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Take a look at the people in your neighbourhood, where you live or work — the people that you meet when you’re walking down the street, as the Sesame Street song says. Some, you can’t help but notice, are already in trouble — people asking for money, or sleeping on the street. But others who might look like they have it all under control could be one legal issue away from personal disaster.

Congratulations to Khaled Shariff (In-House Counsel, Squamish First Nation), Cheryl D'Sa (Managing Partner, Narwal Litigation), Sharon Singh (Associate, Bennett Jones) and Leena Yousefi (CEO YLaw Group).

CBABC was granted standing to participate in the Cullen Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in BC. The ruling was issued Sep 24, 2019. The Cullen Commission looks at the full scope of money laundering in BC, including real estate, gaming, financial institutions and the corporate and professional sectors.

Whistleblowers and B.C. Lottery Corp. officials will have to provide more information to the Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering before it can be determined whether they will get standing, commission lawyer Brock Martland said Tuesday.

The new president of the Canadian Bar Association, B.C. Branch (CBABC) says there is a crisis in the provincial legal aid system that is seeing too many people miss out on the proper supports they need.

The CBA is committed to answering the calls of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. A central premise of the CBA’s ongoing work is to provide a hub of resources and information to lawyers across Canada to understand the truth and engage in reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

With today’s official start of the October federal election campaign, politicians of all stripes are on the campaign trail touting the message that a vote for their parties will improve the lives of Canadians. The Canadian Bar Association believes that this is an excellent opportunity for the parties to show how they would take leadership on the issue of legal aid.

Bencher elections are held every two years in odd-numbered years in nine electoral districts across British Columbia. Benchers are elected for two-year renewable terms. The next Bencher election will be held in November 2019, to elect Benchers in all districts for the term January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2021. Voting will occur from November 1 to November 14, and votes will be counted on November 15, 2019.

“Legal aid funding is in a state of crisis, particularly in BC,” Ken Armstrong, CBABC President for 2019-20 said. “Ordinary, working British Columbians who are facing life-altering legal issues, such as separation and divorce, are being denied legal advice.”

Leaders of provincial bar associations have written letters to candidates