Submissions and Legislative Updates

Today
Today

LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY UPDATE – Week of July 6th 

  • July 10, 2020

On Tuesday, the government introduced Bill 195, Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020. The legislation allows for the government to continue the use of existing emergency powers otherwise restricted for use under a Declaration of Emergency. The current Declaration of Emergency was introduced on March 17th and has been renewed within each consecutive two week period.

Aboriginal Law, Administrative Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution and 49 more..., Air and Space Law, Animal Law, Insolvency Law, Business Law, Constitutional, Civil Liberties and Human Rights Law, Charity and Not-For-Profit Law, Civil Litigation, Class Actions, Competition Law, Construction and Infrastructure Law, Canadian Corporate Counsel Association - Ontario Chapter, Criminal Justice, Child and Youth Law, E-Discovery Sub-Committee, Education Law, Elder Law, Environmental Law, Family Law, Women Lawyers Forum, Franchise Law, French Speaking Lawyers, Sole, Small Firm and General Practice, Groupe Francophone, Health Law, Citizenship and Immigration Law, Insurance Law, International Law, Intellectual Prop, Judges Forum, Labour and Employment Law, Legal Prof Assistance, Law Practice Management, Maritime Law, Entertainment, Media and Communications Law, Military Law, Municipal Law, Natural Resources and Energy Law, Pensions and Benefits Law, Privacy Law, Public Sector Lawyers, Real Property Law, Sales / Commodity, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law, Student Forum, Taxation Law, Information Technology and Intellectual Property Law, Trusts and Estates Law, Workers' Compensation, Young Lawyers' Division

Other

OBA letter on availability of civil juries

  • June 15, 2020

The OBA responded to the Attorney General’s letter seeking input on a potential amendment to the Courts of Justice Act regarding the availability of civil juries.

Civil Litigation, Insurance Law

Other

OBA Submission on the new Legal Aid Services Act

  • March 10, 2020

The OBA submission raised three specific issues that it would like to see addressed with respect to the proposed Legal Aid Services Act in Bill 161: (1) Ensuring additional funding for court-ordered services currently covered directly by the Attorney General; (2) Clarifying a fair process regarding information disclosure for lawyers who represent LAO clients; and, (3) Clarifying proportional representation on the LAO Board.

Aboriginal Law, Administrative Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution and 49 more..., Air and Space Law, Animal Law, Insolvency Law, Business Law, Constitutional, Civil Liberties and Human Rights Law, Charity and Not-For-Profit Law, Civil Litigation, Class Actions, Competition Law, Construction and Infrastructure Law, Canadian Corporate Counsel Association - Ontario Chapter, Criminal Justice, Child and Youth Law, E-Discovery Sub-Committee, Education Law, Elder Law, Environmental Law, Family Law, Women Lawyers Forum, Franchise Law, French Speaking Lawyers, Sole, Small Firm and General Practice, Groupe Francophone, Health Law, Citizenship and Immigration Law, Insurance Law, International Law, Intellectual Prop, Judges Forum, Labour and Employment Law, Legal Prof Assistance, Law Practice Management, Maritime Law, Entertainment, Media and Communications Law, Military Law, Municipal Law, Natural Resources and Energy Law, Pensions and Benefits Law, Privacy Law, Public Sector Lawyers, Real Property Law, Sales / Commodity, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law, Student Forum, Taxation Law, Information Technology and Intellectual Property Law, Trusts and Estates Law, Workers' Compensation, Young Lawyers' Division

Provincial Government

Pre-Budget Consultation Letter

  • February 11, 2020

As part of the provincial government’s pre-budget consultations, the OBA asked the government to commit to adequate and predictable funding for the legal aid system and ensure adequate funding of a comprehensive strategy that recognizes the prevalence of mental health issues for society’s most vulnerable who are served by lawyers in all areas of the legal aid system.

