Council elects the officers, approves the budget, and most important determines OBA policy. Council meets four times a year to perform its duties and hear reports from the President, Executive Director, Standing Committees, Divisions and other agenda items set by the President.

Role of Council Members
 
OBA Council Members:

• regularly attend meetings of Council;
• are a voice for OBA members;
• debate issues facing the organization and profession;
• make decisions to set OBA policy;
• receive reports from committees;
• participate in setting the future direction of OBA;
• represent OBA to the profession;
• provide feedback to Executive Committee; and
• participate fully to ensure OBA receives the benefit of your experience and knowledge.

Some Ontario Council Members also sit on the CBA National Council as voting members. This is determined following OBA's by-laws.

Council Meetings

The year commences usually with a weekend meeting in late September or early October, held outside Metropolitan Toronto. The program includes recreation and social occasions.

OBA Council regularly has three other meetings during the year in Toronto at OBA's offices. On occasion a special meeting of Council is called, usually to approve some policy resolution of importance for presentation to government.

Following the fall meeting, the normal pattern is a December meeting, followed at night by the Council Awards dinner and dance, an April meeting and a June meeting. The June meeting now includes the approval of the Annual Budget for the following fiscal year.

National Council Meetings

The National Council meets twice annually, a mid-winter meeting in Febraury/March and the annual meeting, normally in August. Ontario Council members who are voting members of the National Council should plan to attend these meetings, as Ontario needs your voting strength. If you know you cannot attend, then please advise OBA's Executive Director in order that an alternate member of Council may be appointed and attend in your absence for the particular meeting.

Representation

Every member of OBA Council is a representative and treats his or her vote and contribution in this light.
There are three constituencies that each Council member represents:

• a region if an elected member, or a section, conference or some other organization;
• your own area of practice, size of law firm or department and your age group; and
• the public. The profession exists to serve the public. Each Council member should weigh the needs and concerns of his or her public.

Policy Resolutions
Members of Council should consider it an obligation to bring forward responsible proposals to Council for study and further action.