Resources, Articles, & Advocacy
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 28, 2025
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of February 24
Third Straight Majority for Ford’s PCs: Ontario Premier Doug Ford and his Progressive Conservatives cruised to their third straight majority government Thursday. It was the first time since 1959 in Ontario that a party leader has won three consecutive majorities. The NDP secured enough seats to remain as the province's Official Opposition, while the Liberals managed to increase their provincewide vote share to nearly 30 per cent, surpassing the NDP by more than 11 per cent. The NDP vote, however, was more concentrated in specific ridings. Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner won re-election in the riding of Guelph and the party also held Kitchener Centre.
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.”
Legislative Update | January 13, 2025
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of January 13, 2025
OBA Critical of Proposed Reforms to LSO Governance: The Ontario Bar Association is expressing concerns about governance changes being put forward by the Law Society of Ontario that will significantly reduce the proportion of elected lawyers in Convocation. “The balance of power would be held by appointees and other members outside the profession, so the OBA is very concerned about that,” OBA President Kathryn Manning told the Law Times. “We can't protect self-regulation by taking the ‘self’ out of ‘self-regulation.’”
Legislative Update | January 06, 2025
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of January 6, 2025
Premier Floats Election Over Response to Trump Tariffs: Doug Ford further fuelled election speculation on Wednesday by saying he’d have to invest massively in the economy if the incoming United States president hits Canada with prolonged tariffs — but that he currently doesn’t have the electoral mandate to do that. “I'm going to have to put tens of billions of dollars into the economy, to save the economy, to protect Canadian, Ontario jobs,” he said. “And I don't have a mandate from the people to spend tens of billions of dollars.” His comments come as President-Elect Donald Trump prepares to enter the White House on Jan. 20, armed with the threat of slapping a 25-per-cent tariff on all Canadian products, and a day after Trump said he’d be open to using “economic force” to compel Canada into joining the U.S.
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.
