8 December 2016
The Young Bar of Montréal (YBM) was in attendance on December 7, when Bill 693 was passed by Quebec’s National Assembly. This bill, which aimed to ensure that young people under 35 have a place on the board of directors of public corporations, was acclaimed by the YBM when it was tabled by MP Jean Habel last June. The adoption of this bill was in addition to the legislative changes proposed by Bill 98, which favoured greater youth representation on the boards of directors of professional associations.
Many youth organizations, including the Association des Jeunes Barreaux de Région (AJBR), the Jeune Barreau de Québec (JBQ), as well as Force Jeunesse, were also in attendance.
These initiatives are in keeping with the YBM’s longstanding opinion that one seat on the Board of Directors of the Barreau du Québec be reserved for a lawyer with 10 years or less of call to the bar. It shows long-awaited recognition by the Quebec government that the inclusion of youth at the centre of the decision-making process is indeed a necessity.
