CAMPION TO HEAD FLSC
The Federation of Law Societies of Canada has a new president, John Campion.
A partner at Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Campion takes over the job for 2009-10.
Enhancing mobility for lawyers to practise across the country will continue to be a key issue, according to Campion, who has also been a Law Society of Upper Canada bencher since 2000.
“The constituent law societies which make up the federation have made major changes themselves. They have brought national mobility for all common law lawyers across Canada and Quebec civil lawyers on a limited basis,” he said, noting the federation is looking into the idea of a standard approach to bar admissions.
“Initiatives underway at the federation enhance the commitment the law societies made several years ago to remove barriers to national mobility for the legal profession.”
APPEAL COURT GETS WIRED
Beginning in the new year, the Ontario Court of Appeal will begin delivering electronic copies of its judgments to counsel and litigants.
Previously, obtaining reasons for decisions required a trip to the court’s registry office to obtain a paper copy.
Beginning Jan. 1, the court will send a PDF of the judgment to those providing e-mail addresses.
Those who prefer hard copies will still be able to obtain paper versions at the registry office.
The judgments are also posted on the court’s web site, which also includes an RSS feed to notify subscribers.
DAVIES LANDS ADAM FANAKI
Adam Fanaki will be joining Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP’s competition and foreign investment review practice.
Fanaki has years of experience as a competition lawyer and litigator and has expertise with the criminal and civil provisions of the Competition Act.
Most recently, Fanaki acted as senior deputy commissioner in charge of the Competition Bureau’s mergers branch, where he was responsible for reviewing mergers and advising on strategic policy and the recent legislative amendments to the act.
Prior to that, he acted as special counsel to Canada’s commissioner of competition, whom Fanaki represented in enforcement matters and major litigation proceedings.
PRISON ASSAULTS AND DEATHS ON THE RISE
The number of assaults and unnatural deaths increased in Canadian prisons during the last fiscal year despite efforts to reduce violence.
According to Correctional Service of Canada’s annual performance report, 17 inmates died by “other than natural causes” in 2008-09, up from 10 deaths the previous year.
Also last year, 560 inmates were assaulted, a 12-per-cent increase over the previous year. Assaults by inmates on staff also rose.
The department, however, reported progress in dealing with inmates with mental health disorders. Last year, a screening process was integrated into the prisoner intake system.
In addition, the number of escapes from federal institutions fell to 24 from 33 in 2007-08.
