• Globe Article
• POL's Response
• Petition Text
• Exec. Summary
• Downloads in .pdf:
   • Regulatory Framework
   • Petition Text

Petition to the Government of Ontario.

We the following do hereby petition the Government of Ontario for fair legislation that will include the following:

Given the fact that the Law Society of Upper Canada wishes to control paralegals to the point of bringing them under the same umbrella as lawyers, and considering the increase in the added costs to the public as well as the obvious restrictions to access to the courts, I wish to make the following statements.

a) Paralegals should be licensed and governed by a self-regulatory body under the authority of either the Attorney's General Office, or the Office of the Ministry of Consumer and Business Relations.

b) Legislation, for regulation, should be passed implementing the recommendations of the Honourable Peter deC. Cory Report of May 31 2000, with stronger wording for the protection of the paralegal industry to maintain and increase affordable access to the courts.

c) That the self-regulatory body be comprised of joint representation from both the Paralegal Society of Canada and the Paralegal Society of Ontario whose members currently provide the public with insurance; complaints procedures; disciplinary procedures, and standards of education, ethics and character, and further,

d) I do not support the consultation document on the proposed regulatory framework agreed without stakeholders and public consultation between the Law Society of Upper Canada and any fringe group like
the Professional Paralegal Society of Ontario, or the Paul Dray group.

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