Press Releases & Statements

The Canadian Bar Association is saddened at the passing of former prime minister John Napier Turner, Q.C., on Sept. 18. Mr. Turner had been a CBA member for more than 60 years, joining in 1955.

The Canadian Bar Association is saddened at the passing of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, who fought as bravely against cancer as she did against the notion that women were not equal to men.

The Canadian Bar Association is calling on the federal government to put its stated commitment to diversity in leadership into action by appointing more Black, Indigenous and People of Colour to the federal benches.

Brad Regehr of Winnipeg begins his year-long tenure as CBA President today.

August 1 is Emancipation Day –a day to reflect on the history of slavery in Canada and its continuing effects in our own time. On this date 186 years ago, the Slavery Abolition Act, an Act of British Parliament, came into effect officially abolishing slavery in most of the British Empire including Canada.

The Canadian Bar Association welcomes the initiative taken by Senator Rosemary Moodie to table a private member’s bill to establish a National Commissioner for Children and Youth. The CBA appreciates that she has taken the first step toward fulfilling Canada’s international obligations, and its responsibility to the children and youth of this country.

The Canadian Bar Association is deeply disturbed by the videotaped killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis and other recent incidents of anti-Black violence in the United States and Canada.

The Canadian Bar Association is saddened by the passing of Gordon Proudfoot, on May 1, 2020. He served the Canadian legal profession, his province and our Association with passion and commitment during his long career.

OTTAWA – The Canadian Bar Association’s Fellowship Committee has selected Léa Brière-Godbout to receive the 2020-2021 Viscount Bennett Fellowship for her graduate legal studies.

OTTAWA – The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted limitations in the ability of legal and justice systems to deliver their services when circumstances force them to slow down or close.  Many proceedings before courts and administrative tribunals have been suspended, for example, adding to already significant backlogs.