee for violations of the law or parole rules.

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Programs that provide information and guidance for individuals who need assistance in the area of law which relates to the rights and needs of older adults, especially in the areas of age discrimination, consumer fraud, estate planning and management, living trusts, trust administration, probate, property law, retirement planning, pension benefits, income security programs, health care and medication needs, disability planning, long-term care alternatives, health care decisions, elder abuse, guardianships and conservatorships.

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Programs that provide assistance, information and support for tenants and/or landlords who are involved in rental housing disputes; or which administer provincial laws or local ordinances which govern rent control and other aspects of tenant/landlord relations.

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Programs that provide information and/or legal assistance that helps farmers, landowners and others who are involved in the agricultural industry understand their rights and responsibilities and achieve compliance with the federal and provincial laws, administrative rulings and court decisions that govern the practice of agriculture. Specific issues may include crop and livestock financing; farm financing and borrowers' rights; farm bankruptcy; agricultural land leases; eminent domain (condemnation); agricultural labour laws; livestock sales and breeding rights; mad cow disease, hoof and mouth disease and other conditions that affect livestock; livestock waste management; pesticides and herbicides; agricultural production contracts; genetically modified organisms; insurance coverage; water resources law; fence laws; and the formation and operation of agricultural cooperatives and the disputes that may arise among members. Clients may include local and federated agricultural cooperatives, hybrid seed companies, hog production operations, meat packing plants, agrichemical companies, cattle producers and related organizations.

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A public official in Canada who is authorized to administer oaths, affirmations and solemn declarations for people making affidavits or statutory declarations.

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Programs that provide legal counselling and/or representation for low-income individuals who need assistance in routine legal matters, usually in the area of bankruptcy, housing, public benefits, family law, elder law or immigration/naturalization.

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Programs that provide information and guidance for people who will be representing themselves in small claims court and need to understand the court procedures and develop a plan for the presentation of their case. Small claims advisors help litigants with issues such as finding the right court, serving court documents, case preparation, paying and collecting judgments, and appeals.

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