The Canadian Bar Association BC Branch celebrates today's decision of the British Columbia Court of Appeal in Christie v. British Columbia, which declares the provincial tax on legal services unconstitutional to the extent that the Social Services Tax Amendment Act purports to tax legal services related to the determination of rights and obligations by courts of law or independent administrative tribunals.

For the full decision, read here: www.courts.gov.bc.ca/Jdb-txt/CA/05/06/2005BCCA0631.htm.

"We congratulate counsel Darrell Roberts QC, Robin Bajer and Linda Nguyen of Miller Thomson LLP and their client, BC lawyer Dugald Christie," said Meg Shaw, CBABC President. "The Canadian Bar Association BC Branch was a proud supporter of this cross-appeal, as part of our ongoing campaign to eliminate this discriminatory and unfair tax on the people of British Columbia. The lawyers of BC are celebrating this victory for their clients today."

The Law Society of BC is expected to provide some guidance to the profession in the near future with respect to the application of today’s decision.

[posted December 20, 2005]