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.
2020
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
- (June 2019) Submission to Anne McLellan
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
- (January 2019) Submission to the Senate of Canada’s National Security and Defence Committee
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
- (November 2018) Observations to the Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce
Draft Income Tax Legislative Proposals
- (October 2018) Submission to the Department of Finance
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
- (August 2018) Submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights
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.
- (May 2018) Submission to the Department of Finance
Submissions on the preservation of solicitor-client privilege
- (April 2018) Submission to Minister Goodale on Bill C-59 and the preservation of solicitor-client privilege
- (April 2018) Submission to Minister Bains re: PIPEDA and the preservation of solicitor-client privilege
- (April 2018) Submission to Minister Goodale on border searches of electronic devices and 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
- (March 2018) Submission to the House of Commons Finance Committee
2017
Comments on Bill C-58 and the preservation of solicitor-client privilege,
Supplemental Submission on Deposit Insurance Review Consultation
- (December 2017) Submission to the Department of Finance
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
- (December 2016) Submission to the Department of Public Safety
Deposit Insurance Review Consultation
- (November 2016) Submission to the Department of Finance
Process for Superior Court Judicial Appointments
- (September 2016) Submission to the Department of Justice
Possibilities for Further Reform of the Federal Judicial Discipline Process
- (September 2016) Submission to the Department of Justice
Proposed Governance for IP Agents
- (September 2016) Submission to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and the Canadian Intellectual Property Office.
2014
Bill C-44, An Act to Amend the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act and other Acts
- (November 2014) Submission to the Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security
Bill C-377, Private Members Bill to Amend the Income Tax Act
- (September 2014) Submission to the Senate Committee studying the legislation
2013
Bill C-4, A Second Act to Implement Certain Provisions of the Budget
- (November 2013) Submission to Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce
Bill C-48, Technical Tax Amendments Act (2012)
- (February 2013) Submission to the Commons Standing Committee on Finance
2012
Review of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act
- (April 2012) Submission to Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce
2011
Bill C-61, An Act Freezing Assets of Corrupt Regimes
- (March 2011) Submission to Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade
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
- (November 2007) Submission to Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security
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.