Submissions and Legislative Updates

On January 12, CBABC delivered a letter to the Attorney General highlighting concerns about the lack of transparency surrounding the proposed legislation for a single regulator for lawyers, notaries and paralegals. 

The Minister of Justice has amended the Questionnaire for Federal Judicial Appointments, reflecting feedback provided by the Canadian Bar Association – BC Branch, CBA, the Canadian Judicial Council, and the Office of the Commissioner for Foreign Affairs. Changes reflect more inclusive language while assessment remains comprehensive.

In 2021, the Government formed a Special Committee to reform the Police Act. A public consultation was conducted and the final report of this Special Committee has now been published, along with recommendations for modernizing the legislation and policies around policing in BC.

CBABC’s Family Law Working Group has prepared this submission which contains recommendations to modernize the child protection system in BC. Legislative and policy reform is long overdue, and change is needed to protect the most vulnerable in our society. This submission highlights the most critical issues and establishes a plan designed minimize harm to children who are part of this system.

CBABC was invited to present before the Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services as part of a public consultation by the provincial government for the 2022 budget.

As the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated a digital transformation of BC’s court system, access to justice increased, but some people are being left behind. CBABC identifies those people, suggests some considerations to follow, and invites dialogue with the courts, Court Services, Justice Services and the Law Society of BC to ensure no one is left behind.

On July 9, 2021, CBABC delivered its final submissions to the Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in British Columbia. CBABC received joint standing with the Criminal Defense Advocacy Society to participate in the Commission in the fall of 2019. Our participation and submissions were not to overlap with those of the Law Society of BC.

CBABC responds to a call for public comment on a consultation paper from BC Law Institute to modernize the Child, Family and Community Service Act (CFCSA) for the government to reform BC’s main child protection law.

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).

From Lisa M.G. Nevens, Chair, SOGIC BC