BarTalk | April 1990 by The Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch

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Demographic trends of the profession

CANADIAN BAR ASSOCIATION, The Continuing Legal Education B.C. BRANCH Society has completed its second research report to obtain information about CLE participants for its program planning and marketing.

APRIL,1990 VOLUME2 NUMBER3

HIGHLIGHTS PROJECTS FUNDED/2 LEGISLATIVE UPDATE/3

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Law Society Members by Geographic Location (N = 5,913)

80.-------------------------------------, Percent

Demographic statistics are based on Law Society of B.C. membership statistics as at June 30, 1989. BarTalk extends a special thank you to CLE and to the research firm Bognar and Associates/ Social Research for permission to reprint demographic information from the report.

General characteristics of Law Society members At June 30, 1989 there were 1,242 (19.9%) female lawyers and 5,000 (80.1 %) male lawyers in the province for a total of 6,242 lawyers.

Women lawyers continue to influence demographic trends

The percentage of women lawyers in B.C. continues an SECTIONTALK/5 upward trend as noted in Table 1. The report also notes women tend to be employed in RECYCUNG different work environments INF0/8 than men. While women comprise about 20 per cent of Law Society members, they are still LAW WEEK 90/9 under-represented in private practice at only 17 per cent. This does represent a modest increase PAISLEY GEARS over the previous report where UP/10 it was noted that 16 per cent of women were employed in private practice.

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Table 1 Percent of lawyers who are women by year of graduation

Year of Graduation 1976 or earlier 1968 to 1973 1974 to 1977 1978 to 1980 1981 to 1983 1984 to 1986 1987 and later Total

Number of Lawyers %of Lawyers (Male and Female Female) 2.9 5.3 16.8 25.2 28.7 37.9 41.6

905 921 996 907 928 894 291 5842

The study results indicate that women are most overrepresented in the categories: "unemployed/inactive" (45%); "societies/unions/ other organizations" (36%); "legal education" (40%) and "government" (35%). A slightly larger proportion of women lawyers work in the Lower Mainland as compared to other areas in the province. Of the 4,276 Lower Mainland lawyers, 21.6 per cent are female.

On the Sunshine Coast/Gulf Island, 21.9 per cent of lawyers are female and an increase in the proportion of female lawyers is evident in Greater Victoria with an increase to 20.8 per cent from last year's report of 17.8 per cent. The Central/North Coast is well represented with 23.3 per cent women lawyers. In relation to the proportion of lawyers in the province, females are underrepresented in the remaining six defined geographic areas of this study.

Geographic regions Results indicate that there has been an increase of approximately 150 members of the Law Society in the Lower Mainland area with no significant trends in other areas since the previous report one year earlier. Table 2 indicates the percentage of lawyers in each of the 10 geographic areas of the province. (please turn top . 2)

Branch receives funding for projects The Law Foundation of B.C. has generously supported three grant applications recently submitted by the B.C. Branch. A major grant of $69,710 was awarded to upgrade the Dial-ALaw equipment to a computerbased system which will provide callers with access to the 135 messages 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Further informa-

tion about the system will be published in the next issue of BarTalk. A grant of $8,500 to assist in organizing Law Week activities throughout the province was also approved. Law Week events include open houses and tours of courthouses, poster contests, debates, and mock trials.

Early Bird savings for 1991 Directory Order your copy of the official B.C. Branch Lawyers' Telephone, Fax and Services Directory before May 31, 1990 and you can receive discounts of 20% to 40% on your orders. The September publication price will be $15 per copy but with early bird discount orders the price per copy is: 1- 5 6- 49 50- 99 100- over

$12 each $11 each $10 each $ 9 each

(20% (27% (33% (40%

saving) saving) saving) saving)

The 1989/90 edition completely sold out and was received enthusiastically by more than 8,000 purchasers.

Other legal directories are available but only the B.C. Branch's Directory includes exclusive features such as listings compiled from the Law Society of B.C.'s membership list, up-todate fax numbers, and no delivery charges on pre-paid orders. The Branch has begun work on the Directory and CBA members will be receiving listing verification in early May. We appreciate your co-operation in completing and returning these forms promptly to ensure that all information gathered for the Directory is complete and accurate.

