Statement clarifying FullStop Campaign Statements on Courthouse Libraries
BENCHER ELECTIONS 2023
VOTING
LEARN ABOUT THE CANDIDATES
GET ENGAGED!
The next Law Society bencher election is in April 2023!
April 19 to April 28, 2023: Voting occurs
May 1, 2023: Results announced
May 25, 2023: Benchers officially “take office” at meeting of Convocation
Voting procedures for the 2023 Bencher Election
The procedures provide information on the conduct of the election such as voter eligibility and anonymity, casting votes online or by phone and the announcement of results.
GET ENGAGED!
LEARN ABOUT THE CANDIDATES
GET ENGAGED!
What better way to get all your local Bencher candidates together to hear about where they stand on the issues than to host a Bencher Candidate event at your Law Association?
You could host a debate, a panel forum, or even a meet and greet.
And don't forget to inform the local press.
LEARN ABOUT THE CANDIDATES
LEARN ABOUT THE CANDIDATES
LEARN ABOUT THE CANDIDATES
FOLA'S CANDIDATE SURVEY
==========
CANDIDATES AND PARTIAL SURVEY RESPONSES
In advance of the bencher election set for April 28, 2023, FOLA is working to provide Law Association members with an easy way to identify “FOLA Friendly” candidates who complete our survey
Our survey focuses on the following priority topics:
- Whether the candidate is a contributing member of their county or district law association;
- Whether, if elected, the candidate will support a properly funded courthouse library system; and
- Whether, if elected, the candidate will work to support a sustainably-funded Legal Aid system that provides access to justice for low-income Ontarians and ensures that Legal Aid practice continues to be viable service for the private bar to offer.
For transparency, all candidate responses received by our deadline of March 22, 2023 at 5pm (Eastern Time) will be published online, in full, with candidate profiles. Responses will not be edited in any way unless they exceed our word limit. We will also indicate if a candidate did not respond by the deadline. We reserve the right to excerpt portions of any responses provided to us, for our ongoing use during the election.
Our bencher election committee will also review all responses and may use those responses to identify “FOLA-Friendly” candidates – i.e., those that most closely align with the priorities of county and district law associations and their members.
CANDIDATE PROFILES
CENTRAL EAST LAWYER CANDIDATES
Russell Alexander
Unaffiliated
Current Member, Victoria Haliburton Law Association
Q: Will you support maintaining current funding for LiRN?
YES
Q: Do you support offloading funding for LiRN/law libraries to the Law Foundation of Ontario?
YES
Q: Will you advocate for LAO funding?
YES
Q: Should paralegals’ scope of practice be expanded?
No, it should be reduced
Q: Should paralegals pay an annual competency levy?
YES
Edward Choi
FullStop
Current Member, York Region Law Association
Q: Will you support maintaining current funding for LiRN?
YES
Q: Do you support offloading funding for LiRN/law libraries to the Law Foundation of Ontario?
NO
Q: Will you advocate for LAO funding?
YES
Q: Should paralegals’ scope of practice be expanded?
No further than the FLSP
Q: Should paralegals pay an annual competency levy?
NO
Arwa DeSantis
Unaffiliated
Info
Horatiu Druma-Strugariu
Unaffiliated
Not a Current Member of his Law Association
Q: Will you support maintaining current funding for LiRN?
YES
Q: Do you support offloading funding for LiRN/law libraries to the Law Foundation of Ontario?
NO
Q: Will you advocate for LAO funding?
YES
Q: Should paralegals’ scope of practice be expanded?
YES
Q: Should paralegals pay an annual competency levy?
YES
Kathryn Whitehead
Good Governance
info
Alexander David Wilkes
FullStop
Current Bencher
Arslan Ali Zaidi
Unaffiliated
info
CENTRAL EAST LAWYER CANDIDATE RESPONSES IN FULL
CLICK HERE (Coming soon)
CENTRAL SOUTH LAWYER CANDIDATES
Winfield Corcoran
Unaffiliated
info
Laura L. Emmett
Good Governance
info
Michael LeSage
FullStop
Current Bencher
Current Member, Lincoln County Law Association
Q: Will you support maintaining current funding for LiRN?
