Law Society of Ontario votes to publish findings of guilt
The Law Society of Ontario’s benchers voted 27–17 to require that its public register reflect findings of guilt and convictions for lawyers and paralegals under certain statutes (for example the Criminal Code, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, tax or securities laws, and offenses involving dishonesty connected to professional work). They also approved disclosing when a licensee is authorized to practice other regulated professions and linking to those regulators’ public registers. The change would apply only to future findings (not past ones). Supporters framed it as enhancing transparency and public confidence, while critics warned it could be overly broad, be unduly punishing, and have unintended impacts, particularly on racialized and marginalized licensees.