March 2022 Newsletter: the Commercial Liens Act & new members to our board
March 22, 2022
BY Alec Regino
A word from our Executive Director
Sometimes, it may take a while for our recommendations to be implemented. But when it does, it’s a powerful reminder that our good work helps make good laws. A bill introduced in the legislative assembly earlier this month will implement BCLI’s 2003 Report on the Uniform Liens Act and modernize the law on commercial liens
According to a March 7 press release from the B.C. government, the new Commercial Liens Act is intended to update “B.C. laws for liens so that service providers can more easily understand and use liens and their customers can protect their rights to their own property”. The BCLI is pleased to see these changes, and the reminder that our law reform work is durable and serves the public interest. To learn more about the new bill, check out our blog.
A welcome to our new board members
In the past few months, we’ve seen several additions to our board. We are delighted to welcome Stacey M. Edzerza Fox, who has been appointed by the Law Society of British Columbia. Stacey is a member of the Tahltan Nation and has been an Indigenous rights lawyer for more than twenty years, working with Nations to protect and advance the full enjoyment of their inherent, constitutional, and human rights. We also welcome Filip de Sagher, who was appointed by the Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia. Filip practices as a Notary Public with Deprez & Associates in Vancouver with a focus on residential real estate conveyancing. Brian Dybwad was appointed to the board as a Member at Large. Brian is a Bencher for the Law Society of British Columbia, the Managing Lawyer for the Parents Legal Centre in Campbell River and a member and Hereditary Chief of the Gitxsan Nation.
We are also delighted that Margaret Mason, QC, has returned as a member emeritus. Margaret’s commitment and counsel to the BCLI has been of tremendous value over the years: Margaret has taken part in various project committees since 1997 and served as a member of our Board of Directors from 2015 to 2021 and Treasurer from 2018 to 2021. Margaret is a charities lawyer with more than 30 years of experience advising donors, charities, and other tax-exempt organizations and their boards.
Thank you for your continued support. We encourage you to visit us at bcli.org and we look forward to keeping in touch with you about our current projects and upcoming events online.
Warmly,
@kcvancouverSupporting Vulnerable Victims and Witnesses
Crown Counsel are the lawyers who make decisions about if and how to proceed in criminal cases of elder abuse and abuse of vulnerable adults. Strong policies are necessary not only to support Crown Counsel in prosecuting cases involving elder abuse but also to inform police, court and victim service workers in supporting victims of such crimes.
The CCEL will conduct a research project to develop a policy framework for working with victims of crime and witnesses who have capability issues.
This project is funded by the BC Council to Reduce Elder Abuse. To learn more about this project, visit our website.
Dementia & Advance Care Planning: Context and Considertaions for 2SLGBTQI Communities
The benefits of advanced care planning extend to 2SLGBTQI communities, with specific nuances and considerations. In this new resource co-authored by Egale Canada’s Celeste Pang and CCEL’s Krista James, participant discussions emphasized the need for greater attention to the particularities of 2SLGBTQI communities’ experiences, needs, and concerns when it comes to advance care planning and dementia, and to related realms of long-term care, general healthcare access and equity, and community and intergenerational support.
The Community Conversation Brief on Dementia and Advance Care Planning is available to download through this link.
Call for Health Care Key Informants
Are you a health care provider in BC who works with people living with dementia? We’re looking to hear from you about your ideas on how to better support people living with dementia to participate in decision-making.
Your feedback will inform tool development for health care providers to support decision-making involvement for people living with dementia. Participants will be entered into a $200 cash draw.
If you are interested, please contact Jessica Fehrenbacher at [email protected] or call 778-548-9996.
Do you work with victims and witnesses with capability issues? Share your insights!
We are seeking feedback from:
- Crown Counsel
- Defense Counsel
- Victim Services Workers
- RCMP Members
- Elders Advocates
- Indigenous Advocates
In a 30-60 minute interview, share your perspectives on what policy changes are necessary to support people living with dementia and other disabilities in dealing with the criminal justice system.
If you are interested or know someone who would be a good fit, contact Alison Wilkinson at [email protected]
Feedback wanted from Care Aids and Home Support Workers
Are you a care aid or home support worker in BC who works with people living with dementia? You are invited to share your feedback in an interview about your perspective on supporting decision-making involvement for people living with dementia.
To learn more or sign up, contact Jessica Fehrenbacher at [email protected] or call 778-548-9996. Participants will receive a $50 honorarium by cheque.
MARCH
March 23: The CCEL will be hosting a focus group for people living with Alzheimer’s or other related dementia to share what supports and limits their participation in making decisions.
If you would like to attend this online event, please reach out to Jessica Fehrenbacher at [email protected] or 778-548-9996.
March 31: The Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse is launching Future Us: A Roadmap to Elder Abuse Prevention. This community engagement strategy examines where we are now and where we need to go to strengthen elder abuse prevention across Canada
The final module of CNPEA’s sessions is a presentation about the law by CCEL National Director Krista James.
Register for this event here.
APRIL
April 2: Krista James and Jessica Fehrenbacher will be presenting on the Engaging People Living with Dementia in Decision-Making Project during the West Coast Conference on Aging.
To learn more and register for this conference, please click this link.
April 7: While most professionals are familiar with substitute-decision makers using a power of attorney or a guardianship appointment by the court or under legislation, supported decision-making relations are generally less familiar.
Alison Wilkinson will present on inclusive investing for the Estate Planning Council of Canada. To register for this event, please visit EPC Canada’s website.
| Kevin Zakreski BCLI welcomes new Commercial Liens Act |
| Nicole Freeman, Monika Steger, and Alison Wilkinson Age Discrimination and the Human Rights Process in British Columbia |
| Jessica Fehrenbacher CCEL’s Dementia Advisory Council’s Recommended Reading List |
| Nicole Freeman, Monika Steger, and Alison Wilkinson Age Discrimination in the Employment Context in British Columbia |
| Kevin Zakreski Parentage committee continues examination of rules for parentage of children conceived by sexual intercourse |
| Nicole Freeman, Monika Steger, and Alison Wilkinson Age Discrimination in Other Contexts in British Columbia |
