Overview
The Canadian Bar Association is the voice of Canada’s legal profession. It is an essential ally and advocate for the Canadian Bar Association members to promote fair justice systems, facilitate effective law reform and uphold equality in the legal profession.
The Board of the CBA Alberta Branch has approved this Advocacy Policy in order to maximize the value of the CBA’s professional and public interest advocacy as a member service and to execute advocacy by the CBA and its constituent groups in a manner accountable to the CBA members. This operational policy is subject to the CBA Alberta Policy on Public Statements and Submissions.
Priority will be given to the following issues (the “Priorities”):
- Issues of importance to the legal profession generally;
- Issues of direct relevance to lawyers in their practice areas; and
- Issues addressing the core principles of the legal profession.
Additionally, priority will be given to matters of particular relevance to Alberta.
The Voice of the Profession Committee (the “VP Committee”) and the Agenda for Justice (the “A4J Committee”) are tasked with the initial review of all advocacy initiatives presented by a CBA member. The VP Committee’s mandate is to advocate on issues that are of interest to, and to the benefit of, members in Alberta, not including access to justice matters and any other matters that are within the current mandate of the Agenda for Justice Committee of CBA Alberta. The A4J Committee’s mandate is to review and coordinate CBA Alberta submissions and responses on justice initiatives and proposals related to the administration of justice. The VP Committee and A4J Committee (the “Committee” or the “Committees”) shall each facilitate this process for matters within their respective mandates and consult each other as necessary throughout the process.