Resources, Articles, & Advocacy
Legislative Update | April 07, 2025
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of April 7
Province Wants More Strong Mayors: Ontario is proposing to expand strong mayor powers to the heads of council in 169 additional municipalities starting in May. The province said on Wednesday that the expansion would help ensure municipalities have the tools they need to reduce obstacles to new housing and infrastructure developments. The additional municipalities would include the City of Orillia, the Township of Uxbridge, the Town of Wasaga Beach, the Township of King, and the Town of Collingwood. The government first granted the powers to the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa in 2022, and since then has expanded them a few times. Public comments on the proposal may be submitted via email until April 16, 2025.
Legislative Update | April 04, 2025
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of March 31
Ford Calls Tariffs “Unacceptable”: Canada got "the best of a bad deal" when the country was spared yet another volley of tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump's administration Wednesday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford says. But that deal is still "totally unacceptable," Ford was quick to add when speaking with reporters at Queen's Park Thursday, noting the threat to the nation's auto sector especially is still "very high." Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced Canada is retaliating against Trump's trade policy with a 25 per cent tariff on vehicles imported from the U.S. that are not compliant with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).
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.”
Article | March 11, 2025
Unlocking Transparency: Navigating Canada’s New Sustainability Disclosure Standards
On December 18, 2024, the Canadian Sustainability Standards Board announced the release of its first Canadian Sustainability Disclosure Standards. The new Canadian standards, effective January 1, 2025, align with international benchmarks while considering the unique Canadian context. Although currently voluntary, the Canadian standards provide useful guidance for disclosing sustainability-related financial information and climate-related risks and opportunities, and could become mandatory if adopted by regulators or governments in the future.
Article | February 04, 2025
US and Canadian Litigation on “Forever Chemicals” and the Uncertain Regulatory Frontiers on PFAS
The public has become increasingly aware of the potential dangers of widespread use of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to human health and the environment. This has led to class actions in the United States and Canada as well as regulation of PFAS. However, Canada lags behind the US both in litigation and regulation. Developments in the US may foreshadow the future regulatory and litigation landscape for PFAS in Canada.
Article | February 04, 2025
Taking the Temperature on Climate Change Litigation and Remedies: Mathur v. Ontario, 2024 ONCA 762
In October 2024, the Ontario Court of Appeal released its decision for Mathur v. Ontario, 2024 ONCA 762. This article addresses some of the finer points in Mathur and discusses whether the remedies ultimately suggested by the Court of Appeal are appropriate in the face of climate emergencies.
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.
Submission | November 12, 2024
Proposed Revisions to the OLT Rules
The Ontario Bar Association ("OBA") welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback to the Ontario Land Tribunal (“OLT”) regarding proposed revisions to its Rules of Practice and Procedure. We support the intention to streamline and clarify the practices and procedures for OLT proceedings and provide comments to support that goal.
