Submissions

As part of our Advocacy work, CBABC routinely makes submissions in the form of letters, reports and briefing notes to government, the Law Society of BC, and other organizations on matters of importance to our members and the profession. Below is a catalogue of our recent submissions along with any responses received.

Questions? Contact advocacy@cbabc.org.

Today
Today

Provincial Government

Briefing Note: Witnessing Requirements for Wills

  • April 08, 2020

PURPOSE: This briefing note provides for the BC Supreme Court to temporarily allow witnessing of wills by use of video technology as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic health emergency.

Provincial Government

Briefing Note: Builders Liens Limitation Periods

  • April 08, 2020

PURPOSE: This briefing note summarizes the effect on payments on construction projects regarding builders liens in British Columbia in the event limitations periods are suspended or extended by the BC government as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic health emergency.

Other

Response from Minister Lametti Re: Judicial Complement and Vacancies in BC

  • April 07, 2020

"I can assure you that departmental officials are working with British Columbia, as well as with other jurisdictions, to ensure that our courts are adequately resourced. I am strongly committed to ensuring that our justice system is effective, fair, and accessible for all Canadians." - The Honourable David Lametti, P.C., Q.C., M.P. Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Law Society of BC

The Future of Legal Services, Legal Practice and the Legal Profession in BC

  • March 31, 2020

The Law Society of British Columbia’s Futures Task Force is seeking input from the Canadian Bar Association (BC Branch) in its consideration of the future of legal practice, the legal profession in British Columbia and legal regulation. More specifically, it is seeking feedback on the factors and forces that are likely to influence the delivery of legal services and the regulation of the legal profession and legal practice over the next decade.

Provincial Government

Briefing Note: Land Titles Document Execution

  • March 30, 2020

PURPOSE: This briefing note summarizes the impact of recommended physical distancing measures (to avoid the spread of virus during the pandemic) on the execution of land conveyancing documents in British Columbia.

Provincial Government

Deeming Pet-Related Services as Essential Services

  • March 23, 2020

Rebeka Breder and Britta Jensen, Co-Chairs for the Animal Law Section, wrote the the Minister of Health and Provincial Health Officer urging them to deem essential pet-related services as "essential services" during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.

Provincial Government

Letter to the Attorney General: RE: Request to Revive Regulations - Response to Pandemic Retrictions

  • March 19, 2020

"In consultation with the Real Property and Commercial & Real Estate Sections of the Canadian Bar Association (BC Branch), we respectfully request that the Minister consider a revision to the “Land Title (Transfer Forms) Regulation”, B.C. Reg. 53/90 (the “Regulation”) under the Land Title Act, [RSBC 1996] c. 250 to allow for witnessing of land title forms by videoconference during the COVID-19 pandemic."

Law Society of BC

SOGIC to the President of the Law Society of BC: LGBTQ2SI+ competency training for PLTC

  • January 16, 2020

We write to follow up on discussions at our September Provincial Council meeting between your predecessor, Nancy G. Merrill, QC and Lisa Nevens, the co-chair of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Community Section (SOGIC) of the Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch (CBABC). That discussion and this letter is regarding LGBTQ2SI+1 content in the Professional Legal Training Course (PLTC).