Legal Street Stroll On April26, 1990 the legal community will participate in a fundraising event for B.C.'s Children's Hospital - the "Legal Street Stroll." Teams of two, consisting of lawyers, legal secretaries, legal assistants, paralegals, etc., will assemble at the Court House in Vancouver at 12:30 p.m. and will walk a route through the downtown core, dressed in full regalia. Teams will be supported by pledges. During the stroll, each team must produce a document in some decipherable form. The

winners of various competitions and pledge amounts will be announced during the Children's Miracle Network Telethon broadcast on CKVU on June 2 and 3, 1990. Members of the legal profession and their staff willing to support a worthy cause and to have some fun can contact Digby Leigh at Bull, Hausser & Tupper, telephone 641-4815.

A grant of $10,250 was received for the Branch to prepare a report identifying key provincial -level law reform issues and to set out appropriate recommendations toward promoting sustainable development in B.C. This material will be incorporated with international and federal-level law reform issues and recommendations into a report to be presented at the CBA's Annual Meeting in London, England in September. This report is the law reform portion of the CBA's Sustainable Development Action Plan.

Demographic (continued from p . 1)

Age, university and calls to the Bar The statistics indicate the majority of lawyers practicing in B.C. were born between 1945 and 1959. Over 61 per cent of Law Society members graduated from UBC's Faculty of Law. About 49 per cent of the members were called to the bar since 1979. About 30 per cent were called between 1972 and 1979 with 21 per cent called before 1972. Employers The largest proportion of members (78%) are engaged in private practice. The report authors note that the most notable shift is growth in the proportion of lawyers working in large firms of 50 or more with an increase from 12 per cent in the last report to 15 per cent. This represents an increase of about 190 lawyers in very large firms since the previous report.

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Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information ~ provided to you in this article but the information should not be relied on. Lawyers should refer to the specific legislative or regulatory provision to verify effective dates.

Regulations to Note

Fees, Rates & Royalties have been changed in the following Regulations: Land Tax Deferment Act, B.C. Reg. 57/90, supercedes B.C. Reg. 68/89, the Interest Rate Regulation, and for purposes of sections 8 and 9 of the Act, sets a new interest rate for 6-month period beginning April1, 1990 at 9-3/4% per annum. effective February 19, 1990

Land Title Act, B.C. Reg. 34/79, the Land Title Act Regulation, is amended in section 2 respecting fees for registration of a discharge, cancellation or merger of a charge. effective Apri/1, 1990

Other Regulations Elevating Devices Safety Act, B.C. Reg. 177/85, the Elevating Devices Safety Regulation, is repealed and replaced. This regulation affects existing elevating devices, emergency services, rotating platforms, stage lifts and special elevating devices and amusement rides. effective Febntary 1, 1990

Mineral Tenure Act, B.C. Reg. 297/88, the Mineral Tenure Act Regulation, is amended by adding section 8.1 respecting the disposition of certain Crown granted claims. effective February 1, 1990

Social Service Tax Act, B.C. Reg. 84/58, the Social Service Tax Act Regulations, is amended by repealing and substituting a new definition of "bona fide aquacul turis t." effective February 1, 1990

Cemetery and Funeral Services Act, B.C. Reg. 296/82, the Prearranged Funeral Services Regulation is repealed and the Cemetery and Funeral Services Plans Regulation is enacted respecting pre-need cemetery services or prearranged funeral services plans.

Bonita J. Thompson

B.C. Reg. 98/58, the Cemetery Regulation, is repealed and the Cemetery General Regulation is enacted respecting, inter alia, the registration and operating requirements under the Act. The regulation also provides that where a person dies in a place from which access to the facilities of a cemetery, etc., is impracticable to an extreme degree, a person authorized under the Vital Statistics Act to issue burial permits may issue written permission for the burial on certain lands (i.e., Crown lands). effective February 9, 1990

