New Divorce Act changes focus on out-of-court resolution, interests of child
Wednesday, March 03, 2021 @ 9:10 AM
New federal laws requiring family lawyers to “encourage” parting spouses to use mediation or other forms of alternative dispute resolution instead of the courts have come into force. On March 1, federal Minister of Justice and Attorney General David Lametti announced in a news release that long-awaited amendments to Canada’s Divorce Act took hold as of that day, marking “the first substantive changes to federal family laws in more than 20 years.” ... [read more]
Lawyer competence, diversity issues focus for new Alberta law society president
Wednesday, March 03, 2021 @ 3:25 PM
The new president of the Law Society of Alberta says she is looking forward to tackling issues of competency and diversity in the profession during a year in which the COVID-19 pandemic will still produce challenges. ... [read more]
Ontario lawyers’ groups monitoring judge selection process as new law looms, leaders say
Wednesday, March 03, 2021 @ 9:44 AM
Ontario’s two largest lawyers’ associations will be watching carefully to assess what impact new legislation from Queen’s Park will have on the impartiality of the province’s judicial appointments process, their leaders say. Bill 245, the Accelerating Access to Justice Act, 2021, is currently before the legislature and is expected to pass later this month. ... [read more]
Sexual harassment prevalent in Quebec legal profession, study says 
Tuesday, March 02, 2021 @ 1:02 PM
Sexual harassment and violence is rife in Quebec legal workplaces, the overwhelming majority of which goes unreported for fear of repercussions, claims a report that calls on the province’s legal actors to work together to take concrete steps to raise awareness and address the pervasive culture of silence and impunity that permits harassment. ... [read more]
Time to study ‘very serious’ issue of secret evidence use in court, senator says
Tuesday, March 02, 2021 @ 9:18 AM
A Canadian senator is saying it is overdue for policymakers to look at the rules surrounding the use and disclosure of secret evidence gathered by intelligence agencies like the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) in court. ... [read more]
