Articles 2023

Here at the OBA Citizenship & Immigration Law Section, we are proud of our volunteers and we are constantly looking for ways to highlight their work and achievements. Our CPD Liaison Clinton Green grew up in Jamaica and is a strong believer in lifelong learning, collaboration, and the need to increase representation of Black lawyers both in the membership and the Executive. Read on to find out why all these things are important to him and what he enjoys most about practicing immigration law.

The 519 has been a beacon for 2SLGBTQIA+ communities for decades. Offering programs, space, and leadership, The 519 supports and cultivates our communities in myriad ways. Many of us have attended parties, workshops, planning sessions, and lectures at The 519. As Sebastian Commock (he/him), manager of legal initiatives at The 519, says, it’s a place that “feels like home – a place I belong.”

We’ve already made history; the Black community’s contribution to Canadian society is undeniable and indelible. The focus is on the future and ensuring that Black futures are bright. David S. Alli, Ontario’s first Black Queer legal partner, signals a new dawn, a new day, and a new light for Black students and lawyers aspiring to the upper echelons of the legal profession.

There have been several changes to Ontario employment law over the past year that will have lasting impacts on both employees and employers. A ban on non-compete agreements, mandatory written policies on disconnecting from work & electronic monitoring, business & IT consultants becoming exempt from ESA and new rules of temporary help agencies and recruiters are among these changes. Read on to learn about the implications of these changes on employee and employers in Ontario.

This article considers how a right of public access to nature, or lack thereof, impacts the Canadian approach to environmental protection and social and economic development. The author compares the Canadian and Swedish relationship with their natural environment and how this informs our value system when it comes to statutory environmental protections.