Submissions

As the national voice of Canada’s law societies, the Federation of Law Societies of Canada provides its views to the federal government on a number of issues related to the governance of the legal profession and core values of public importance.

2022

Border searches of electronic devices and the preservation of solicitor-client privilege

  • (April 2022) Submission to the Canadian Border Service Agency

Amendments to the Income Tax Act

  • (April 2022) Submission to the Department of Finance

2021

Access to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada online portals

Submission on the Regulations under the College of Patent Agents and Trademark Agents Act  

  • (April 2021) Submission to Innovations, Science and Economic Development Canada

2020

Submission to the Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in British Columbia (“Cullen Commission”)

  • (June 2020) Submission to the “Cullen Commission”

Submission on a National Public Registry of Beneficial Ownership

  • (May 2020)  Submission on the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and the Department of Finance’s Consultation Paper: Strengthening Corporate Beneficial Ownership Transparency in Canada

2019

Amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Citizenship Act, and new College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants Act

  • (August 2019) Submission to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

Roles of Attorney General and Minister of Justice of Canada

Bill C-75 An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Youth Criminal Justice Act and other Acts

  • (May  2019) Additional Submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

Bill C-75 An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Youth Criminal Justice Act and other Acts

  • (April 2019) Submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

Bill C-59 – An Act respecting national security measures

2018

Bill C-86 – Statutory Review of A second Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on February 27, 2018 and other measures

Draft Income Tax Legislative Proposals 

Submission on Bill C-75 – An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Youth Criminal Justice Act and other Acts and to make consequential amendments to other Acts

Submission on Bill C-58 – An Act to amend the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts

Submission on the Department of Finance White Paper in support of Parliament’s 5-year review of the Proceeds of Crime (Money-Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act.

Submissions on the preservation of solicitor-client privilege

Submission to the House of Commons Finance Committee during its statutory review of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act

2017

Comments on Bill C-58 and the preservation of solicitor-client privilege,

Supplemental Submission on Deposit Insurance Review Consultation

Bill C-39 “An Act to amend the Criminal Code (unconstitutional provisions) and to make consequential amendments to other Acts” and Bill C-51 “An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Department of Justice Act and to make consequential amendments to another Act.”

2016

Public Safety Canada Consultation on Our Security, Our Rights:  National Security Green Paper, 2016

Deposit Insurance Review Consultation

Process for Superior Court Judicial Appointments 

Possibilities for Further Reform of the Federal Judicial Discipline Process

Proposed Governance for IP Agents

2014

Bill C-44, An Act to Amend the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act and other Acts

Bill C-377, Private Members Bill to Amend the Income Tax Act

2013

Bill C-4, A Second Act to Implement Certain Provisions of the Budget

Bill C-48, Technical Tax Amendments Act (2012)

2012

Review of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act

2011

Bill C-61, An Act Freezing Assets of Corrupt Regimes

Bill C-33, An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (certificate and special advocate) and to make a consequential amendment to another Act

International Trade Negotiations

  • The Federation is regularly consulted by the federal government on matters relating to negotiations on trade in services. The Federation’s goal is to ensure that any liberalization in access to the Canadian legal services market by legal professionals from other countries does not compromise the protection of the public. Most law societies in Canada have, for example, enacted rules to permit lawyers licensed in other countries to practice here as foreign legal consultants provided they comply with licensing, insurance and related requirements. The Federation has provided ongoing feedback to the government on proposals to expand the rights of foreign legal consultants.