Submissions and Resolutions

The Canadian Bar Association reiterates its support for a Private Member's Bill that will provide explicit protection for transgender persons in Criminal and Human Rights law and clarifies why the Bill should go forward unamended.

The CBA comments on a private members' Bill by Ryan Leef of the Yukon, proposing changes to better address the interaction of people with FASD and the criminal justice system.

WHEREAS Canada is a party to the UN Convention against Torture, the four Geneva Conventions on humanitarian law, the Convention against Genocide, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Statute of the International Criminal Court

WHEREAS end of life decision-making in health care is legally, ethically and emotionally challenging

WHEREAS there have been numerous recent media reports of sexual harassment and sexual assault in well-known and well-respected Canadian institutions in the public and private sectors

The CBA says proposed amendments to the Criminal Code in Bill C-26, to expand use of sex offender registries and, increase mandatory minimum and consecutive sentences, would not make children safer.

The CBA says Bill C-452, which would amend the Criminal Code to create a rebuttable presumption of guilt against anyone who lives with or is habitually in the company of a person who is exploited, is likely to be found unconstitutional.

The CBA says Bill C-44 undermines established practices that balance national security against fundamental rights. The proposed amendments reduce protections against disclosure of information that may identify confidential informants.

The CBA supports efforts to raise global standards for transparency in the extractive sector, however, urges harmonization of the reporting requirements with the Unites States and European Union regimes.

The CBA supports the amendments to the Model Code of Professional Conduct proposed by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada and suggests a number of changes to strengthen the new and revised provisions.