YES
Q: Do you support offloading funding for LiRN/law libraries to the Law Foundation of Ontario?
NO
Q: Will you advocate for LAO funding?
YES
Q: Should paralegals’ scope of practice be expanded?
No further than the FLSP
Q: Should paralegals pay an annual competency levy?
YES
Grace Pang
FullStop
Current Member, Lincoln County Law Association
Q: Will you support maintaining current funding for LiRN?
YES
Q: Do you support offloading funding for LiRN/law libraries to the Law Foundation of Ontario?
NO
Q: Will you advocate for LAO funding?
YES
Q: Should paralegals’ scope of practice be expanded?
YES
Q: Should paralegals pay an annual competency levy?
YES
Trevor Parry
FullStop
Current Bencher
Current Member, Hamilton Law Association
Q: Will you support maintaining current funding for LiRN?
YES
Q: Do you support offloading funding for LiRN/law libraries to the Law Foundation of Ontario?
NO
Q: Will you advocate for LAO funding?
YES
Q: Should paralegals’ scope of practice be expanded?
YES
Q: Should paralegals pay an annual competency levy?
YES
Andrew Spurgeon
Good Governance
Current Bencher
Current Member, Hamilton Law Association
Q: Will you support maintaining current funding for LiRN?
YES
Q: Do you support offloading funding for LiRN/law libraries to the Law Foundation of Ontario?
NO
Q: Will you advocate for LAO funding?
YES
Q: Should paralegals’ scope of practice be expanded?
No further than the FLSP
Q: Should paralegals pay an annual competency levy?
YES
David Steele
Unaffiliated
info
Stephanie L. Sutherland
Good Governance
Current Member, Waterloo Region Law Association
Q: Will you support maintaining current funding for LiRN?
YES
Q: Do you support offloading funding for LiRN/law libraries to the Law Foundation of Ontario?
NO
Q: Will you advocate for LAO funding?
YES
Q: Should paralegals’ scope of practice be expanded?
YES
Q: Should paralegals pay an annual competency levy?
YES
Michael Winward
Good Governance
Current Member, Hamilton Law Association
Past Chair, FOLA
Q: Will you support maintaining current funding for LiRN?
YES
Q: Do you support offloading funding for LiRN/law libraries to the Law Foundation of Ontario?
NO
Q: Will you advocate for LAO funding?
YES
Q: Should paralegals’ scope of practice be expanded?
No further than the FLSP
Q: Should paralegals pay an annual competency levy?
YES
CENTRAL EAST LAWYER CANDIDATE RESPONSES IN FULL
CLICK HERE (Coming soon)
CENTRAL WEST LAWYER CANDIDATES
Hogarth Clauzel
FullStop
info
Jennifer Gold
Good Governance
info
Gary D. Graham
FullStop
Current Bencher
Mian Hakeem
Unaffiliated
Current Member, Peel Law Association
Q: Will you support maintaining current funding for LiRN?
YES
Q: Do you support offloading funding for LiRN/law libraries to the Law Foundation of Ontario?
NO
Q: Will you advocate for LAO funding?
YES
Q: Should paralegals’ scope of practice be expanded?
No further than the FLSP
Q: Should paralegals pay an annual competency levy?
YES
Cathi Mietkiewicz
Good Governance
info
Brian L. Prill
FullStop
Current Bencher
Sunish Rai Uppal
FullStop
info
CENTRAL WEST LAWYER CANDIDATE RESPONSES IN FULL
CLICK HERE (Coming soon)
EAST LAWYER CANDIDATES
Jacqueline Y. Beckles
Unaffiliated
info
Neha Chugh
Good Governance
Current Member, Prescott & Russell Law Association and Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry Law Association
Q: Will you support maintaining current funding for LiRN?
