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Jul 23

Can COVID-19 Propel Ontario’s Justice System into the Digital Age?

Webinar with Chief Justice Geoffrey Morawetz and The Hon. Douglas Downey

Slow courts are bad for citizens and the economy, as businesses and investors cannot count on timely enforcement of their rights. The COVID-19 pandemic is prompting Ontario’s court system to modernize its operations and processes. Join the C.D. Howe Institute on Thursday, July 23 to hear an expert panel discuss the efficiencies, and risks, of digital processes and virtual proceedings in Ontario’s justice system.

 

C.D. Howe Institute events and webinars are open to members and their guests.

Please follow this link or contact events@cdhowe.org to register.

 

Chief Justice Geoffrey Morawetz, Chief Justice, Ontario Superior Court of Justice

Justice Geoffrey Morawetz, a judge of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario, has been appointed as chief justice of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario, succeeding Chief Justice Heather Smith, who retires June 30 after more than 36 years of service as a judge.

Morawetz was appointed to the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario in 2005. He served as the court’s team leader of the Commercial List from 2010 to 2013, when he was appointed regional senior justice for the Toronto region. In this role, he heard civil, commercial and Divisional Court matters. Prior to these appointments, he practised at Goodmans LLP and at the firm now known as Borden Ladner Gervais LLP.

Morawetz is a fellow of the Insolvency Institute of Canada, a fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy and an editor of the Canadian Bankruptcy Reports.

In 2012, Morawetz was honoured with the Distinguished Service Award for Lifetime Achievement by the Emory Bankruptcy Developments Journal, which is based at the Emory University School of Law in Atlanta. In 2016, he was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Insolvency Section of the Canadian Bar Association.

Morawetz has lectured at universities in both Canada and the United States and has participated in several educational programs for the National Judicial Institute. Since 2008, Morawetz has also been an advisor to the Canadian Delegation at the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law – Insolvency Law.

Morawetz graduated from the University of Western Ontario Law School in 1978 and was admitted to the Ontario bar in 1980.

 

The Hon. Douglas Downey, Attorney General, Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General

Attorney General Doug Downey is working to build a justice system fit for the 21st century by establishing new and innovative ways of delivering justice that support the growth of safe, strong communities and stand up for victims and law-abiding citizens.

In his leadership in law, in business, in municipal and community affairs he has worked one case at a time to make the system work better for people unable to accomplish needed changes on their own, getting results for individuals and the broader public.

With degrees in law from Dalhousie University and Osgoode Hall he has broken new ground in real estate law, accomplishing innovative firsts in Ontario and Canada. In addition to being recognized at the local, provincial and national levels as a leader in law and in business he has helped lead Orillia’s city council, Kiwanis Club, Chamber of Commerce, Community Development Corporation and the region’s Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada.

He was elected as MPP for Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte in June 2018 and appointed as the Attorney General in June 2019.

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