Patricia Hughes
After eight years, Patricia Hughes retired as the Law Commission of Ontario’s founding executive director in mid-December. She leaves a Commission that has become a recognized part of Ontario’s legal landscape with its innovative approach to law reform.
Aneurin (Nye) Thomas joined the Law Commission of Ontario (LCO) as its executive director designate and assumed the full responsibilities of the role on Dec. 15. Nye has had a distinguished career at Legal Aid Ontario, most recently serving as its director of general, policy and strategic research. “It’s a terrific opportunity to take the LCO forward,” Nye said. “I’ve appreciated the LCO’s evidence-based research, and am excited to be working with all the LCO staff and the Board of Governors to continue producing high quality reports while engaging with the province’s legal and social justice communities.”
In its research program now are projects as diverse as legal capacity, decision-making and guardianship, improving the last stages of life, class actions, defamation and the Internet and the regulation of public space, along with future projects on redefining parentage and a multifaceted approach to community safety.
Determining a project that focuses on an issue of particular concern to Aboriginal communities is a priority in the coming months. The LCO will seek to renew its current five-year mandate in 2016 and Nye said the LCO is keen to work with the Board of Governors engaging with its funders to ensure that the commission will continue to address some of the most challenging and contemporary issues in law reform.
See www.lco-cdo.org for more information on the LCO or email LawCommission@lco-cdo.org.