YES
Q: Do you support offloading funding for LiRN/law libraries to the Law Foundation of Ontario?
NO
Q: Will you advocate for LAO funding?
YES
Q: Should paralegals’ scope of practice be expanded?
No further than the FLSP
Q: Should paralegals pay an annual competency levy?
YES
Jean-Jacques Desgranges
FullStop
Current Bencher
Antoine Collins
Unaffiliated
Current Member, County of Carleton Law Association
Q: Will you support maintaining current funding for LiRN?
YES
Q: Do you support offloading funding for LiRN/law libraries to the Law Foundation of Ontario?
NO
Q: Will you advocate for LAO funding?
YES
Q: Should paralegals’ scope of practice be expanded?
No further than the FLSP
Q: Should paralegals pay an annual competency levy?
YES
Mitchell Kitagawa
Good Governance
Current Member, County of Carleton Law Association
Q: Will you support maintaining current funding for LiRN?
YES
Q: Do you support offloading funding for LiRN/law libraries to the Law Foundation of Ontario?
NO
Q: Will you advocate for LAO funding?
YES
Q: Should paralegals’ scope of practice be expanded?
No further than the FLSP
Q: Should paralegals pay an annual competency levy?
YES
Cheryl Lean
FullStop
Current Bencher
Current Member, Hastings & Prince Edward County Law Association
Q: Will you support maintaining current funding for LiRN?
YES
Q: Do you support offloading funding for LiRN/law libraries to the Law Foundation of Ontario?
NO
Q: Will you advocate for LAO funding?
YES
Q: Should paralegals’ scope of practice be expanded?
No further than the FLSP
Q: Should paralegals pay an annual competency levy?
NO
Andrej Litvinjenko
FullStop
info
Cecil Lyon
FullStop
Current Bencher
Current Member, County of Carleton Law Association
Q: Will you support maintaining current funding for LiRN?
YES
Q: Do you support offloading funding for LiRN/law libraries to the Law Foundation of Ontario?
NO
Q: Will you advocate for LAO funding?
YES
Q: Should paralegals’ scope of practice be expanded?
No further than the FLSP
Q: Should paralegals pay an annual competency levy?
YES
Sonia Ouellet
Good Governance
info
Natalia U. Rodriguez
Good Governance
Current Member, County of Carleton Law Association
Q: Will you support maintaining current funding for LiRN?
YES
Q: Do you support offloading funding for LiRN/law libraries to the Law Foundation of Ontario?
NO
Q: Will you advocate for LAO funding?
YES
Q: Should paralegals’ scope of practice be expanded?
No further than the FLSP
Q: Should paralegals pay an annual competency levy?
YES
Stéphane Sérafin
FullStop
info
Douglas Treilhard
FullStop
info
M. Anne Vespry
Unaffiliated
Former Bencher
Current Member, Carleton County Law Association
Q: Will you support maintaining current funding for LiRN?
YES
Q: Do you support offloading funding for LiRN/law libraries to the Law Foundation of Ontario?
NO
Q: Will you advocate for LAO funding?
YES
Q: Should paralegals’ scope of practice be expanded?
YES
Q: Should paralegals pay an annual competency levy?
YES
EAST LAWYER CANDIDATE RESPONSES IN FULL
info
NORTHEAST LAWYER CANDIDATES
Daly Canie
FullStop
info
Joelle Malette
Good Gevernance
info
Serge F. Treherne
Unaffiliated
info
NORTHEAST LAWYER CANDIDATE RESPONSES IN FULL
CLICK HERE (Coming soon)
NORTHWEST LAWYER CANDIDATES
Ryan Alford
FullStop
Current Bencher
Current Member, Thunder Bay Law Association
Q: Will you support maintaining current funding for LiRN?
