Announcements

CBABC recognizes the investments the BC government has made to legal aid services over the past year, but renews their call for additional funding for family law legal aid.

The Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch (CBABC) is deeply disappointed in the announcement made today by Premier John Horgan and Attorney General David Eby to introduce a “no-fault” insurance plan to address ICBC’s ongoing financial problems.

Extensive amendments to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (“BIA”) and Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (“CCAA”) coming into force on November 1, 2019 through Bill C-97 will have a significant effect on certain aspects of insolvency proceedings commenced after that date. The wide-ranging revisions to both the BIA and CCAA will likely foster changes to the currently existing insolvency and restructuring practice in Canada.

The BC government proposes sweeping changes to the Securities Act (British Columbia) (the “Act”), which will allow the British Columbia Securities Commission (“BCSC”) to better address white collar investment crime. Proposed through Bill 33 Securities Amendment Act, 2019, the amendments will provide the BCSC with some of the strongest powers in Canada to protect investors and enforce sanctions. These are the first major revisions to the legislation in almost a decade.

Bill 41 requires the government, among other things, to take all necessary measures to ensure provincial laws are consistent with UNDRIP. The Bill also states that "Nothing in this Act is to be construed as delaying the application of the Declaration to the laws of British Columbia." 

CBABC congratulates the BC Legislature on unanimously passing Bill 41, the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples act.

CBABC congratulates Vancouver lawyer Robert Brun, QC as the 2019 recipient of the Georges A. Goyer QC Memorial Award for Distinguished Service. CBABC presented the award last evening during the BC legal community’s annual Bench & Bar Dinner.

“We are pleased with the improvement to the tariff announced today,” said CBABC President, Ken Armstrong. “It’s important for British Columbians because it means more legal aid lawyers will be able to take on more cases to represent low-income British Columbians who qualify for assistance.”

“Legal aid funding is in a state of crisis, particularly in BC,” Ken Armstrong, CBABC President for 2019-20 said. “Ordinary, working British Columbians who are facing life-altering legal issues, such as separation and divorce, are being denied legal advice.”

The Law Foundation of BC, Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch (CBABC) and Access Pro Bono Society of BC (APB) are pleased to announce the Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) is now available through APB.