On behalf of the CDL Board of Directors:

Canadian Defence Lawyers is committed to ensuring our members have continued access to education and resources to promote equity, diversity and inclusion (“EDI”) at all levels. This not only includes how we practice law, but also includes considerations for hiring and retention. We also strive to ensure our members have tools to understand how our colleagues and clients are influenced by cultures and values that might be different from our own.

June is National Indigenous History Month and this year the discovery of the mass grave of 215 children— students in the “care” of the Canadian government in a residential school in Kamloops is a painful and tragic event for Indigenous people across Canada; every Indigenous person has a connection to residential schools.  

CDL Members can access the video presentation by Doron Gold, Staff Clinician, Homewood Health as he discussess the impact of Lockdown Fatigue and steps to help get through the remainder of the pandemic. 

All CDL's Professionalsim webinars are accessible to members HERE.  Login required.

Canadian Defence Lawyers Public Policy Secretariat’s open letter to the Premier The Hon. Jason Kenney, PC Premier of Alberta and Finance Minister The

Honourable Travis Toews re: Proposed changes to the Minor Injury Regulation, AR 123/2004  

Click HERE to view the letter 

Law Society of Ontario has removed the six hour maximum limit applied to watching an archived program without a colleague, teaching, and professional writing for 2020. 

 CDL is proud to announce that nominations for the Lee Samis Award of Excellence, the Richard B Lindsay QC Exceptional Young Lawyer Award and the Philippa G. Samworth Award for Advancement of Women in the Legal Profession are now open. Applications are available on the CDL website or through the links below. Deadline is June 1, 2020.

CDL is proud to announce that nominations for the Lee Samis Award of Excellence, the Richard B Lindsay QC Exceptional Young Lawyer Award and the Philippa G. Samworth Award for Advancement of Women in the Legal Profession are now open. Applications are available on the CDL website or through the links below. Deadline is June 1, 2020.

The Lee Samis Award of Excellence, named for the founding President of CDL, recognizes exceptional contributions and/or achievements by members of CDL: to the legal profession in general; or to jurisprudence in Canada on the law of insurance; or to law or development of the law of insurance in Canada; or a significant law-related benefit to CDL and/or the insurance industry.

The Richard B Lindsay QC Exceptional Young Lawyer Award recognizes exceptional contributions by a Young Lawyer member of CDL: to the legal profession in general; or to jurisprudence in Canada; or to Canadian Defence Lawyers and its membership; or service to the community at large.

The Philippa G. Samworth Award for Advancement of Women in the Legal Profession recognizes a commitment to advocating the inclusion and promotion of women in the legal profession, fostering women’s initiatives and promoting positive mentoring relationships.

Please consider nominating your colleagues for these prestigious honours.

In February 2020, the Government of British Columbia announced plans to make sweeping changes to Auto Insurance in BC.
 

Various provincial courts have issued statements regarding the COVID-19 virus. We are updating as information becomes available

CDL has been actively following the COVID-19 news, and consulting with various stakeholders, public health officials and our leadership.

We have determined that we are unable to provide an environment of “social distancing” at our upcoming programs, and will reschedule as circumstances warrant.  Registrations remain open, and please check the event information pages for updates.

The health and safety of our members, sponsors, attendees and staff is our greatest concern. We hope you take appropriate measures to stay healthy and avoid the spread of the virus.

We are pleased to announce that the Inagural Philippa G. Samworth Award for Advancement of Women in the Legal Profession will be presented 

We are pleased to announce that the 2019 Lee Samis Award of Excellence will be presented to

CDL representatives from the Public Policy Secretariat met with Ontario Chief Justice George Strathy. Click here to read CDL's letter outlining the topics of discussion.

CDL’s 2019 Accident Benefits spring program has been replaced by the Loss Transfer/Priority Disputes program on February 28, plus a series of audio-conferences.

Canadian Defence Lawyers correspondence in  support of Pro Bono Ontario Law Help Centres.