YES
Q: Do you support offloading funding for LiRN/law libraries to the Law Foundation of Ontario?
NO
Q: Will you advocate for LAO funding?
YES
Q: Should paralegals’ scope of practice be expanded?
No - it should be reduced
Q: Should paralegals pay an annual competency levy?
YES
Etienne Esquega
Unaffiliated
Current Bencher
Current Member, Thunder Bay Law Association
Q: Will you support maintaining current funding for LiRN?
YES
Q: Do you support offloading funding for LiRN/law libraries to the Law Foundation of Ontario?
NO
Q: Will you advocate for LAO funding?
YES
Q: Should paralegals’ scope of practice be expanded?
No further than the FLSP
Q: Should paralegals pay an annual competency levy?
YES
Cheryl C. M. Siran
Good Governance
Current Bencher
Current Member & Past President, Kenora District Law Association
Q: Will you support maintaining current funding for LiRN?
YES
Q: Do you support offloading funding for LiRN/law libraries to the Law Foundation of Ontario?
NO
Q: Will you advocate for LAO funding?
YES
Q: Should paralegals’ scope of practice be expanded?
No further than the FLSP
NORTHWEST LAWYER CANDIDATE RESPONSES IN FULL
CLICK HERE (Coming soon)
SOUTHWEST LAWYER CANDIDATES
Lisa D. S. Bildy
FullStop
info
Rod Catford
Unaffiliated
Current Member, Lambton Law Association
Q: Will you support maintaining current funding for LiRN?
YES
Q: Do you support offloading funding for LiRN/law libraries to the Law Foundation of Ontario?
NO
Q: Will you advocate for LAO funding?
YES
Q: Should paralegals’ scope of practice be expanded?
No, it should be reduced
Q: Should paralegals pay an annual competency levy?
YES
Gerard Charette
FullStop
Current Bencher
Current Member, Essex Law Association
Q: Will you support maintaining current funding for LiRN?
YES
Q: Do you support offloading funding for LiRN/law libraries to the Law Foundation of Ontario?
NO
Q: Will you advocate for LAO funding?
YES
Q: Should paralegals’ scope of practice be expanded?
No, it should be reduced
Q: Should paralegals pay an annual competency levy?
YES
Jacqueline Horvat
Good Governance
Current Bencher, Treasurer
Current Member, Essex Law Association and the Toronto Lawyers' Association
Q: Will you support maintaining current funding for LiRN?
YES
Q: Do you support offloading funding for LiRN/law libraries to the Law Foundation of Ontario?
NO
Q: Will you advocate for LAO funding?
YES
Q: Should paralegals’ scope of practice be expanded?
No further than the FLSP
Q: Should paralegals pay an annual competency levy?
YES
Karen Hulan
Good Governance
Past President, Middlesex Law Association
Q: Will you support maintaining current funding for LiRN?
YES
Q: Do you support offloading funding for LiRN/law libraries to the Law Foundation of Ontario?
YES
Q: Will you advocate for LAO funding?
YES
Q: Should paralegals’ scope of practice be expanded?
Yes, the Law Society should look for additional areas to expand paralegal scope of practice
Q: Should paralegals pay an annual competency levy?
YES
Jasminka Kalajdzic
Good Governance
Past Member, Essex Law Association
Q: Will you support maintaining current funding for LiRN?
YES
Q: Do you support offloading funding for LiRN/law libraries to the Law Foundation of Ontario?
NO
Q: Will you advocate for LAO funding?
YES
Q: Should paralegals’ scope of practice be expanded?
No further than the FLSP
Q: Should paralegals pay an annual competency levy?
YES
Greg Monforton
Good Governance
Current Member, Essex Law Association
Q: Will you support maintaining current funding for LiRN?
YES
Q: Do you support offloading funding for LiRN/law libraries to the Law Foundation of Ontario?
NO
Q: Will you advocate for LAO funding?
