CBA advocacy towards improving the justice system has an amazing history of impact and change and this must continue. Governments know what the problems are, but there is no political will to prioritize justice issues over others. We need to create political will, and the way to do that is to get the public onboard. If the public sees the problems and agrees with our recommended solutions, we can drive for change that will affect every Canadian and restore broad trust in lawyers and the legal system.

There is a legitimate and academic debate that can be had about self-regulation and how we can improve it; governments in various provincial governments have decided to skip to the end of all that and dictate something that works for them and their electoral base. The CBA must continue its efforts opposing this kind of naked political interference across the country and should coordinate this opposition with relevant stakeholders as necessary, including other professional associations.

The CBA doesn’t comment on every issue affecting the legal profession, the justice system, or the rule of law. However, we are an advocacy organization, and we need to be clearer about when and why we take a position. This way our members, stakeholders, and the public know that when we speak, they know it matters.