Family Maintenance Enforcement Act, B.C. Reg. 346/88, the Family Maintenance Enforcement Act Regulation, is amended in section 13 by adding subsections which provides that payment received by a debtor under section 5 of the National Training Act (Canada), the Unemployment Insurance Act (Canada) or sections 3, 11, 19 or 21 of the Old Age Security Act (Canada) shall be included as remuneration. Fifty percent of the remuneration referred to is exempted from attachment under section 15 or 21 of the Act. effective February 9, 1990

Guaranteed Available Income for Need Act, B.C. Reg. 479/76, the Guaranteed Available Income for Need Regulation, is amended in section 30 respecting eligibility for insured services under the Pharmacare plan. effective February 9, 1990

Motor Vehicle Act, B.C. Reg. 26/58, the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations, is amended by adding in section 19.12 which provides that no person shall dispense any fuel into a fuel tank of a bus or taxi, while any person other than the driver is inside the vehicle. is further amended in section 19.02 and section 19.04 respecting, inter alia, size and weight restrictions to be applied to commercial vehicles under the Commercial Transport Act. effective Febntary 9, 1990

Legislative Update (continued) Offence Act, B.C. Reg. 135/84, the Offence Act Forms Regulation, is amended with provisions, inter alia, for a new Form A-2 "Ticket Information and Summons" with "Certificate of Service" and "Certificate of Conviction." effective February 9, 1990

Social Service Tax Act, B.C. Reg. 84/58, the Social Service Tax Act Regulations, is amended by adding section 3.29(3) respecting the formula for calculating amounts of tax payable. effective Febmary 9, 1990

Natural Products Marketing (B.C.) Act, B.C. Reg. 328/75, the Natural Products Marketing (B.C.) Act Regulations, is amended by adding section 4.1 which allows the Provincial Board to require production of documents and information and to have access to premises for purposes of investigating matters within its supervisory authority where the Board has reason to believe that provisions of its scheme are not being enforced. effective Febntary 15, 1990

Worker's Compensation Amendment Act, 1989, S.B.C. 1989, c. 42, enacts the Worker's Compensation Transitional Regulations dealing with the appointment of governors. effective February 15, 1990

Income Tax Act, B.C. Reg. 69/90, enacts the Income Tax Definition Regulation defining "dependant" and "supporting person." effective March 2, 1990

Insurance (Motor Vehicle) Act, B.C. Reg. 447/83, section 55(9) of the Revised Regulation (1984) Under the Insurance (Motor Vehicle) Act is amended. effective March 2, 1990

Motor Vehicle Act, B.C. Reg. 26/58, the Motor Vehicle Act Regulation, is amended respecting, inter alia, changes to regulatory signs. effective March 2, 1990

Bonding Act, B.C. Reg. 11/68, the Bonding Regulations, is amended by adding Division (7.2) respecting the furnishing of a security bond pursuant to the distribution of adult films under the Motion Picture Act.

B.C. Reg. 75/90, the Motion Picture Act is added to the list of Acts in section 2(1) of the Bonding Act. effective Marcil 12, 1990

Election Act, B.C. Reg. 77/90, the Schedule to the Election Act is repealed and a new form of Schedule substituted respecting, inter alia, directions for the printing of ordinary and special ballots. effective Marcl1 12, 1990

Electrical Safety Act, B.C. Reg. 542/75, The Electrical Safety General Regulation, is amended to include changes dealing with the approval of equipment and also annual fee permits under section 61. -effective March 12, 1990

Motion Picture Act, B.C. Reg. 260/86, the Motion Picture Act Regulations, is amended to include inter alia, provisions for maintaining records of distribution of adult films, and inspection and accounting procedures which the director may conduct to ensure compliance with the regulations. effective March 12, 1990

Motor Fuel Tax Act, B.C. Reg. 414/85, the Motor Fuel Tax Regulation, is amended to include inter alia, the addition of section 5.1 providing that a registered consumer shall keep a record of all imports, purchases, inventories and consumption of fuel at its principal place of business in the Province. effective March 12, 1990

Social Service Tax Act, B.C. Reg. 84/58, the Social Service Tax Regulations, is amended by repealing and replacing section 2.38 which determines a new formula for calculating the depreciated value of tangible personal property.

