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GOVERNMENT/NON-PROFIT/ASSOCIATIONS Elizabeth May Leader, Green Party of Canada and MP Saanich-Gulf Islands As Canada's first elected Green party MP, defeating fellow lawyer and 12-year Conservative incumbent Gary Lunn, Elizabeth May has been an influential voice for addressing climate change. Over the past five years, she has gained the overwhelming support of the Green party with increas- ingly better results in each election. She has pushed for, and often won, a seat at the table during leadership debates and now as the first Green party MP, is in a position to further advance her party's agenda and influ- ence the Canadian political scene. Recently, she blocked the Conservative government's efforts to fast-track mega-trials legislation in the House of Commons (although it did get passed before the summer break). She has been an active participant in environmental issues from a young age, and was executive director of Sierra Club Canada for some time as well as ear- lier using her law degree from Dalhousie University in her role as one of the founders of the Canadian Environmental Defence Fund. Melanie Aitken Federal Commissioner of Competition, Ottawa As competition commissioner, Melanie Aitken has become a thorn in the side of many organizations since taking the reins in August 2009. Her office also has teeth with the capacity to fine and levy other sanctions against companies and organizations that can strongly influence changes in corporate behav- iour. Aitken has recently taken on the Canadian Real Estate Association over its multiple listing service; scolded Rogers Communications Inc. for questionable marketing claims; and has targeted Visa and MasterCard for forcing merchants to accept customer use of high-fee points cards. In June, her latest efforts on behalf of Canadian consumers saw her fining Bell Canada $10 million for misleading advertising. 25 INFLUENTIAL TOP MOST www.CANADIAN Lawyermag.com A U GUST 2011 37 W i ha t a unic n ue , m the h a t n, s as io v o mde n t t ee dirs a t had h a e ha l n t s a ha s s e t r s t t u m y y p o e w o h s o er d r a : u f w E s uliza en. lic t o " b h uen lo b S t I lic e l o t inf h f li p t b ce y b " aM t esp do n g o a in n a h e r m v et h l n ad M a a ha s a ha r b d h t. g in h e t ur t t o e " p le r y a n o a p " g ma ra r , t . e os s i e a if uc n es g s a k e s ici a td li t f s r s ta o h, o t em co h en t m-e s oader v e s t ' h pa ut b n lic o o n t de p a b r at tici-e W e n co e Thsioo inn e ha t " ac t er ' p nio g ha f c mi s s s r t h the n f in t io f s f e h ma n oice rna l t o um p n er s co r p m t r et e k ae f k a p k ce l co A o p ne l hadio a oen f t t et i o cohan c i s a m-m- y : r " ace . a e o d ra t ma r THE