Regulating the Legal Profession
After the Legal Professions Act was introduced on April 10, CBABC asked government to delay passing the legislation to allow more time for all legal professionals and the public to consider the Bill and provide meaningful feedback. The Legal Professions Act was passed on May 16 with only 30 of 317 clauses debated.
CBABC supported some components of the legislation, such as creation of an Indigenous Council, but we believe there are fundamental flaws that should have been addressed. The Law Society of BC has announced plans to initiate litigation and we expect to intervene in that court action. Lawyers can learn more about Bill 21 and our advocacy on this issue at cbabc.org/regulation.
Curtailing Misuse of Non-Disclosure Agreements
In April, CBABC delivered a letter to the Attorney General, urging the regulation of non-disclosure agreements in B.C. Our members voiced their concerns about widespread misuse of NDAs and the resulting silencing of survivors
of harassment, abuse and discrimination. The Attorney General agreed the matter is serious and encouraged further contribution on the topic.
First Nation Registration of Land
We were pleased to see the government recently passed Bill 13, Land Title and Property Law Amendment Act, which enables First Nation registration of land in the Land Title and Service Authority’s Land Title Office. We voiced our support for the legislation, emphasizing that these changes are significant in moving DRIPA forward and therefore require ongoing consultation with stakeholders.
Artificial Intelligence and Tort Law
Last October, we delivered a submission to the British Columbia Law Institute responding to their Consultation Paper on AI and Civil Liability. CBABC supported applying the negligence framework to address AI-caused harm but cautioned that limitations of AI technology may disproportionately impact vulnerable populations. In April, BCLI released their Report noting that CBABC members’ input significantly influenced their final recommendations.