Aboriginal Law, Administrative Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution and 49 more..., Air and Space Law, Animal Law, Insolvency Law, Business Law, Constitutional, Civil Liberties and Human Rights Law, Charity and Not-For-Profit Law, Civil Litigation, Class Actions, Competition Law, Construction and Infrastructure Law, Canadian Corporate Counsel Association - Ontario Chapter, Criminal Justice, Child and Youth Law, E-Discovery Sub-Committee, Education Law, Elder Law, Environmental Law, Family Law, Women Lawyers Forum, Franchise Law, French Speaking Lawyers, Sole, Small Firm and General Practice, Groupe Francophone, Health Law, Citizenship and Immigration Law, Insurance Law, International Law, Intellectual Prop, Judges Forum, Labour and Employment Law, Legal Prof Assistance, Law Practice Management, Maritime Law, Entertainment, Media and Communications Law, Military Law, Municipal Law, Natural Resources and Energy Law, Pensions and Benefits Law, Privacy Law, Public Sector Lawyers, Real Property Law, Sales / Commodity, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law, Student Forum, Taxation Law, Information Technology and Intellectual Property Law, Trusts and Estates Law, Workers' Compensation, Young Lawyers' Division

Provincial Government, Legal Aid Ontario

OBA Submission Regarding the Legal Aid Ontario Modernization Project

  • October 31, 2019

The Ministry of the Attorney General, in partnership with Legal Aid Ontario is currently engaged in the Legal Aid Ontario Modernization Project (“Project”). The mandate of the Project is to develop and implement reform proposals and legislative amendments that will contribute to moving the legal aid system towards sustainability and modernized service delivery to better meet the needs of low-income Ontarians through governance and service delivery improvements.

Aboriginal Law, Administrative Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution and 49 more..., Air and Space Law, Animal Law, Insolvency Law, Business Law, Constitutional, Civil Liberties and Human Rights Law, Charity and Not-For-Profit Law, Civil Litigation, Class Actions, Competition Law, Construction and Infrastructure Law, Canadian Corporate Counsel Association - Ontario Chapter, Criminal Justice, Child and Youth Law, E-Discovery Sub-Committee, Education Law, Elder Law, Environmental Law, Family Law, Women Lawyers Forum, Franchise Law, French Speaking Lawyers, Sole, Small Firm and General Practice, Groupe Francophone, Health Law, Citizenship and Immigration Law, Insurance Law, International Law, Intellectual Prop, Judges Forum, Labour and Employment Law, Legal Prof Assistance, Law Practice Management, Maritime Law, Entertainment, Media and Communications Law, Military Law, Municipal Law, Natural Resources and Energy Law, Pensions and Benefits Law, Privacy Law, Public Sector Lawyers, Real Property Law, Sales / Commodity, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law, Student Forum, Taxation Law, Information Technology and Intellectual Property Law, Trusts and Estates Law, Workers' Compensation, Young Lawyers' Division

Other

Response to the Law Society of Ontario's Access to Justice Approach: Call for Comment

  • May 31, 2019

This submission is in response to the Law Society of Ontario's Access to Justice Committee's "Review of the Law Society's Access to Justice Approach: Call for Comment"

Aboriginal Law, Administrative Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution and 49 more..., Air and Space Law, Animal Law, Insolvency Law, Business Law, Constitutional, Civil Liberties and Human Rights Law, Charity and Not-For-Profit Law, Civil Litigation, Class Actions, Competition Law, Construction and Infrastructure Law, Canadian Corporate Counsel Association - Ontario Chapter, Criminal Justice, Child and Youth Law, E-Discovery Sub-Committee, Education Law, Elder Law, Environmental Law, Family Law, Women Lawyers Forum, Franchise Law, French Speaking Lawyers, Sole, Small Firm and General Practice, Groupe Francophone, Health Law, Citizenship and Immigration Law, Insurance Law, International Law, Intellectual Prop, Judges Forum, Labour and Employment Law, Legal Prof Assistance, Law Practice Management, Maritime Law, Entertainment, Media and Communications Law, Military Law, Municipal Law, Natural Resources and Energy Law, Pensions and Benefits Law, Privacy Law, Public Sector Lawyers, Real Property Law, Sales / Commodity, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law, Student Forum, Taxation Law, Information Technology and Intellectual Property Law, Trusts and Estates Law, Workers' Compensation, Young Lawyers' Division

Provincial Government

Comments on a Potential Amendment to the Juries Act

  • April 09, 2019

This submission is in response to the Ministry of the Attorney General's consultaiton on a proposed amendment to the Juries Act regarding accessibility of juror information. The OBA supports maintaining the privacy standards currently in place but enhancing the security around such privacy.

Civil Litigation, Criminal Justice, Insurance Law and 1 more..., Privacy Law

Other

Service of Documents by Email

  • March 18, 2019

The OBA proposes changes to the Rules of Civil Procedure that would permit service by e-mail as a valid method of service for most documents, without a party’s consent, or a court order.

Civil Litigation, Class Actions, Insurance Law