The Democracy Fund (TDF) is providing legal assistance to more than a thousand Canadians whose civil liberties have been violated by lockdowns and vaccine mandates. TDF has six in-house lawyers and paralegals and has also retained law firms across the country to assist in this major project. TDF lawyers are active in court, including actively defending peaceful protesters who were charged with offences for participating in the trucker convoy.

One of the outside law firms retained by TDF in northern Alberta has been acting in a number of court cases. TDF agreed to assist with funding those matters and has promptly paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees and expenses to date.

The firm involved has now invoiced TDF almost $200,000 for the most recent two-month period. TDF's director of litigation asked counsel to provide details explaining this extraordinary fee. At first the firm refused, then agreed to do so; but then did not do so, and instead wrote to the clients the firm was representing, declaring that they would not proceed with their cases, because TDF is "in default”. In fact, the law firm has defaulted on its obligations to provide details when it bills and when requested.

TDF is deeply committed to fighting for civil liberties but, as a charity, it has a fiduciary obligation to donors to spend its funds carefully. This includes reviewing details of invoices by legal counsel.

TDF will continue to work with the firm or the regulatory authority to ensure that TDF receives properly detailed statements of fees and disbursements.

UPDATE: TDF commenced an assessment of this matter and is pleased with the result. We have and will continue to ensure that funds donated to TDF are used efficiently and for their intended purpose.