Calgary lawyers who had Manitoba judge followed fight disbarment
CBC
The two Calgary lawyers who hired a private investigator in 2021 to follow a Manitoba judge who'd been presiding over their court challenge of COVID-19 public health restrictions should be disbarred for their dishonourable professional conduct, argued a prosecutor for the Law Society of Alberta on Wednesday.
The law society hearing is underway this week to determine what sanctions will be imposed against John Carpay and Jay Cameron, lawyers who work for the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms.
Carpay is the organization's president. Cameron was working in private practice and was retained by the justice centre.
While law society lawyer Karl Seidenz asked the panel to impose the "maximum sanction" of disbarment, lawyers for the two men are fighting to keep them employed in their chosen profession, arguing the pair have already faced significant consequences.
Cameron's lawyer, Alex Steigerwald, told the court that his client's reputation is "irreversibly tarnished" and said he had "experienced professional disgrace."
"The consequences of his actions have already been severe," argued Steigerwald, telling the panel that Cameron is the sole breadwinner for his family and hasn't been able to practise law since 2022.
Steigerwald asked the law society to impose a suspension that would run concurrently with the three-year Canada-wide practising prohibition, issued by a Manitoba judge, which is set to expire in October 2026.
Carpay's lawyer, Alain Hepner, also asked the law society panel to impose a suspension.
"This is a case of an error in judgment for which he's apologized," said Hepner.
The panel reserved its decision.
As part of the misconduct hearing, Carpay was called to testify.
Carpay called the decision to hire a PI "the worst error in judgment I've ever made in my legal career."
In the spring and summer of 2021, the justice centre was involved in a court case challenging COVID-19 restrictions, presided over by Manitoba Justice Glenn Joyal.
On June 1, 2021, photos were released of then-Alberta premier Jason Kenney dining with several of his top ministers on the patio of a government building nicknamed Sky Palace. Although restrictions had been recently relaxed, there were questions about whether the politicians were properly distanced and/or having indoor encounters as well.
The federal government is stoking Quebec separatism by walking back its climate commitments — including in its recent deal with Alberta — Liberal MP and former cabinet minister Steven Guilbeault says.
Four more Alberta MLAs are facing recall petitions organized by their constituents, including the first NDP representative to be caught in the province's ongoing wave of recall efforts.
Frank Gehry, the Canadian-born renegade architect behind some of the world's most recognizable buildings, has died at 96.
Hundreds of P.E.I. parents can't find child-care spaces, especially for infants. The provincial government says expanding those spots remains a top priority — and it recognizes the concern.
An Alberta judge says a referendum proposal on Alberta separating from Canada goes against Charter and and Treaty rights, in a decision given less than 24 hours after the provincial government introduced legislation that would have ended the court proceeding.
The architect of Alberta's politician recall legislation says it was never meant to be used as a political weapon, but as an "ultimate tool of accountability" if a politician engages in illegal or unethical behaviour.
The Government of Saskatchewan has introduced its long-promised involuntary treatment legislation on the final day of the fall sitting.
The Law Society of Ontario has suspended the licence of Deepak Paradkar, one of seven Canadians arrested in connection with alleged drug lord Ryan Wedding’s cocaine smuggling ring.
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is getting rid of unlimited mental health benefits for staff, blaming ballooning costs and former administrators for implementing it without proper due diligence or oversight.
Netflix has agreed to buy Warner Bros. Discovery's TV and film studios and streaming division for $72 billion US, a deal that would hand control of one of Hollywood's most prized and oldest assets to the streaming pioneer that has upended the media industry.
CBC Calgary kicks off its annual Make the Season Kind campaign this morning at Fratello Coffee Roasters.
CBC Newfoundland and Labrador is kicking off its annual holiday campaign, helping to raise money to support local food banks.
If all goes according to plan, at 6 a.m. AT on Saturday people working at the IWK Health Centre will become the test case for a generational change to Nova Scotia’s health-care system.