For Immediate Release
August 1, 2008
OTTAWA – Former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien will address members of the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) on Monday, Aug. 18 at 8:00 a.m. in Room 2000A at the Quebec City Convention Centre, as part of the CBA’s 2008 Canadian Legal Conference.
“Mr. Chrétien will deliver a candid reflection on his years as Prime Minister, then answer questions from our members,” says CBA President Bernard Amyot, of Montreal. Mr. Amyot passes the chain of office to Guy Joubert, of Winnipeg on Aug. 19, marking the first time the CBA will have two francophone presidents serving successive terms. Guy Joubert plans to make protection of the rule of law and conflicts of interest his priorities for his term.
The former prime minister is one of many speakers who will participate in the CBA’s four-day conference. Beginning on Saturday, Aug. 16, Chief Justice of Canada Beverley McLachlin will address Council members at 9:45 a.m. and then hold an informal news conference where she will answer questions from media.
During the balance of the Council meeting over the next day-and-a-half, the CBA will debate policy resolutions, including the recommendations of the CBA’s Task Force on Conflicts of Interest. The report makes 21 recommendations that provide a principled approach to identifying and managing potential conflicting interests in law firms, so as to better serve the public.
Chief Justice McLachlin will also address the Opening Plenary session on Sunday, Aug. 17, followed by poet, author and historian Maya Angelou. Dr. Angelou has advised the CBA that she will not permit any taping or recording of her address. Federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson will address CBA members, and then take their questions, on Monday, Aug. 18, at 11:00 a.m.
Phil Fontaine of the Assembly of First Nations will speak at the breakfast session on Tuesday, Aug. 19.
Beginning on Monday, Aug. 18 and continuing for two days, the CBA rolls out programs for lawyers, judges and in-house counsel. The wide-ranging roster of CBA programs includes sessions on reasonable accommodation, children and the law, health-related class action suits, and recruiting temporary workers. Full program details are available here:
http://www.cba.org/CBA/quebec2008/cle/
The theme of this year’s Canadian Corporate Counsel Association’s (CCCA) program is Corporate Counsel: Building the Foundation for Success. The keynote speaker for the CCCA closing luncheon on Aug. 19 is Mr. Justice Ian Binnie of the Supreme Court of Canada. Program details can be found here:
http://www.cancorpcounsel.org/EN/Education/pdf/annual_meeting_08_en.pdf
Sessions are open to accredited media. CBA programs take place at the Quebec Convention Centre; CCCA programs are at the Hilton Quebec. The Media Centre is located in Room 2102B of the Quebec Convention Centre, with the Communications Office in Room 2103.
Accreditation may be obtained by contacting the CBA National Office in Ottawa at 613-237-2925, ext. 146/155. The Communications Office in Quebec City will be open from Friday, Aug. 15 at noon until Tuesday, Aug. 19 at noon (tel: 418-649-5218).
The Canadian Bar Association is dedicated to improvement in the law and the administration of justice. Some 37,000 lawyers, law teachers, and law students from across Canada are members.
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CONTACT: Hannah Bernstein, Canadian Bar Association, tel: 613-237-2925, ext. 146; e-mail: hannahb@cba.org. Aug. 15-19: 418-649-5218.
