Resources, Articles, & Advocacy
Article | October 16, 2026
Names and Identification Documents as Part of an Estate Planning Service
This article discusses the ways that names used; names on ID and names with important institutions can be mismatched and how that can affect the work of a substitute decision maker. The author describes knowing the names of a client and their substitute decision makers and verifying Identification documents even if not required to do so by the Law Society of Ontario as an important service when helping a client with their estate plan.
Article | October 13, 2026
Ontario Estates Bench-Bar Liaison Committee
Minutes from the Bench-Bar Liaison Committee from the May 11, 2026 meeting.
Advocacy | October 12, 2026
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of October 12
Toronto Written Consent Release Pilot Project: Effective October 19th, the Ontario Court of Justice is beginning a pilot project in Toronto that allows for out of Court written consent release orders to be issued by Judicial Officers for individuals in bail Court, who are seeking a straightforward bail release on consent of the Crown’s office.
Legislative Update | October 02, 2026
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of September 28
Ontario Judicial Appointments: The Honourable Sean Fraser, announced eight judicial appointments to the Court of Appeal of Ontario and Superior Court of Justice of Ontario. The appointments were done under the judicial application process established in 2016, emphasizing transparency, merit, and the diversity of the Canadian population.
Submission | October 02, 2026
Uniform Access to Digital Assets by Fiduciaries Act (UADAFA)
The OBA provides input to the Ministry of the Attorney General (“MAG”) on the Uniform Access to Digital Assets by Fiduciaries Act (UADAFA). The input will help MAG determine whether Ontario should implement UADAFA and if so, what changes should be made (if any).
Submission | October 02, 2026
Beneficial Ownership Registry: Proposed Amendments to the Corporations Information Act and the Business Corporations Act
The OBA provides feedback to the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement on legislative and regulatory amendments regarding Ontario's Beneficial Ownership Registry (“BOR”). This feedback supplements our previous submission concerning amendments to the Ontario Business Corporations Act (OBCA), provided to the Ministry on May 15th, 2026.
Legislative Update | September 25, 2026
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of September 21
Starlink Costs: Ontario’s new Treasury Board President, Kinga Surma, declined to disclose how much the Ford government spent cancelling its $100 million agreement with Elon Musk’s Starlink internet service. When asked, Surma said, “the decision remained with the taxpayer, that was a big component of our election and the people voted to cancel the contract,” explaining that the government will “continue to move forward with [their] broadband strategy.”
Legislative Update | September 18, 2026
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of September 14
New Judicial Vacancies: There are currently several active priority vacancies in the Ontario Court of Justice, including Cornwall, Eliot Lake, Pembroke, Thunder Bay and Timmins. Candidates who wish to be considered for a judicial appointment are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.
Civil Litigation | August 18, 2026
Amendments to Rules of Civil Procedure (O. Reg. 275/26)
On August 12, 2026, Ontario Regulation 275/26 was filed to amend the Rules of Civil Procedure to require parties and expert witnesses to certify the accuracy of quotations used in their factums and expert reports, respectively, and to update or clarify various appeal procedures.
Legislative Update | August 10, 2026
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of August 3
Provincial By-Elections: Premier Ford has called byelections in three Ontario ridings: Scarborough Southwest, York–Simcoe and Hamilton East–Stoney Creek. The voting day will be on Sept. 3.