B.C. Reg. 84/58, the Social Service Tax Act Regulations, is amended inter alia, in section 5.11 through 5.14 respecting books of accounts, records and documents to be furnished to the commissioner relating to sales and leasing of tangible personal property. effective March 12, 1990

Tobacco Tax Act, B.C. Reg. 83/71, the Tobacco Tax Act Regulations, is amended, including, inter alia, the repeal and replacement of section 12 dealing with the imprinting of a permit number by a wholesaler on each invoice, bill of sale or similar document used in the sale of tobacco. effective March 12, 1990

Offence Act, B.C. Reg. 274/86, the Ticket Administration Regulation, is amended in Schedule 1 by adding item 19 dealing with the class of persons designated as enforcement officers who are authorized to issue a ticket established by the Offence Act Forms Regulation. effective March 19, 1990

Shelley Bentley

B.C.C.A. changes law on maintenance In early December, 1989 the B.C.C.A. handed down a decision which changed the law on maintenance. Storey v. Storey involved an application for maintenance under the Divorce Act. The case addressed the responsibility of a divorced spouse to support a spouse who was unable to become selfsufficient. The 35-page decision contained three separate judgements. In his case comment to the New Westminster Family Law Section, Russ Tretiak noted that this is the first significant statement by the Court of Appeal following the impact of the Pellech, Richardson, Carson, "trilogy" of cases from the Supreme Court of Canada. This trilogy held that spouses must become selfsufficient but if they are unable to do so their inability must be causally connected to the marriage in order for maintenance to be payable. In Storey the Chief Justice commented that the requirement of a causal connection is a very onerous test and is applicable where it is sought to vary an agreement waiving maintenance. However, this test is not applicable where a trial court is

hearing the questions of maintenance for the first time in circumstances where there has been no waiver of maintenance. The case suggests, for example, that a 45 year old woman who has been out of the workforce for 20 years may not be able to compete in the marketplace and, accordingly, may be entitled to ongoing maintenance. However, due to the complex reasoning underlying the judgement, it remains to be seen how the case will be interpreted.

Former B.C.S.C. Registrar speaks on costs Gordon Turriff, former Registrar of the Supreme Court of B.C., addressed Vancouver Family Law Section members on current issues in the area of costs. With respect to awarding party and party costs after trial he commented that B.C. courts now look to the result on individual issues, rather than taking a simple "costs follow the event" approach. Therefore, when it comes to recovering costs, a litigant may be penalized for taking a "shot gun" approach to raising issues at the outset. The new costs rule proposed would abolish the old solicitor I client scale and substitute "special costs," providing for the Registrar to allow fees he or she considers reasonably necessary in a given case, having regard to the factors outlined in Yule v. City of Saskatoon (1955) 16 W.W.R. 305 (Q.B.). These factors include the following: (a) the complexity of the proceeding and the difficulty or the novelty of the issues involved; (b) the skill, specialized knowledge and responsibility required for the solicitor;

(c) the amount involved in the proceeding; (d) the time reasonably expended in conducting the proceeding; (e) the conduct of any party that tended to shorten or to unnecessarily lengthen the duration of the proceeding; (f) the importance of the proceeding to the party whose bill is being assessed and the result obtained; and (g) the benefit to the party whose bill is being assessed of the services rendered by the solicitor. In discussing solicitor I client taxations, Turriff commented that retainer agreements stipulating a fixed hourly rate or fixed fee are not a good idea. They limit the lawyer, on taxation, from recovering a reasonable fee based on the Yule criteria. In billing for a value, a solicitor should look not only at the Yule factors but also at the following factors relied on by some U.S. lawyers: (a) preclusion of other employment by taking on rush work; (b) inconvenience to other clients and possible damage to relationships with other clients, e.g., you may not be able to act for a certain class of clients as a result of taking on work for this client; (c) time limitations or other circumstances imposed by the client; (d) the undesirability of the case, e.g., you should be given credit for the "unpleasantness" factor of representing certain litigants; (e) cost awards in similar cases.

