LAWYER SPEAKS TO UN COMMITTEE
An Aboriginal Legal Services lawyer spoke to a United Nations committee fighting discrimination against women for the first time in the group’s history.
Emily Hill, an ALS senior staff lawyer, attended a meeting of the Committee for the Elimination of the Discrimination Against Women in Geneva, Switzerland on Oct. 25 to share the barriers to equality faced by aboriginal women in Canada.
“The questions raised by CEDAW are front and centre in the work we do with victims,” Hill said.
“We assist women who have experienced violence and face discrimination when they seek help from the police and the courts.”
CEDAW is composed of 23 independent experts who monitor the implementation of the committee’s convention, which requires states to take “all appropriate measures, including legislation, to ensure the full development and advancement of women, for the purpose of guaranteeing them the exercise and enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
Christa Big Canoe, ALS’ legal director, says the organization also wanted to voice concerns it had with a report submitted by the federal government to CEDAW. Big Canoe says the tone of the report concerning the launch of the inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women was not appropriate.
SURVEY SAYS UPTICK IN CLASS ACTIONS
Canadian companies have not been as proactive as their global counterparts when it comes to adopting measures to mitigate the risk of litigation, according to a new survey by Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP.
The survey also found that Canadian companies faced more than double the amount of class action lawsuits in the last 12 months than the previous year. Contract and labour disputes also remain some of the more numerous types of litigation Canadian companies face, the survey said.
LSUC SUSPENDS LAWYER
The Law Society of Upper Canada has suspended a Toronto lawyer after a tribunal found he had a sexual relationship with a client.
The tribunal suspended Antonio Macri for two and a half months after finding he had failed to tell his firm about the relationship, which was with a client he was representing in a family law matter. The tribunal also found Macri sent “a series of uncivil text messages and e-mails” to the client, implying he would use confidential information against her if she failed to reimburse him funds he lent her. Macri’s licence was suspended starting Oct. 28. He was also fined $2,500.
LAW TIMES POLL
Law Times reported that the federal government has introduced a bill to modernize the Canada Business Corporations Act, but lawyers say it could sow confusion for companies that are listed under the TSX and were incorporated under the act.
Readers were asked if they agreed with the steps to modernize the act.
More than 33 per cent said yes, modernizing the act is a good idea that will have positive outcomes for companies.
Almost 67 per cent said no, the changes the bill proposes will create confusion for companies and not achieve their intended results.
An Aboriginal Legal Services lawyer spoke to a United Nations committee fighting discrimination against women for the first time in the group’s history.
Emily Hill, an ALS senior staff lawyer, attended a meeting of the Committee for the Elimination of the Discrimination Against Women in Geneva, Switzerland on Oct. 25 to share the barriers to equality faced by aboriginal women in Canada.
“The questions raised by CEDAW are front and centre in the work we do with victims,” Hill said.
“We assist women who have experienced violence and face discrimination when they seek help from the police and the courts.”
CEDAW is composed of 23 independent experts who monitor the implementation of the committee’s convention, which requires states to take “all appropriate measures, including legislation, to ensure the full development and advancement of women, for the purpose of guaranteeing them the exercise and enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
Christa Big Canoe, ALS’ legal director, says the organization also wanted to voice concerns it had with a report submitted by the federal government to CEDAW. Big Canoe says the tone of the report concerning the launch of the inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women was not appropriate.
SURVEY SAYS UPTICK IN CLASS ACTIONS
Canadian companies have not been as proactive as their global counterparts when it comes to adopting measures to mitigate the risk of litigation, according to a new survey by Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP.
The survey also found that Canadian companies faced more than double the amount of class action lawsuits in the last 12 months than the previous year. Contract and labour disputes also remain some of the more numerous types of litigation Canadian companies face, the survey said.
LSUC SUSPENDS LAWYER
The Law Society of Upper Canada has suspended a Toronto lawyer after a tribunal found he had a sexual relationship with a client.
The tribunal suspended Antonio Macri for two and a half months after finding he had failed to tell his firm about the relationship, which was with a client he was representing in a family law matter. The tribunal also found Macri sent “a series of uncivil text messages and e-mails” to the client, implying he would use confidential information against her if she failed to reimburse him funds he lent her. Macri’s licence was suspended starting Oct. 28. He was also fined $2,500.
LAW TIMES POLL
Law Times reported that the federal government has introduced a bill to modernize the Canada Business Corporations Act, but lawyers say it could sow confusion for companies that are listed under the TSX and were incorporated under the act.
Readers were asked if they agreed with the steps to modernize the act.
More than 33 per cent said yes, modernizing the act is a good idea that will have positive outcomes for companies.
Almost 67 per cent said no, the changes the bill proposes will create confusion for companies and not achieve their intended results.
