by Eric J Rice, QC

The 1998 Annual Meeting of the CBA opened in the evening of August 23, 1998 with a big party at the St. John’s Arena. The following morning the formal opening ceremonies were attended by more than 1,000 people. Gwynne Dyer delivered the keynote address, speaking on the impact of the legal profession in resource development. Following his speech, a panel including John Crosbie and Clyde Wells (recently appointed to the Newfoundland Court of Appeal) continued the discussion. Later that day, the BC Branch held a reception where our new President, Doug F. Robinson, QC was inaugurated.

Well known CBC personality Rex Murphy spoke at the Young Lawyers’ Luncheon on the final day. His humour, depth of understanding and eloquence amazed the listeners. Drawing on his perceptions of high profile American and Canadian cases in recent years (OJ, Bernardo, Monica-gate), he commented on how public respect for the system seems to be in decline and how lawyers aren’t helping matters by appearing on television as play-by-play analysts. A transcript of his speech is available from the National Office at 1-800-267-8860.

Council conducted business during a day and a half of reports and debates preceding the official opening. The following are highlights of the resolutions passed by Council including my comments on them:

• A pro bono legal services policy which would encourage every member to put in 50 hours or three per cent of billings per year pro bono. This should appeal to our members if an effort is made to give generous recognition to those who participate, and if a broad range of service is allowed to qualify as pro bono.
• The establishment of a permanent international criminal court to prosecute for serious international crimes.
• Proposal for the enactment of an intellectual property security act as a national scheme to register security interests in intellectual property.
• New by-laws for the National Sections Council.
• Cancellation of the $10 Special Reserve Levy and transfer of that amount to regular membership fees, with a further membership fee increase of $5. On the whole this is a reasonable and responsible measure, but it would be useful to have a general report on National finances presented to our Provincial Council this year.
• A one year only special levy of $3 per member to finance the Canadian Bar Review, with a study to be conducted as to its value, readership, and the method of publication. The study will analyze the learned journal and make recommendations for its future. Your views on the CBR and its continued publication would be most welcome.
• Rebate to universal Branches for increases in membership raised from $2 to $5 per new member. This is part of a larger program to stimulate increased membership. The rebate recognizes that we have worked to maintain universal membership.
• Proposal for a two-year waiting period for applicants for judicial appointment who have been actively involved in politics. The original motion was amended to delete a requirement that such applicants also be “highly recommended” by their judicial appointment committees, and to clarify that there is no recommendation favouring an American style public judicial appointments process.

The meeting ended with the installation of a new National President, Barry L. Gorlick, QC, of Winnipeg, who took over from outgoing President P. André Gervais, QC, of Montreal.

Eric J Rice, QC, a member of the National Executive Committee, is a partner at Campbell, Froh, May & Rice.

This article was published in the October 1998 issue of BarTalk. © 1998 The Canadian Bar Association. All rights reserved.