Impact of the proposed GST on the rear estate sector Altaf Jina discussed the anticipated impact of the Goods and Services Tax on the real estate sector in the Victoria Real Property Section meeting. According to the August 8, 1989 Technical Paper released by the Minister of Finance the proposed 7% tax will be payable by purchasers and tenants on "all sales or rentals of real property-land and building-unless the sale or rental is specifically exempt." The following real property transactions are exempt: (a) residential rents for periods of one month or more of a "residential complex"; (b) sales of a used residential dwelling if it is a "residential complex," unless the sale takes place in the course of a business involving the purchase, substantial renovation and resale of such dwellings; (c) sales of personal use land by an individual or trust; (d) most sales and rentals of real property by charities, non-profit organizations and selected public sector organizations. A "residential complex" will include owner occupied single family homes, semi-detached homes, condominiums, multiunit apartment buildings, summer cottages and other vacation homes, non-profit and privatefor-profit nursing homes, student residences at a university, college or school, group homes for the mentally and physically disabled and residential accommodation supplied at a special work site or remote location. It will not include hotels or similar properties which provide substantially all of their accommodation for periods of less than sixty days. Because residential rentals (except for periods of less than

one month) will be exempt, residential landlords will not be entitled to recover GST on purchases, repairs or improvements paid in the course of providing rental accommodation. This additional tax cost will have to be recovered by increasing rental prices. Principal residences purchased new will be eligible for a rebate. To qualify, the purchaser must be a resident of Canada and the new home must be the purchaser's principal residence. Mr. Jina noted that regulations defining many of the terms used in the legislation have yet to be drafted. He commented that lawyers could expect to be heavily employed in GSTrelated questions when what he anticipated to be a great deal of litigation ensued.

Application of the proposed GST to legal services In the Taxation Section Barrie Philp of Peat Marwick Thorne briefly outlined how the GST works. Businesses will charge GST on the full price of their taxable goods and services, including services provided to other businesses. Each business, however, will generally claim a credit for the GST it has paid on its purchases of inventory, services and fixed assets and on expense items. This credit is called an input tax credit. As a result, the GST applies to the value-added by each business, where value-added is equivalent to the total sales of the business minus its purchases of goods and services from other businesses. Final consumers will bear the full impact of the GST because they cannot claim input tax credits. Most services provided by lawyers will be taxable under the GST. Legal services can, however, fall into three categories: taxable legal services within Canada, exempt services

under a provincially authorized legal aid program and tax-free services to non-residents. The GST will not apply to legal services performed wholly outside Canada. Certain legal services performed in Canada for a non-resident will also be taxfree . The legal service of acting as an agent for certain nonresidents in obtaining a patent, trade mark or copyright will be tax-free. Moreover, other legal services provided to a nonresident corporation, or to an individual who is outside Canada while the services are performed, will be tax-free provided that the services are not acting as an agent of the nonresident, in respect of real estate situated in Canada, in respect of goods and services situated in or to be delivered in Canada or for consumption, use or enjoyment in Canada. Disbursements made by lawyers in performing legal services will generally be treated as part of the legal service. If the legal service is taxable, disbursements included in the billing to the client will also be taxable. Mr. Philp commented that because the services sector has never been required to collect retail sales tax or been subject to the federal manufacturers' sales tax the implementation of the GST will be particularly onerous. The services sector will need to adapt their accounting systems and business practices to deal with the compliance and other business implications of collecting the GST. For instance, the exemption of legal aid services will require a division of expenditures incurred by a legal firm. The division will be between those expenditures that relate to normal legal services, which qualify for input credits, and those that relate to legal aid services, which do not qualify. General expenses that cannot be directly attributed to either category will have to be prorated. This accounting complexity will add to the compliance burdens.

Legislative Update (continued) Municipal Act, B.C. Reg. 481/82, is repealed and B.C. Reg. 83/90, the Municipal Administration Certification Regulation is enacted respecting the granting of certificates in municipal management. effective April1, 1990

Land Title Act, B.C. Reg. 334/79, the Land Title Act Regulation, is amended by repealing forms 2 to 7(a), 23 and 41 in Schedule A.

