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This submission outlines CBABC’s key recommendations for provincial investment for 2020, funding for legal aid services and the establishment of a Unified Family Court, as well as other areas we believe can be reformed to improve access to justice in British Columbia.

The Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch (CBABC) celebrated the outstanding contributions of its members in the legal community at the Annual Bar Awards Luncheon on Saturday, June 15, 2019 in Richmond, BC.

CBABC is proud to join today with more than 50 other justice organizations in Access to Justice Triple Aim, a shared goal of improving the experience of British Columbians.

The CBA has a proud tradition of speaking out and protecting the independence of the judiciary and providing access to justice. Consequently, we urge this Commission to recommend to the government that both the Provincial Court Judges and Judicial Justices be fairly and reasonably compensated in order to uphold, preserve and protect the independence of the judiciary in British Columbia.

The Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch (CBABC) invites all British Columbians to Law Week activities around BC. Attend a free public law class, take a courthouse tour and enjoy free legal advice from volunteer lawyers.

The Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch (CBABC) welcomes the announcement of a one-time grant of $7.9 million to support the development of a new framework for legal aid funding.

The Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch (CBABC) applauds new recommendations for changes to the BC Mental Health Act (MHA) made by the Office of the Ombudsperson in its Special Report No. 42: Committed to Change. The Report is the result of an investigation commenced in August 2017 into the involuntary admission process under the MHA.

The Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch (CBABC) is very pleased to announce Kerry L. Simmons, QC as its new Executive Director. Ms. Simmons assumes the role effective immediately, after serving as acting Executive Director since late last year.

The Law Foundation of British Columbia, Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch (CBABC) and People’s Law School are pleased to announce Dial-A-Law is now available through the People’s Law School. In 1983, CBABC identified a need for public access to legal information on a variety of law topics. With funding from the Law Foundation of British Columbia, CBABC initiated Dial-A-Law, featuring over 125 scripts of legal information written and edited by volunteer lawyers in British Columbia.

“We are pleased to welcome the report’s recommendations for meaningful change to legal aid in British Columbia,” said CBABC President Margaret A. Mereigh. “Recommendation 1 endorses the Canadian Bar Association’s proposal for national benchmarks, set in 2016, for integrated public legal assistance services that are sustainably funded, evidence-based and people-centred.”