Resources, Articles, & Advocacy
Legislative Update | July 17, 2026
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of July 13
Ticket Resale Updates: Premier Ford’s office has instructed the preparation of regulations to fix the new anti-scalping law. The cap on resale tickets was introduced as part of the 2026 budget. The draft regulations are intended to improve enforcement by defining the face value of a ticket and determining how secondary markets will have to verify it.
Legislative Update | July 13, 2026
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of July 6
Ticket Resellers Untouched: Despite ticket resale platforms running afoul of Ontario’s new price cap law, the province has not fined any violations to date.
Legislative Update | July 03, 2026
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of June 29
Tenant A/C Rules: An Ontario law came into effect this week explicitly allowing tenants to install window air conditioning units and portable units.
Legislative Update | June 26, 2026
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of June 22
Supreme Court Appointment: Prime Minister Carney announced the nomination of Chief Justice Glenn Joyal to the Supreme Court of Canada, praising his career as Chief Justice of Manitoba's Court of King's Bench and noting that he has "demonstrated the integrity, experience, and sound judgment that service on our highest court demands."
Legislative Update | June 19, 2026
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of June 15
New LSO Treasurer: The OBA congratulates Shalini Konanur, who was elected on June 17 as the Treasurer of the Law Society of Ontario for the 2026-27 term. She will take office at the June 25 Convocation. As Treasurer, Ms. Konanur is committed to advancing access to justice and removing barriers for the public and the professions.
Article | June 03, 2026
Why Where You Post Legal Career Opportunities Matters More Than Ever
In hiring lawyers, context, credibility, and connection can shape better outcomes for employers and candidates alike.
Article | May 25, 2026
When the Minimum Fine is Too Much: Section 59(2) Submissions in Provincial Offences Court
This article discusses the use of section 59(2) of Ontario’s Provincial Offences Act as a sentencing tool to reduce mandatory minimum fines in exceptional circumstances where imposing the statutory minimum would be unduly oppressive or contrary to the interests of justice. It explains the legal principles governing section 59(2) submissions, the distinction between inconvenience and genuine hardship, and the evidentiary requirements counsel should prepare to support relief applications. The article also examines the limitations imposed by appellate jurisprudence, including the Ontario Court of Appeal’s decision in Ontario (Environment, Conservation and Parks) v. Henry of Pelham Inc., emphasizing that mandatory minimum fines serve important deterrence and public welfare objectives. Practical guidance is provided for counsel representing clients facing significant fines under provincial regulatory legislation.
Media Release | May 11, 2026
Ontario Justice Centres Honoured with OBA President’s Award for Transforming Access to Justice
Ontario Bar Association President, Katy Commisso, is recognizing Ontario’s Justice Centres with the association’s annual OBA President’s Award.
Article | April 25, 2026
Beyond the Weather: A Newcomer Lawyer's Guide to Small Talk
In this personal reflection, Dr. Ningjing (Natalie) Zhang shares what she learned about small talk after arriving in Canada as a new immigrant in her thirties, the first in her family to attend post-secondary education. Drawing on the T.A.L.K. framework by Harvard Business School Professor Allison Wood Brooks, she walks through four practical principles, Topics, Asking, Levity, and Kindness, and applies them to the everyday conversations that shape a legal career: client intakes, networking receptions, mentor coffees, and difficult phone calls. Written for lawyers who, like her, were never handed the unwritten manual on Canadian small talk, the article offers both a framework and a quiet permission to keep learning.
Resource | April 01, 2026
The Art of Client Communication: Skills for Your Modern Legal Practice
Client relationships, both institutional and individual, are critical to file management and to providing accurate and competent legal advice and representation.