B.C. Reg. 53/90, the Land Title (Transfer Forms) Regulation is enacted.

sections 33 and 34 amend the name of the Trust Variation Act by substituting the Trust and Settlement Variation Act and include a provision respecting deemed trusts which arise from a life interest in land. in force March 12, 1990

section 7 respecting the Interpretation Act is amended in section 14(2) dealing with exceptions to enactments under which the Crown would otherwise be bound. in force March 19, 1990

effective April1, 1990

Acts in Force In previous updates, we provided you with the First Reading Bill Number to assist you with noting up the Bills you may have in your library. However, Legislative Counsel has now published the "Blue Book" which gives you the new Chapter numbers for each Bill passed in the 1989 Session and so our previous practice will be discontinued until the next Session begins and new Bills are introduced. Attorney General Statutes Amendment Act, 1989, S.B.C. 1989, c. 64, section 31, respecting the duty owed under section 3(3) of the Occupier's Liability Act in force February 9, 1990

section 2 respecting section 84.1 of the Estate Administration Act provides that where a minor is entitled to share in the assets of an estate consisting of money, the executor or administrator shall, on distribution of assets, pay the minor's share into Court to the credit of the minor, except where a will provides otherwise. in force February 15, 1990

sections 4 and 5 respecting the Infants Act, enact, inter alia, section 12.1 providing that where the Public Trustee holds money for an infant, he may order payment of part or all of the money for the maintenance, education or benefit of the infant except where a will or trust deed provides otherwise. in force Febntary 15, 1990

section 32 repeals and replaces section 10(3) of the Provincial Court Act, providing that from and after July 17, 1989, a judge is not entitled to elect to become a supernumerary. in force February 15, 1990

section 8 repeals the Land (Settled Estate) Act, R.S.B.C. 1979, c. 215. in force March 12, 1990

Cemetery and Funeral Services Act, S.B.C. 1989, c. 21, enacts sections 1 to 50,51 except subsection (l)(h), 52 to 112, 114 to 120, 123 to 128, 130 to 135 and 137 to 141. Included are provisions respecting inter alia, the operation of interment facilities, pre-need and pre-arranged plans, and maintenance and care fund provisions. in force February 9, 1990

Financial Institutions Act, S.B.C. 1989, c. 47, sections 312, 314 and 315 respecting the Co-operative Association Act, including inter alia, a new definition of "superintendent" under that Act. in force April 2, 1990

Health Professions Amendment Act, 1989, S.B.C. 1989, c. 29, sections 10, 12 and 14 respecting the Physiotherapist Act, establishing, inter alia, registration requirements for remedial gymnasts. in force February 15, 1990

Land Title Amendment Act, 1989, S.B.C. 1989, c. 69 sections 6 and 11 respecting the Land Title Act providing inter alia, that the Surveyor General may, before a survey is made, allow monuments of a specified permanent character to be posted in force February 9, 1990

sections 1 to 5, 7, 9, 10, 12 to 14, 16 to 25 and 27 to 36, and section 26 except the portion which enacts section 219.92(1}(b} and (3) of the Land Title Act are brought into force. respecting registration of charges and witnessing and execution of instruments. in force April1, 1990

Erratum As noted in February BarTalk for Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, (No.2), S.B.C. 1989, c. 72, (Third Reading Bill No. 92) read Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act (No.2), 1982, S.B.C. 1982, c. 72, brings into force sections 2 and 3 respecting sections 138(1) and 262(3) the Company Act.

Campbell heads Justice Ministry The Hon. Kim Campbell's recent appointment as Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada is a significant milestone, says Russell Lusk, president of the B.C. Branch. "Not only is Ms. Campbell the first woman in Canadian history to hold this portfolio, but also as a member of the B.C. Branch of the CBA, we're extremely pleased that she has received this key appointment in the justice system," said Lusk.

Born and educated in British Columbia, Campbell holds a BA (political science) and LLB from the University of British Columbia. She was called to the B.C. Bar in 1984 and practiced at Ladner Downs. From 1970-1974, she pursued doctoral studies in Soviet Government at the London School of Economics under a Canada Council Doctoral Fellowship. Campbell's political career spans three levels of government as

trustee of the Vancouver School Board, member of the provincial Legislative Assembly, and as member of Parliament.