YES
Q: Should paralegals’ scope of practice be expanded?
No further than the FLSP
Q: Should paralegals pay an annual competency levy?
YES
Kevin L. Ross
Good Governance
info
Quinn Ross
Good Governance
Current Bencher
Michael Wills
FullStop
Current Member, Essex Law Association
Q: Will you support maintaining current funding for LiRN?
NO
Q: Do you support offloading funding for LiRN/law libraries to the Law Foundation of Ontario?
NO
Q: Will you advocate for LAO funding?
YES
Q: Should paralegals’ scope of practice be expanded?
YES
Q: Should paralegals pay an annual competency levy?
YES
Matthew Wilson
Good Governance
Current Member, Middlesex Law Association
Q: Will you support maintaining current funding for LiRN?
NO
Q: Do you support offloading funding for LiRN/law libraries to the Law Foundation of Ontario?
NO
Q: Will you advocate for LAO funding?
YES
Q: Should paralegals’ scope of practice be expanded?
YES
Q: Should paralegals pay an annual competency levy?
YES
SOUTHWEST LAWYER CANDIDATE RESPONSES IN FULL
CLICK HERE (Coming soon)
outside toronto lawyer candidates
Russell Alexander
Central East
info
Ryan Alford
Northwest
info
Jacqueline Y. Beckles
East
Info
Lisa D. S. Bildy
Southwest
info
Daly Canie
Northeast
info
Rod Catford
Southwest
info
Gerard Charette
Southwest
info
Edward Choi
Central East
info
Neha Chugh
East
info
Hogarth Clauzel
Central West
info
Winfield Corcoran
Central South
info
Arwa DeSantis
Central East
info
Jean-Jacques Desgranges
East
info
Horatiu Druma-Strugariu
Central East
info
Laura L. Emmett
Central South
info
Etienne Esquega
Northwest
info
Jennifer Gold
Central West
info
Gary D. Graham
Central West
info
Mian Hakeem
Central West
info
Jacqueline Horvat
Southwest
info
Karen Hulan
Southwest
info
Jasminka Kalajdzic
Southwest
info
Mitchell Kitagawa
East
info
Cheryl Lean
East
info
Michael LeSage
Central South
info
Andrej Litvinjenko
East
info
Cecil Lyon
East
info
Joelle Malette
Northeast
info
Cathi Mietkiewicz
Central West
info
Greg Monforton
Southwest
info
Sonia Ouellet
East
info
Grace Pang
Central South
info
Trevor Parry
Central South
info
Brian L. Prill
Central West
info
Natalia U. Rodriguez
East
info
Kevin L. Ross
Southwest
info
Quinn Ross
Southwest
info
Stéphane Sérafin
East
info
Cheryl C. M. Siran
Northwest
info
Andrew Spurgeon
Central South
info
Suresh Sriskandarajah
Central East
info
David Steele
Central South
info
Stephanie L. Sutherland
Central South
info
Serge F. Treherne
Northeast
info
Douglas Treilhard
East
info
Sunish Rai Uppal
Central West
info
M. Anne Vespry
East
info
Kathryn Whitehead
Central East
info
Alexander David Wilkes
Central East
info
Michael Wills
Southwest
info
Matthew Wilson
Southwest
info
Michael Winward
Central South
info
Arslan Ali Zaidi
Central East
info
ARTICLES BY BENCHERS AND BENCHER CANDIDATES
ARTICLES BY BENCHERS & FORMER BENCHER CANDIDATES
Article written by Cheryl Siran, Bencher from Kenora, ON on what being a Bencher is really all about. Jan 2023
WELLNESS: SOMETIMES LOSING IS WINNING
An article written by Darryl Singer, who ran - and lost - for Bencher in 2019
THE LAW SOCIETY SHOULD NOT ADOPT A PARTY SYSTEM
An article by Bencher Joseph Groia in Canadian Lawyer
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