I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to update you on the recent activities and upcoming events for our Section.
On April 4, 2024, in the beautiful City of Vancouver, British Columbia, we held our first in-person executive meeting since the pandemic. This meeting was attended by our executive officers, provincial branch chairs and members at large, both online and in person. That evening, we hosted with the BC branch a well-attended networking event where members from the national and BC branch mingled with Section members and three esteemed judges from the BC Provincial Court, Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. The honourable judges participated in a joint national and CBABC Brown Bag presentation titled “Pathways from the Public Sector to the Bench” where they shared their journeys from public sector lawyering to distinguished positions on the Bench.
Our last and seventh Brown Bag presentation for the 2023/2024 term: Understanding UNDRIP РRecent Developments and Relevant Considerations for Public Sector Lawyers will be held on May 21, 2024, from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm (ET). During this fascinating ninety-minute presentation, a panel of four speakers from private practice and the provincial and federal governments will provide you with an overview of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) before focusing on the recent Supreme Court of Canada decision of Reference re An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and M̩tis children, youth and families, 2024 SCC 5. This decision represents a significant development in Indigenous self-governance by affirming the authority of Indigenous governing bodies to enact and enforce their own child and family services laws. Please see the registration details below.
The CBA Public Sector Lawyers Section Student Essay Contest deadline is May 2, 2024. This award is presented annually for the best scholarly paper in English or French on a subject related to public sector lawyering. The contest is open to full or part-time student enrolled at a Canadian law school.
UNDERSTANDING UNDRIP – RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AND RELEVANT CONSIDERATIONS FOR PUBLIC SECTOR LAWYERS – MAY 21, 2024
During this presentation, the panel will focus on the recent Supreme Court of Canada decision, Reference re An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families, 2024 SCC 5 where the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of a federal law affirming Indigenous peoples’ right to self-government for child and family services.
The panellists will consider the implications of this decision for public sector lawyers and the context of the implementation of UNDRIP by the federal United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, SC 2021, c 14 and BC’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, SBC 2019, c 44.
REGISTER NOW →
PROMOTE OUR ESSAY CONTEST!
Promote “In the Public Interest” Student Essay Contest. Students can win $500 for the best paper written about the contribution of public sector lawyers or an important development in the law affecting public sector lawyers in Canada.
The submission deadline for this year’s contest is May 2, 2024. Details on the contest criteria and eligibility are available.
JOIN OUR LINKEDIN GROUP!
The Section has a LinkedIn group! Please join us and share information.
Thank you,
Karen FW Liang,
Chair, 2023-2024, CBA Public Sector Lawyers Section