Recycling committee busy gathering information Since our report last month, the B.C. Branch Recycling Committee has been busy obtaining information to promote recycling in law firms throughout B.C. The Committee will hire a summer student to assist in implementing recycling programs in law firms throughout British Columbia. The Committee recognizes that several law firms in B.C. have recycling programs in place, including: • • • • • • • • •

Campney & Murphy Owen Bird Ferguson Gifford Ray Connell Lang Michener Russell & DuMoulin McCarthy Tetrauit Swinton & Company Norton Stewart

If your firm is not mentioned above and is participating in a recycling program, please advise one of the Committee members listed below. If your firm is interested in purchasing recycled paper, the Committee has identified the following firms who supply recycled paper in the Lower Mainland:

• Apex Printing

• • • • • • • •

Crown Paper Barber Ellis Fine Papers Inner City Papers Benwell Atkins Island Paper Mills Coast Paper Paper Choice Recycled Supply Cove Office Products

We are also advised that retailers such as Murphy's and Williams & Mackie will be offering recycled paper to their clients in the near future. A wide range of paper qualities are

available from each of these firms including letterheadquality paper. If you would like any further information regarding the Recycling Committee's activities or if you are interested in participating, give the following members of the Recycling Committee a telephone call:

Tim Mackenzie 688-3411 Bill Andrews 684-7378 Marg Vanderkruyk 689-1811.

Section activity increases Total enrollment in Branch Sections continues to increase annually. Section enrollment has reached 11,969 by the beginning of March, reports Executive Committee member David Brine who coordinates section activity. The top five section enrollments include: Civil Litigation- Vancouver; Real Property- Vancouver; Business; Insurance; Wills and Trusts- Vancouver. The newest section, Entertainment, officially held its first meeting in February with 30 persons attending. Registrations for

this new section are still being accepted at a reduced rate as Section registration for next year will take place during the summer.

Section Papers The third set of Section Papers has been well received by members. The complete set of 65 papers covers a broad range of important issues to the profession and changes in the law or practice. A listing of these papers and an order form is included in this issue of BarTalk.

Environment theme for Law Week '90 The role of law in protecting the environment will be the theme for Law Week activities throughout the province April 16 through 22, 1990.

Presentations by the National Parole Board and the West Coast Environmental Law Association and mock trials will take place throughout the day.

Law Day activities in Vancouver will be held on Sunday, April 22 with courthouse tours conducted in Vietnamese, French, Punjabi, Cantonese and Spanish. For children, there will be an artist's corner with a special certificate for all participants and a special "crime solver" game.

Displays by over 50 community organizations, government agencies and justice groups will give visitors the opportunity to talk to people who work in the justice system. Other provincial activities include the Second Annual

Locum services assessed The Member Services Committee of the B.C. Branch of the Canadian Bar Association is considering coordinating locum services. This would be particularly appropriate for single practitioners who wish to take a vacation or sabbatical but have no available lawyer to monitor or carry on their practice in their absence. There are obviously a number of problems to address in this regard, and our inquiry is at a preliminary stage.

The Committee would like to know how many lawyers might wish to take advantage of this service if it were available and how many lawyers would be willing to provide their services. The Committee would also appreciate any comments you might have. Please contact Bruce Woolley, Member Services Committee, c/o CBA,504-1148 Hornby St., Vancouver V6Z 2C3 or telephone 681-0484.

Law Society earns recognition

IRC decisions now on-line

The Canadian Mental Health Association recently awarded its annual Workplace Awareness Awards with the Law Society of B.C. receiving the award in the employee and family assistance program category.

QL Systems Ltd. now carry the Industrial Relations Council's decisions, and those of its predecessor, the Labour Relations Board, in its on-line database.

The Law Society's Personal Assistance Counselling Program is a formal policy of the Law Society and is provided through the Interlock Employee Assistance Society of B.C. The program has been operating since 1981 and was one of the first of its kind for members of a professional association.

The QL service is one of the many databases offered through CBANet. CBANet combines simple access to public databases, data conferencing, messaging, forms automation and other features- all on one communications service. For more information on CBANet call1-800-267-7400.

