Standing Committees

Audit

Pursuant to the provisions of OBA By-Laws and the Financial Policy Manual, at least three members of Council are appointed annually as an Audit Committee, with general responsibility for reviewing the on-going financial affairs of the OBA. The Committee also reviews the Budget recommendations of the Treasurer and the senior staff directors, and participates in the annual audit of the financial statements of OBA, and reports from time to time to Council and to the Executive Committee in regard to these matters.

Current Chair:
Morris Chochla
(416) 596-7724
email: mchochla@forbeschochla.com

Staff Liaison:
Gita Patel
(416) 869-0513 ext 342
e-mail: gpatel@oba.org

By-Laws

To prepare wording to implement changes to the By-Laws as requested by the Executive and Council.

Current Chair:
Jonathan Speigel
(905) 791-6262 ext. 221
e-mail: jonathan@ontlaw.com

Staff Liaison:
Steve Pengelly
(416) 869-0513 ext 323
e-mail: spengelly@oba.org

Finance

To work with the Treasurer in the preparation of the Annual Budget, and to offer general advice on the financial policy of OBA.

Current Chair
Jonathan Yen
(416) 410-6389
e-mail: jyen@jcylaw.com

Staff Liaison:
Gita Patel
(416) 869-0513 ext 342
e-mail: gpatel@oba.org

Governance

The Governance Committee was created by as resolution of the Executive Committee on September 20, 2007. Its mandate is to review every aspect of how the OBA governs itself and to make recommendations to the Executive as to changes that it thinks should be made. The committee is chaired by the incumbent Vice President.

Current Chair:
R. Lee Akazaki
(416) 979-2020
e-mail: lakazaki@gilbertsondavis.com

Staff Liaison:

Steve Pengelly
416-869-1047 Ext. 323
e-mail: spengelly@oba.org

Membership

To recruit and retain members and manage the member savings program.

Current Chair:
Kathryn M. Gamble-Lerchner
(416) 979-1446
e-mail: gamblek@lao.on.ca

Staff Liaison:
Lynn Elliott
(416) 869-1047 ext 343
e-mail: lelliott@oba.org

Nominating

The nominating Committee's role is defined by the By-Laws and generally includes the overseeing of the election process for Executive and Council.

Current Chair:
Gregory D. Goulin
(519) 258-8073
e-mail: gdgoulin@wincom.net

Staff Liaison:
Valerie Dallas
(416) 869-0513 ext. 322
e-mail: vdallas@oba.org

Official Languages

The Committee's mandate is to promote the use of the French language within the administration of justice in Ontario and to advocate for French-speaking lawyers in the OBA. The Committee is responsible for increasing awareness within the legal community about official legal bilingualism in Ontario, identifying the needs of French-speaking members of OBA and ensuring that the Association meets these needs, including in the areas of legal education, the development of practice tools and the delivery of legal services in French throughout the province.

For further information please click here.

Current Chair
Christian Paquette
(416) 643-6937
e-mail: cpaquette@heenan.ca

Staff Liaison:
Filippo Conte
(416) 869-1047 ext 346
e-mail: fconte@oba.org

Public Affairs

To advocate on behalf of the profession's issues, to improve the image of the profession and to monitor and respond to government and stakeholder issues.

Current Chair:
Julia E. Hanigsberg
(416) 979-5000 Ext. 6607
e-mail: julia.hanigsberg@ryerson.ca

Staff Liaison:
Louise Harris
(416) 869-1047 ext. 355
e-mail: lharris@oba.org

Strategic Planning

The current mandate of this Committee is to develop a specific plan for OBA to attempt to focus its views over the next five years.

Current Chair:
Janet Fuhrer
(613) 236-1995
e-mail: jfuhrer@ridoutmaybee.com

Staff Liaison:
Steve Pengelly
(416) 869-0513 ext 323
e-mail: spengelly@oba.org