We at the British Columbia Law Institute are saddened to share that Kevin Zakreski has passed away. This is a profound loss for our organization and for law reform in British Columbia and Canada. Kevin worked at the BCLI for over 22 years. He was responsible for many major projects, including law reform projects related to children and families, strata property, and civil remedies. 

He was accomplished, dedicated, quick witted, and kind. His work contributed to the reputation for excellence the BCLI has today. 

Kevin’s mentorship to BCLI’s articling students and junior members of our team deserves special mention. He brought all of his talents to teaching, learning and mentoring those new to the law and law reform. 
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In all respects, Kevin represented the best of what BCLI has to offer and, though his legacy will live on in the memories of his contributions, he will be sorely missed.

The Law Reform Commission of Saskatchewan has published its consultation report and survey on the Right to Repair.

From the report: 
"The “right to repair” encompasses a variety of measures aimed at ensuring consumers are able to either repair their consumer products themselves or choose where to have their products repaired and to have their products repaired at a competitive price. Right to repair measures can include, for example, statutory provisions requiring manufactures and retail sellers to provide replacement parts and information necessary to repair products, and statutory prohibitions on the use of terms in a warranty that discourage repair by anyone other than authorized repairers.

Right to repair advocates have suggested that ensuring consumers have a right to repair encourages responsible consumption of goods from both an economic and environmental perspective, increases market competition for repair, and can decrease operating costs for businesses. Some manufacturers have, however, maintained that some right to repair measures may infringe their intellectual property rights, and compromise the security and safety of products, posing a danger to users and repairers. Manufacturers have also suggested that some right to repair policies may have negative economic consequences."

Visit the Commission's website to get the report and take their survey. Consultation is open until January 31, 2026.

The British Columbia Law Institute has published its latest annual report showcasing a year of innovative law reform and forward-looking initiatives. 

Read the report.

AI impact assessments are a leading strategy to promote “trustworthy AI” in government and private sector AI systems.


In November 2024, the Law Commission of Ontario and Ontario Human Rights Commission released the first AI impact assessment based on Canadian human rights law. The LCO/OHRC HRIA is a practical step-by-step guide that will help Canadian public and private organizations embed “human rights by design” in their AI systems.


Today, the LCO is releasing a Backgrounder summarizing the benefits, limitations, and choices in AI impact assessments. The Backgrounder will help policymakers and stakeholders understand the key issues and stakeholder perspectives on these important AI governance tools.

Visit the LCO website.