Barry Sullivan Law Cup Public Speaking Competition, the inaugural open house of Vancouver Provincial Court at 222 Main Street, and the "lawyers in the school" program. Activities are being planned in Victoria, Williams Lake, Nelson, Kamloops, Langley, New Westminster, Prince George and Vernon. Detailed information on Law Week activities in your area will be publicized locally. The B.C. Branch, Canadian Bar Association extends appreciation to the Law Foundation of B.C., the Solicitor General, the Law Society of B.C., the Vancouver Bar Association, the Province of B.C., and the Government of Canada for supporting Law Week '90.

Committee members named • Douglas B. Buchanan, A. Byran Gibson, Edward Horsey, John Hunter and Francis LowBeer were appointed by the Executive Committee to assist B.c.'s Deputy Attorney General in international commercial law matters . • Barbara Nelson has been named as the Branch's representative to the Board of the Legal Services Society of B.C. • Dirk Sigalet, Rick Hislop and Leslie Muir have been named as B.C. Branch joint appointees to the Board of the Continuing Legal Education Society. • Gerald Kambeitz has been named as the B.C. Branch nominee to the Law Society of B.c.'s Inter-Jurisdictional Law Firm Committee. • Her Honour Judge Catherine Ryan has been named as the judicial representative on Provincial Council.

Paisley gears up for conference The "Pilgrimage to Paisley": a salute to Donoghue v. Stevenson is a two-day conference on the Commonwealth law of negligence which will take place on September 28,29 and 30, 1990 immediately following the CBA National convention in London. The conference will include discussions by leading authorities on the law of negligence in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and elsewhere in the Commonwealth "common law" world.

Registration for the Paisley Conference is $400 ($150 for each guest). British Airways is offering a free Paisley-London return flight for those who fly that airline at advance purchase excursion fares (not applicable to seat sales) from Canada to London for the CBA convention. Registration forms can be obtained by contacting Jack J. Huberman, Paisley Conference Coordinator, c/o CLE, 200-1148 Hornby St., Vancouver V6Z 2C3, telephone: 669-3544.

B.C. Dates

Nomination deadline nears Nomination forms for election of members to the National and Provincial Council of the Canadian Bar Association must be received at the B.C. Branch office by April 23, 1990. Forms were included in the March issue of BarTalk but additional nominations forms can be obtained by calling Alanna Flasch at the Branch office (6873404). Election ballots will be sent to the membership in May 1990 with a return date to the Branch office of June 15, 1990.

For further information, contact the B.C. Branch unless otherwise noted. April15- 22, 1990 Law Week "Access to Justice" Various locations throughout British Columbia Contact your Local and County Bar Association April 21, 1990 Inaugural Open House Vancouver Provincial Court 222 Main Street, Vancouver 1:00 p.m.- 4:00p.m.

Product of the Month Purchasing a car is made simple and economical by using ProGroup, a program endorsed by the B.C. Branch's Member Services Committee. ProGroup's car purchase plan offers Canadian Bar Association members (including family members) and their employees a complete selection of domestic products at $150 over invoice on most factory ordered vehicles.

Prices on all other vehicles imported and domestic vary depending on supply. The enclosed brochure provides further details about the plan. To discuss your next car purchase, call a ProGroup plan executive at (604) 270-4466.

April 22, 1990 Law Day Vancouver Law Courts 11:00 a.m.-4:00p.m. June 22, 1990 B.C. Branch, CBA Annual Meeting Meridien Hotel, Vancouver June 22, 1990 B.C. Branch, CBA Provincial Council Meeting Meridien Hotel, Vancouver September 23- 27, 1990 Canadian Bar Association National Annual Meeting London, England September 28- 30, 1990 Paisley Conference Paisley, Scotland (Contact CLEat 669-3544 for conference brochure and registration form.) BarTalk is published by the British Columbia Branch of the Canadian Bar Association. 504-1148 Hornby Street Vancouver, B.C., V6Z 2C3 (604) 687-3404 Fax: 669-9601 Copyright the British Columbia Branch of the Canadian Bar Association -1990