2024

Happy new year! I am honoured to have had the opportunity to work with such dedicated volunteers and staff in 2016. It is our combined effort and enthusiasm that helps ensure our members are heard. I look forward to continuing our important work in 2017.

The decision of the Law Society’s Professional Development and Competence Committee to keep the Law Practice Program running for its full five years has been named one of the Law Times top news stories of 2016.

OBA President David Sterns penned an article for the Toronto Star, outlining some of the efforts that could be taken immediately to help modernize Ontario’s court infrastructure. Bringing technology to Ontario’s courts is one way to help the profession practice more efficiently and help build the public’s confidence in our cherished justice system.

As a reminder to the profession, a number of changes have been made to Rule 48.14 of the Rules of Civil Procedure (Dismissal of Action for Delay) and will become effective January 1, 2017.

Building on a resolution of the Canadian Bar Association’s national council, the OBA’s Women Lawyers Forum and Civil Litigation Section recently proposed amendments to the Consolidated Provincial Practice Direction to accommodate the needs of lawyers appearing in court while pregnant in letters to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Appeal for Ontario.

At Convocation on December 2, 2016, the Law Society adopted the Final Report of the Challenges Faced by Racialized Licensees Working Group, entitled "Working Together for Change: Strategies to Address Issues of Systemic Racism in the Legal Professions – November 2016." The Report contains 13 recommendations related to five themes: accelerating a culture shift, measuring progress, educating for change, implementing supports, and leading by example.

The Roundtable of Diversity Associations (RODA) held its sixth annual diversity soirée in partnership with the OBA on Tuesday, November 29th . The event featured a keynote address by Ontario’s Attorney General Yasir Naqvi. The Law Times was there and captured some great photos from the event.

The Office of the Auditor General of Ontario released its Annual Report on November 30, 2016. The report acknowledges that Ontario’s courts are using outdated technology, an issue OBA President David Sterns has been speaking about during his term.

Congratulations to the many OBA members among the Women’s Executive Network’s 2016 Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award Winners, including founder, past Chair and current executive member of the OBA’s Class Actions Law Section Sylvie Rodrigue and Lisa Borsook, recipient of the 2014 OBA Award of Excellence in Real Estate.

The OBA’s Institute, Canada’s largest legal CPD event, will return February 7-11, 2017 in Toronto, Ottawa and online via live webcast.