FOLRAC HISTORY
The Federation of Law Reform Agencies of Canada (FOLRAC) was incorporated on October 29, 1990 under the Canada Corporations Act. The first directors were: Peter Lown, Q.C., Cliff Edwards, Q.C. and Arthur Close, Q.C.
Although the formal incorporation of FOLRAC did not occur until 1990, this was simply one step in the evolution of something that had been around for some years. When the first Canadian Law reform bodies were created it became a practice of most provincial governments to appoint a representative of the body (usually the chair) to form part of their delegations to the annual meetings of the Uniform law Conference of Canada. Taking advantage of the presence of a significant number of them these representatives started meeting informally at some point during the ULCC's annual meeting. During the mid 1980s the meeting was put on a more formal basis. The name "Law Reform Conference of Canada" was adopted and officers were elected. A report by the LRCC was a regular feature of the ULCC agenda.
In recent years, the practice of including representatives of the provincial law reform agencies as members of the various delegations to the ULCC has continued and although the informal meetings, which were usually based around who was available for lunch one day, have evolved into a more structured event with the issuance of invitations, the setting of an agenda and the taking of minutes, the prime focus has remained unchanged. The annual meeting of the ULCC serves as an opportunity for representatives of Canada's law reform agencies to get together to inform each other about the work they each have undertaken in the past year and which they plan to undertake in the future and to share their experiences, their successes and the challenges they have endured. These meetings are attended by those in attendance at the ULCC who have a connection with a law reform agency, not just the chairs.
In 1990, the British Columbia Law Reform Commission hosted the Law Reform Workshop which was the first meeting of representatives of Canada's law reform agencies outside of those that occurred in conjunction with annual meetings of the ULCC. Subsequent meetings were held in 1991, 1992, and 1993. However following the 1997 meeting, hosted by the Law Commission of Canada in Niagara, Ontario, it was not until May 2005 when the Alberta Law Reform Institute, with the assistance of the Law Commission of Canada hosted a conference of Canadian law reform agencies under the title of Staff Development Workshop, that a further meeting took place. This was followed by conferences in June 2007, hosted by the Nova Scotia Law Reform Commission, and in March 2008, hosted by the British Columbia Law Institute.
At the 2010 FOLRAC annual meeting, the future role of the organization was discussed. The concept of FOLRAC becoming something in the nature of a national law reform body was rejected. The consensus of those present was rather that it should maintain its focus on providing a vehicle for Canada's law reform agencies to share information about law reform and assist each other in carrying out their work. The 2010 FOLRAC Symposium hosted by the Law Commission of Ontario was a continuation of the fulfillment of this mandate. The focus was not directed just at the heads of the law reform agencies, but at all levels: executive directors and chairs, board members, professional staff and administrative staff.
The Federation of Law Reform Agencies of Canada (FOLRAC) was incorporated on October 29, 1990 under the Canada Corporations Act. The first directors were: Peter Lown, Q.C., Cliff Edwards, Q.C. and Arthur Close, Q.C.
Although the formal incorporation of FOLRAC did not occur until 1990, this was simply one step in the evolution of something that had been around for some years. When the first Canadian Law reform bodies were created it became a practice of most provincial governments to appoint a representative of the body (usually the chair) to form part of their delegations to the annual meetings of the Uniform law Conference of Canada. Taking advantage of the presence of a significant number of them these representatives started meeting informally at some point during the ULCC's annual meeting. During the mid 1980s the meeting was put on a more formal basis. The name "Law Reform Conference of Canada" was adopted and officers were elected. A report by the LRCC was a regular feature of the ULCC agenda.
In recent years, the practice of including representatives of the provincial law reform agencies as members of the various delegations to the ULCC has continued and although the informal meetings, which were usually based around who was available for lunch one day, have evolved into a more structured event with the issuance of invitations, the setting of an agenda and the taking of minutes, the prime focus has remained unchanged. The annual meeting of the ULCC serves as an opportunity for representatives of Canada's law reform agencies to get together to inform each other about the work they each have undertaken in the past year and which they plan to undertake in the future and to share their experiences, their successes and the challenges they have endured. These meetings are attended by those in attendance at the ULCC who have a connection with a law reform agency, not just the chairs.
In 1990, the British Columbia Law Reform Commission hosted the Law Reform Workshop which was the first meeting of representatives of Canada's law reform agencies outside of those that occurred in conjunction with annual meetings of the ULCC. Subsequent meetings were held in 1991, 1992, and 1993. However following the 1997 meeting, hosted by the Law Commission of Canada in Niagara, Ontario, it was not until May 2005 when the Alberta Law Reform Institute, with the assistance of the Law Commission of Canada hosted a conference of Canadian law reform agencies under the title of Staff Development Workshop, that a further meeting took place. This was followed by conferences in June 2007, hosted by the Nova Scotia Law Reform Commission, and in March 2008, hosted by the British Columbia Law Institute.
At the 2010 FOLRAC annual meeting, the future role of the organization was discussed. The concept of FOLRAC becoming something in the nature of a national law reform body was rejected. The consensus of those present was rather that it should maintain its focus on providing a vehicle for Canada's law reform agencies to share information about law reform and assist each other in carrying out their work. The 2010 FOLRAC Symposium hosted by the Law Commission of Ontario was a continuation of the fulfillment of this mandate. The focus was not directed just at the heads of the law reform agencies, but at all levels: executive directors and chairs, board members, professional staff and administrative staff.
