Be it resolved

At the Canadian Bar Association’s annual general meeting on Thursday, Policy Committee Chair Kelly McDermott presided over a debate on three resolutions.

Resolution 26-01-A called for Section 54 of Bylaw No. 1 to be done away with. It permits late resolutions to be submitted from the floor of the annual general meeting. The resolution said rescinding Section 54 would strengthen the CBA’s governance framework by promoting consistency, accountability, and alignment with its mission and priorities. It would also ensure that resolutions are reviewed and adopted through a good governance process. The resolution was adopted.

Resolution 26-02-A called on the CBA to create a working group on AI in legal practice to help legal professionals integrate the technology into their practice responsibly and ethically. The group would monitor and assess AI’s impact on professional obligations, service delivery and access to justice, including risks related to the unauthorized practice of law. The resolution was adopted. 

Resolution 26-03-A called on the CBA to endorse the objectives of the Uniform Access to Digital Assets by Fiduciaries Act of 2016, which affirms that fiduciaries' usual powers extend to digital assets. The resolution also urged the remaining provinces and territories that currently lack comprehensive frameworks to enact comparable legislation to ensure clear, consistent and privacy-respecting access for fiduciaries. It was adopted.