Resources, Articles, & Advocacy
Legislative Update | March 31, 2025
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of March 24
OBA Seeks "Urgency, Transparency and Accountability" from LSO: In an op-ed published on Thursday, the OBA urged the Law Society of Ontario to deal quickly with the current crisis and then shift its focus from the insular considerations of how to govern itself to the vital work of governing. “These are hard times for the rule of law, access to justice and our economic stability. Lawyers have a critical role to play," OBA President Kathryn Manning wrote. “We must get past this issue and turn our efforts to these fundamental matters. The only way past this issue is to chart a straightforward course through; there is no getting around it. We look forward to working with the many benchers who recognize that.”
Advocacy | March 07, 2025
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of March 3
Law Society CEO 'No Longer Employed': Law Society of Ontario CEO Diana Miles “is no longer employed” by the legal regulator. Priya Bhatia, executive director of Professional Development and Competence, has been named acting CEO. No reasons were given, but Miles' departure follows the revelation that the LSO had retained retired judge Dennis O’Connor to conduct an independent review of her employment contract that raised her annual salary by more than 50 per cent to nearly $1 million without the approval of Convocation.
Legislative Update | February 18, 2025
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of February 18
What the Leaders Said in the Debate: The leaders of Ontario’s main political parties met this week for the second and final televised debate of the election campaign. Doug Ford, Bonnie Crombie, Marit Stiles and Mike Schreiner made several memorable comments — some scripted and some seemingly off the cuff. Click for some of the key quotes from each on various topics.
Legislative Update | February 10, 2025
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of February 10
Provincial Leaders to Debate on Family Day: The leaders from Ontario’s four main political parties will be part of an election debate airing on the evening of Family Day through a partnership of the province’s biggest broadcasters. The debate will air on Feb. 17 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Global News, CBC, CTV, TVO, CHCH, CPAC, CityNews and CP24. It will also be streamed on radio and online platforms. The leaders were also scheduled to be in North Bay on Friday for a debate on northern issues.
Legislative Update | February 07, 2025
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of February 3
Tariff Reprieve for Canada: U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and Canada’s retaliatory measures have been delayed by “at least 30 days." In addition to implementing a $1.3 billion border plan – which includes deploying additional personnel, drones, surveillance equipment and helicopters – Canada is making new commitments. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said 10,000 frontline personnel “are and will be working on protecting the border,” Canada will be listing cartels as terrorists, and the federal government will appoint a “fentanyl czar.”
Submission | November 18, 2024
LSO Increased Transparency Proposal
The OBA provides feedback to the Law Society of Ontario recommending it reject the Increased Transparency proposal as outlined. The public protection goals are important shared objectives, but the proposal has an extreme imbalance between the risks to licensees and the profession, and those public protection goals. We urge the LSO to work with legal stakeholders on an updated proposal that achieves the necessary balance for the profession and the public.
Advocacy | May 10, 2024
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of May 6
Safeguarding Students: The Ontario government plans to introduce regulatory changes through legislation that would create protections to better safeguard students’ information from being stolen or used inappropriately while on school devices. In a news release, the province said future regulations could include age-appropriate standards for software programs on devices, like laptops, used by students at school, as well as stronger standards for software procurement to avoid the use or selling of student data for predatory marketing by third parties.
Legislative Update | May 06, 2024
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of April 29
PCs Win Two Byelections: Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative candidates won both Ontario byelections by convincing margins on Thursday. PC candidate Zee Hamid won by more than 2,400 votes, or nine percentage points, while fellow PC Steve Pinsonneault drew 57 per cent of the votes in the Tory stronghold of Lambton-Kent-Middlesex.
