advocacyinaction This month, we look at how CBABC’s advocacy seeks to improve the criminal justice system and protect solicitor-client privilege. REFORMING THE POLICE ACT A year ago, the provincial government appointed a Special Committee on reforming the 45-year-old Police Act. Their mandate was to examine and make recommendations on reforms to modernize policing, with a focus on the role of police in complex social issues. Four central themes emerged: Reconciliation
Our Submission on Reforming the Police Act was released to the Special Committee on April 30, 2021. CBABC Vice-President, Aleem Bharmal, was invited to speak before the Committee on July 28. We are currently waiting for the Committee’s final report to be presented to the Legislative Assembly.
COMBATTING MONEY LAUNDERING When it comes to protecting solicitor-client privilege, CBABC strongly opposes suggestions that lawyers should report client transactions and services to government agencies or police, as clients depend on this confidentiality. The CBA acted as Intervener in the 2015 Federation of Law Societies case, where the Supreme Court of Canada held that any provisions of anti-money laundering legislation that requires lawyers to report are struck down.
and anti-racism
Accountability Police
in community
Systemic
change
CBABC assembled volunteer members from several Committees and Sections: Access to Justice, Equality & Diversity, Indigenous Justice Advocacy, Legislation & Law Reform, SOGIC, and Social Justice. These lawyers and law students considered the testimony and submissions offered to the Special Committee and identified several recommendations: Importance
of collecting and reporting disaggregated demographic data
Improving
accountability for police-involved deaths
Addressing
the undesirable effects of police seizure of personal property
Changes
in disciplinary proceedings for police
The
need for minimal reliance on firearms and lethal weapons by police
\ EMAIL: ADVOCACY@CBABC.ORG
More recently, CBABC was granted Participant status in the Cullen Commission Inquiry into Money Laundering in BC, which wrapped up October 2021. During the inquiry, there was lack of evidence to support that lawyers and their practice are a “black hole” facilitating money laundering through the provision of legal services. CBABC argued that existing regulatory requirements developed and enforced by the Law Society of BC are sufficient. After two years of hearings, the Commission’s final report is scheduled for release later this month.
uuu Read more about CBABC’s participation in the Cullen Commission in Kevin Westall’s article on p. 25. Want to get involved? reach out to us at advocacy@cbabc.org.
Fall 2021 Submissions Advocacy committees have been actively releasing submissions on behalf of members in alignment with Agenda for Justice 2021. Reforming BC
Court Scheduling
Government Budget 2022 Submission
Civil
Jury Trials
Modernizing Land
the Child Protection System
Owner Transparency Act Deadline
Self-Regulation
and LSBC Governance
DECEMBER 2021 / BARTALK 9
