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Looking to get more involved with CBABC? Nominations are open to fill vacancies in Cariboo (1), Nanaimo (1), Prince Rupert (1) Vancouver (3), Victoria (4), Westminster (2), and Yale (3) Counties.

A review of the B.C. legal aid system says change is needed in order to reverse years of underfunding and make it more effective, but an organization representing legal aid lawyers in the province is saying it does not go far enough because of a lack of focus on financial concerns and is threatening to withdraw its services unless action is taken to put more money into the system.

The Honourable Patrice Abrioux, a judge of the Supreme Court of British Columbia, is appointed a Justice of the British Columbia Court of Appeal. Amy D. Francis, a principal at Legacy Tax + Trust Lawyers LLP, is appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of British Columbia. Karen F. Douglas, a partner at Harper Grey LLP, is appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of British Columbia.

The B.C. government should radically change the way it delivers legal aid by opening community clinics staffed by lawyers and advocates to serve the needy, says a new review that lawyers immediately discounted.

“We are pleased to welcome the report’s recommendations for meaningful change to legal aid in British Columbia,” said CBABC President Margaret A. Mereigh. “Recommendation 1 endorses the Canadian Bar Association’s proposal for national benchmarks, set in 2016, for integrated public legal assistance services that are sustainably funded, evidence-based and people-centred.”

“[The plan to fund the clinics] sounds really positive and ambitious, but I’m not sure with $2 million being put to that what it can deliver,” Ms. Mereigh said. “I’m not sure this is speaking to the change we want to see in terms of where people need legal advocates.”

The Budget Implementation Act, 2018, No. 2, Bill C-86 (Bill), was introduced in the House of Commons on October 29 and received Royal Assent on December 13. Once in force, the Bill will consolidate existing consumer provisions and regulations and strengthen consumer protection provisions that apply to banks and authorized foreign banks under the Bank Act (BA).

With less than a year to go before the next federal election, much has been made of the politics of the Finance Minister's Fall Economic Statement. Just as important is the Statement's practical impact on Canadian businesses and the economic dimensions of this series of announcements.

The Budget Implementation Act, 2018, No. 2 (Bill C-86), which amends several federal statutes, including the Canada Business Corporations Act (the CBCA), received royal assent on December 13, 2018. This bulletin discusses key aspects of amendments to the CBCA which come into force on June 13, 2019. Regulations in respect of these amendments remain to be drafted and will come into effect on a date to be determined.

The Canadian Bar Association BC branch gave the B.C. government's 2019 budget lukewarm praise as it sets out some goals in providing greater access to justice, but it was cool on providing funding details to ensure it happens.