CBA Influence - Public Policy and Advocacy

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Today
Today

Allowing modifications in court gowning promotes inclusivity

  • November 21, 2019

Far from being considered anachronistic, the hundreds-year-old practice of lawyers wearing robes to court is in modern times seen to be a great equalizer, forcing the attention to what lawyers are saying in court rather than what they’re wearing. But the current rules make some more equal than others.

Medical assistance in dying legislation unconstitutional, court rules

  • November 18, 2019

Since then, the CBA has passed resolutions dealing with the law, including one urging the government to amend the Criminal Code to permit advance requests for medical assistance in dying, and has offered its assistance to the Expert Panel established by the government to study next steps.

Ditch the landing process, says Immigration Law Section

  • October 28, 2019

Just like a jet pilot who has a checklist of procedures to carry out when coming in for a landing, would-be immigrants have a process to follow once they’ve received permanent resident status in order to become landed. Unlike the pilot’s procedure, the immigrant’s landing process is “unnecessary and inconvenient,” rarely uncovers new issues of concern and could be replaced by technology.

Removal decisions should come after Stage 1 determination, not before

  • September 26, 2019

Canadian regulations allow Immigration and Border officials to remove would-be immigrants as soon as they’ve been declared inadmissible, but the CBA’s Immigration Law Section says they should wait to see whether that declaration is the final word on the matter.

Advocacy update: How we’re doing

  • August 29, 2019

Since the 2015 federal election, the CBA has made more than 300 submissions to government on topics as diverse as pension regulations, lawyers’ billing practices, what constitutes political activity by charities, laws surrounding temporary foreign workers, and making the Constitution bilingual.

Canada Revenue, we have a problem

  • August 29, 2019

Income tax filings are always fraught with a certain amount of difficulty, so anything that aims to streamline the Canada Revenue Agency’s red tape is welcome.

Filling gaps in legal aid funding for refugees and immigrants

  • August 29, 2019

When the federal government announced an additional $26-million for legal aid funding for refugees and migrants in August, it was responding at least in part to a call from the Immigration Law sections of the CBA and OBA to fill a funding gap in the province of Ontario.