January to May

The CBA supports the goal of Bill C-66 (Expungement of Historically Unjust Convictions Act ) to create a procedure for expunging convictions for consensual sexual activity between same-sex persons, and suggests improvements to the bill.

The CBA recommends changes to Bill C-50, amending the Canada Elections Act, to enhance privacy protection for Canadian electors.

The CBA comments on the Privacy Commissioner’s revised draft guidelines for obtaining meaningful consent and recommends some clarification.

The CBA comments on Impact Assessment Act in Bill C-69, to strengthen the new environmental assessment process and respect for the rights of Indigenous peoples.

The CBA applauds commitments in the 2018 federal budget to support asylum seekers and temporary foreign workers.

The CBA supports many changes made to Bill C-45 – the Cannabis Act – in the House of Commons, but reiterates its concerns about the Bill’s excessive reliance on the criminal law outside of the regulatory framework.

The CBA comments on proposed amendments to the Federation of Law Societies of Canada model rules on anti-money laundering (cash transactions, client identification and verification) and on a proposed new rule (trust accounts).

The CBA reiterates that lawyers must not be forced to breach their client’s privilege to assist the government in combatting money laundering.

The Joint Canadian Bar Association/Canadian Professional Accountants of Canada Taxation Committee comments on draft legislation for tax on split income in Canadian Controlled Private Corporations.

The CBA and CBA-PEI respond to a consultation about solicitor-client privilege in the context of access to information and privacy legislation in Prince Edward Island.