Resources, Articles, & Advocacy
Legislative Update | May 02, 2025
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of April 28
Province Proposes Plan to Get ‘Tough on Crime’: The Ontario government is proposing changes to the bail system that it says will protect communities by keeping violent repeat offenders off the streets and behind bars.
Article | May 02, 2025
What the CBA Charity Law Conference Taught Me About the Future of Giving
When I first signed up for the CBA Charity Law Conference, I expected to learn a few technical updates and maybe connect with others working in the sector. What I did not expect was to walk away thinking differently about forests, international partnerships, and the power of law to shape how we care for people and the planet.
Legislative Update | April 25, 2025
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of April 21
Province Takes Control of School Board, Launches Probes at 3 Others: Ontario has taken control of one school board over financial mismanagement, launched financial probes of three other boards and ordered a fifth board to repay costs for a trip to Italy to buy art. New Education Minister Paul Calandra has ordered the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board to repay the cost of the board trip to Italy, as well as the $100,000 spent on art. The province has appointed a supervisor to the Thames Valley District School Board, in London, after it conducted a review in the wake of a staff retreat to Toronto that cost about $40,000. It is also launching investigations at the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, the Toronto Catholic District School Board and the Toronto District School Board over ongoing financial deficits and spending concerns.
Legislative Update | April 22, 2025
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of April 14
New Session Begins at Queen's Park: Tuesday's throne speech, delivered by Lt.-Gov. Edith Dumont, kicked off the new session of Premier Doug Ford’s third majority government. It leaned heavily on the theme of Ford’s successful election campaign, which tied the tariff threat to nearly every sector.
Article | April 11, 2025
Government of Canada’s Work-Sharing Program Temporarily Extends Support to Non-Profit and Charitable Organizations Experiencing Revenue Decline Due to U.S. Tariffs
Non-profit and charitable organizations experiencing a decline in revenues due to the direct or indirect result of U.S. tariffs may be eligible for support through the Government of Canada’s Work-Sharing Program.
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.”
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.
