Resources, Articles, & Advocacy
Legislative Update | January 20, 2026
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of January 12
Premier Ford and China EVs: Following Prime Minister Carney’s meeting with Chinese President Xi, Premier Ford has raised alarm bells about the impact cheap Chinese EVs would have on Ontario's auto sector. The Premier has called the deal, which would allow up to 49,000 Chinese EVs to enter Canada tariff-free, as a lopsided deal.
Legislative Update | January 12, 2026
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of January 5
Premier Ford to Turn Over Personal Phone Records: The Ford government’s request for a judicial review of two IPC rulings on access to the Premier’s private phone logs was dismissed. In their decision, the judges wrote, “The conclusion that the Premier used his personal cellphone to conduct Cabinet Office matters is a finding of fact that attracts a high degree of deference.” The Premier’s office will be seeking leave to appeal the decision.
Article | October 20, 2025
Pro Bono IP Clinics: Inspiring Innovation and the Next Generation of IP Lawyers
The article discusses the growing need for accessible intellectual property (IP) legal support in Ontario, especially for small businesses, startups, and early-stage entrepreneurs who face financial and informational barriers to protecting their ideas. Despite Ontario’s status as a thriving innovation hub, current legal resources—especially in IP—are insufficient to meet the demand. To address this gap, university-based pro bono IP clinics are emerging as a key solution. The article focuses on the Western Intellectual Property and Innovation Legal Clinic (WIPILC) at Western University’s Faculty of Law, led by Dr. Bassem Awad. Founded in 2021, the Clinic helps innovators across Southwestern Ontario understand and protect their IP while offering law students practical, hands-on legal training.
Video | October 08, 2025
Copyright in the Age of AI: Legal Implications and Emerging Issues
As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes the creation, use, and commercialization of content in the entertainment, media, and music industries, significant copyright challenges and legal issues are coming to the forefront.
Video | September 26, 2025
Costs in Intellectual Property Cases before the Federal Courts
Join us for a focused analysis of costs in intellectual property cases. Our expert panel will examine key issues in seeking and assessing costs before the federal courts.
Submission | September 17, 2025
Rules of Civil Procedure Relating to Evidence and Artificial Intelligence
The Ontario Bar Association provides feedback on the Artificial Intelligence Subcommittee of the Civil Rules Committee’s potential proposals to amend the Rules of Civil Procedure as they relate to evidence and artificial intelligence.
Provincial | September 12, 2025
Queen's Park Day and Pre-Budget Consultation
The OBA will be holding a Queen's Park Day in Spring 2026 and will likely provide a submission on the annual pre-budget consultations, which typically occurs in early January. Sections are invited to provide section executive approved policy proposals for consideration by no later than December 8, 2025.
Advocacy | May 16, 2025
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of May 12
Province Tables Tariff-Era Budget: The Ford government plans to run a substantial deficit of almost $15 billion and spend more than $230 billion this year. On Thursday, Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy presented the government’s 2025 budget, a document dominated by the tariff response and how it will impact the economy.
