2016-2017 YEAR IN REVIEW

National Advisory Committee In 2016-2017, the Supreme Court Advocacy Institute completed its tenth year of The Honourable Frank Iacobucci, Chairperson operation, during which it continued to provide counsel appearing for argument C.C., Q.C., ​

The Honourable Gérald V. La Forest, before the Supreme Court of Canada with rigorous practice sessions. The Honorary Chairperson C.C., Q.C., ​ Institute’s advocacy program aims to increase the effectiveness and quality of

The Honourable Peter Cory, C.C., advocacy by simulating for counsel the experience of oral argument before the Honorary Chairperson C.D. Q.C., ​ highest court. A panel of seasoned Supreme Court advocates hears counsel’s The Honourable John C. Major, C.C., Honorary Chairperson Q.C., ​ argument and offers candid and constructive feedback to assist counsel in

The Honourable Michel Bastarache, making their oral submissions effective and helpful to the Court. Honorary Chairperson C.C., ​

The Honourable Louise Charron, Honorary Chairperson Demand for the Institute’s advocacy program is high. Over the past year, the C.C., ​

The Honourable Ian Binnie, C.C., Institute provided free, non-partisan advocacy sessions in 40% of cases before Honorary Chairperson Q.C., ​ the Court. Participation rates were particularly high in Ontario (where 57% of The Honourable Marie Deschamps, Honorary Chairperson appeals benefitted from the Institute’s services) and Alberta (where 57% of C.C., ​ appeals benefitted from the Institute’s services). The Institute’s advocacy The Honourable Morris J. Fish, C.C., Honorary Chairperson Q.C., ​ program was used for a wide range of appeals in civil and criminal matters, by

The Honourable Louis LeBel, C.C., counsel working in private practice as well as in government, and by seasoned Honorary Chairperson advocates as well as first-time counsel before the Court. The Honourable Marshall Rothstein, Honorary Chairperson C.C., Q.C., ​

The Honourable Thomas A. Sixty-five (65) lawyers donated their time as advocacy advisors for the Institute, Honorary Cromwell, C.C., ​ Chaiperson offering advice to counsel based on their own experience before the Court.

Member for Many participated in more than one session, illustrating once again the Sheila Block, L.S.M., ​ Ontario dedication of our advocacy advisors to the bar, to the public, and to access to Member for Frank R. Foran, Q.C., ​ Alberta justice. The Institute continues to receive extremely appreciative feedback from

Member for counsel who have used the advocacy program. Counsel are grateful for the time Daniel Jutras, Ad. E., ​ Quebec and effort the advisors devote to the sessions, and note that the mock hearings

Member for Richard Peck, Q.C., ​ are a highly valuable aspect of their preparation, resulting in improved oral British Columbia argument before the Court. Member for Richard J. Scott, Q.C., ​ Atlantic Canada

Member for The Institute’s advocacy sessions are organized by session coordinators in each Richard Wolson, Q.C., ​ Manitoba province. For their invaluable assistance in delivering the Institute’s services, we Executive Shantona Chaudhury, ​ Director thank Mila Shah (British Columbia), April Grosse (Alberta), Sacha Paul

Executive (Manitoba), Colleen Bauman (Ontario: Ottawa), Erin Dann (Ontario: Toronto), Grégoire Webber, M.S.M., ​ Director Audrey Boctor (Quebec), and Jula Hughes (Atlantic provinces). Member at Owen Rees, M.S.M., ​ Large A number of Institute members were appointed to the bench in the course of the Member at Pierre-Jérôme Bouchard, ​ Large 2016-2017 year. At the risk of omission, we congratulate Justice Cynthia

Member at Large Michael Feder, ​ Petersen for her appointment to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Justice

John Laskin for his appointment to the Federal Court of Appeal, Justice Russell

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Silverstein for his appointment to the Ontario Court of Justice, and Justice John Hunter for his appointment to the Court of Appeal for British Columbia. With also celebrate the retirement of Neil Finkelstein for years of service as an advocacy advisor in Toronto and John G. Martland, Q.C., and Roderick A. McLennan, Q.C. for years of service as advocacy advisors in Alberta and as members of the Regional Committee for Alberta.

Executive Director and founder Grégoire Webber returned to the Institute in August 2017 after serving as Legal Affairs Advisor to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. He thanks Michael Feder and Pierre-Jérôme Bouchard for their support as acting Executive Directors during this period.

We estimate that in the 2016-2017 year, the Institute’s advocacy advisors, committee members, and executive directors contributed approximately $465,950 in pro bono services to the benefit of parties and their counsel before ​ ​ the Supreme Court of Canada, bringing the Institute’s total pro bono ​ contribution since 2006 to approximately $4.52 million.

The Institute’s ability to provide its advocacy program to all counsel without charge is made possible by the generous funding provided by the Advocates’ Society, the American College of Trial Lawyers Canadian Foundation, the Law Foundation of Ontario, and the Ontario Bar Association Foundation. Thanks to the willingness of all participants to donate their time on a pro bono basis, the ​ Institute maintains low-cost operations. We thank Torys LLP for continuing to provide the Institute with pro bono services in support of our charitable status. ​ ​