Resources, Articles, & Advocacy
Legislative Update | April 27, 2026
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of April 20
OCJ Self Represented Trial Booking: Effective April 27, 2026, the Self Represented Trial Booking Calendar will launch to streamline the scheduling of eligible self-represented trials. These dedicated SharePoint calendars will be accessible to the Judiciary and Crown to allow eligible self-represented trials to be booked directly in the Self-Represented Court (SRC) Courtroom 101.
Award | April 22, 2026
From Paper Files to Digital Trust: Canada's Privacy Act May Be Getting a 21st Century Makeover
Canada has launched a modernization review of the federal Privacy Act, led by the Treasury Board via a public consultation and discussion paper. The review seeks input on improving services, strengthening digital-age privacy protections, and updating oversight—covering themes like accountability, safeguards, and a stronger compliance regime. Consultations run until July 10, 2026, with findings expected in the winter 2026–27.
Article | April 20, 2026
Unlearning the Adversarial Instinct: Rethinking Why the ‘Americanised’ Approach Didn’t Resonate
This article traces my shift from a litigation-centred understanding of dispute resolution toward an appreciation of arbitration and ADR as more collaborative and globally responsive systems of resolving disputes. I reflect on the academic, international, and practical experiences that first introduced me to alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and shaped my growing interest in arbitration. Insights from the 2025 Queen Mary University of London International Arbitration Survey (conducted with White & Case) further reinforced this perspective, particularly concerns that the increasing adoption of litigation-style advocacy, “guerrilla” tactics, and overly adversarial conduct may undermine the efficiency and collaborative ethos that arbitration seeks to preserve.
Article | April 20, 2026
The NCA Process: Who Told You It Was Easier?
This article addresses a persistent stigma in the Canadian legal market: that students who pursue law degrees abroad did so because they could not gain admission to a Canadian law school. It pushes back on that assumption by examining the legitimate and varied reasons people choose the UK path, and demystifying the NCA licensing process. The argument is this: studying abroad is not the easier route, and understanding that before you leave makes all the difference when you return.
Article | April 20, 2026
Judicial Independence in an Age of Political Contestation
Judicial independence is often described as a constitutional principle and a cornerstone of the Canadian legal system. At its core, it guarantees that judges decide cases based solely on fact and law, free from external influence. But at critical moments, judicial independence becomes something more tangible - contested, scrutinized, and at times, publicly misunderstood. Recent developments have brought renewed attention to the judiciary’s role within our democratic framework. These moments provide an opportunity not only to reaffirm the doctrine of judicial independence, but also to examine how it operates in practice - particularly where legal decision-making intersects with broader governmental priorities and public sentiment.
Article | April 20, 2026
Court of Appeal Summaries (April 6 – April 10)
Following are our summaries of the civil decisions of the Court of Appeal for Ontario for the week of April 6, 2026.
Article | April 20, 2026
Nunavut Devolution: A Nation-Building Moment for Canada’s Third Territory
On January 18, 2024, after more than 20 years of negotiation, the Government of Canada, the Government of Nunavut and the Inuit of Nunavut (represented by Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI)) signed the Nunavut Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement. The Agreement was effective when signed and will result in the transfer of administration and control of Crown Land in Nunavut on April 1, 2027. For Stephen Mansell, Chief Negotiator for the Government of Nunavut, this was the culmination of years of painstaking work. For the territory’s roughly 40,000 residents, 85% of whom are Inuit, it marks a historic shift in control over land, water, and resources...
