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w w w . c a n a d i a n l a w y e r m a g . c o m J U N E / J U LY 2 0 1 9 7 A T L A N T I C COX & PALMER HIRES OCEANOGRAPHY SCIENTIST C ox & Palmer's Halifax Ocean Innovation Team has announced its newest member — an academic, entrepreneur and researcher. In his new role with the Atlantic law firm, Dr. Marlon Lewis will be tasked with bringing a non-legal perspective to issues and opportunities. "They recognized they need a more well-rounded group of people," says Lewis. A professor emeritus at Dalhousie University, Lewis is the former chairman of Dal's Department of Oceanography and the former senior scientist at Satlantic LP, a manufacturing firm. His diverse background, he says, while not legal expertise, gives the firm context for its ocean- related files and adds to the ability to do work in this area. "It's farsighted." Not being a lawyer gives the team an edge, he adds. "I look at things from a different lens. It's an advantage." The newly expanded team is in the early days of its work and a comprehensive strategy is being developed. "We're looking beyond legal approaches to give real value to clients," says Lewis. He notes, for example, that defence contracts contain requirements outside of strictly defence-related work. This might include requirements to ensure regional industrial benefits. The interest in oceans-related work, including legal services, has escalated since the federal government signed an agreement last November to invest almost $153 million, matched dollar for dollar by the private sector, in the Atlantic Canada-based Ocean Supercluster. The goal of this new group of businesses, post-secondary institutions and non-profits is to accelerate innovation and sustainable economic growth from Canada's oceans. Legal services will be central to that growth. According to the federal department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, the supercluster will undertake activities to harness emerging technologies to strengthen Canada's ocean industries such as marine renewable energy, fisheries, oil and gas and shipbuilding. It projects the supercluster will create more than 3,000 jobs and add more than $14 billion to Canada's economy over 10 years. "It is a broad program that is designed to carry out pre-competitive research and development," says Lewis. "It's off to the races." — donalee Moulton REGIONAL WRAP W H A T ' S H A P P E N I N G F R O M C O A S T T O C O A S T QUEBEC LAWYERS WANT PROVINCE INVOLVED IN SCC JUDGE NOMINATIONS P.8 ALBERTA'S NEW MINISTER OF JUSTICE IS WELL SUITED TO ROLE, SAY PEERS P.12 N E W F O U N D L A N D A N D L A B R A D O R NO MINOR INJURY CAP FOR NL N ewfoundland and Labrador is amending legislation to stabilize insurance rates for consumers while maintaining access to justice for victims. The legislation follows on the heels of a 166-page report from the Public Utilities Board that investigated the rising cost of automobile insurance claims. While that review did not make formal recommendations, it reached numerous conclu- sions. Changes to the Automobile Insurance Act and the Insurance Companies Act, which have received royal assent, will reshape the insurance landscape. Regarding the most controversial issue — a compensation cap on minor injuries — no cap will be introduced, but there will be an increase in the deductible for bodily injury claims to $5,000 from $2,500. The increase is a compromise, Service NL Minister Sherry Gambin-Walsh told reporters. In meetings with lawyers and insurers, she said, "We could not find a common ground." Less contentious changes include: • treatment protocols for common injuries as the primary payer; • no access to the Uninsured Automobile Fund for losses by uninsured motorists; • direct compensation for property damage; • a requirement for insurance companies to notify the Registrar of Motor Vehicles of the cancellation or expiration of insurance policies; • changes to procedural rules for motor vehicle collision claims. The proposed amendments will also provide a mandated insurance discount for winter tire usage, implementation of underwriting guide- lines concerning the optional use of telematics and changes to the rate-setting process. The gov- ernment is also eliminating the retail sales tax on automobile insurance, retroactive to April 16. The new amendments are intended to keep rates as low as possible, says Gambin-Walsh. — donalee Moulton "I look at things from a different lens. It's an advantage." Dr. Marlon Lewis

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