The most widely read magazine for Canadian lawyers
Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/50825
REGIONAL WRAP-UP male lawyers. Thomassin was appointed managing partner of McCarthy Té- trault LLP's of- fice in her native Quebec City a year ago, making her the first woman in la belle province to run a regional of- fice of a national law firm. "I was a bit surprised and flattered," she K told Canadian Lawyer. "It's a very good mark of support and confidence from my partners." Those partners pointed to how Thomassin has distinguished her- self since joining the firm in 2001 by the number and scope of challenges she has risen to and by her team spirit, infectious enthusiasm, and leadership. "I'm certain that Kim will do exception- ally well in her new role because she has always conveyed the values promoted by the firm — including remarkable skills, professionalism, attentiveness to clients, and teamwork," Marc-André Blanchard, managing partner for the Quebec region, said in making the belated announce- ment at the end of February. Thomas- sin has achieved all this while raising her now-20-month-old daughter, Elizabeth Grace, alone. She thanks the company's flexible work arrangements and 17-week maternity leave for allowing her to main- tain case files while away. An estimated 5,500 Quebec lawyers, about a quarter of the total 22,000 (of whom 46 per cent are women), are consid- ered independent workers and therefore don't have access to such leaves as those offered by major firms like McCarthy Té- trault. So about 400 annually, have been signing up for the parental-leave program that went into effect at the beginning of 2005 for independents either having chil- dren or adopting. "It's something that needs to reflect our society now, what goes on in the real world," Thomassin says of the rising ratio of women in law. She also credits the Women's Initia- im Thomassin, at 36, is regarded as a pioneer in a province with a rap- idly growing number of fellow fe- tives Network established by McCarthy Tétrault's women's task force that allows the firm's staff to participate in mentor- ing activities and other programs aimed to consolidate the women's community. Having a predominantly female legal staff isn't unusual in Quebec these days, and isn't limited to law firms. A perfect example is the Quebec-based pharmacy giant Jean Coutu Group. Last fall, veteran Montreal lawyer Jean Gagnon inherited a six-member team with five women when he was named vice president of the drug- store chain's legal department. They are Véronique Duval, Caroline Guay, Kim Lachapelle, Gina Morissette, and Nathalie Tétrault. Rounding out the team is lone male Daniel Dumont. — MIKE KING mking@videotron.ca New ground broken in old legal landscape T his spring, new ground was bro- ken in Nova Sco- tia. The provincial government, the Mu- nicipality of the Coun- ty of Colchester, and the province's Mi'kmaq community jointly an- nounced the next stage in developing the Debert Air Industrial Park. The groundbreaking aspect of the new ATLANTIC CANADA a moderate livelihood. After six years around the bargaining table, a framework agreement emerged designed to address the treaty and aboriginal rights and title of the Mi'kmaq in Nova Scotia. That development is that it will proceed while the cultural heritage of First Nations peo- ple is preserved. Debert, an area that dates back more than 11,000 years, has the old- est dated paleo-Indian archaeological site in Canada. The announcement marks the first official step in Mi'kmaq self-gov- ernment over cultural matters. It is also the first time the Mi'kmaq have worked co-operatively with fellow governments as equals, says Chief Lawrence Paul, a representative of the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq Chiefs. It's all part of what the provincial gov- ernment and its partners have been call- ing the made-in-Nova Scotia process. The process has roots dating back to 1725, when peace and friendship treaties were signed with Mi'kmaq and Maliseet First Nations and the British Crown on the East Coast. It didn't ramp up, however, until Sept. 17, 1999, when the Supreme Court of Canada, in the Donald Marshall case, confirmed the existence of Mi'kmaq and Maliseet rights as outlined in 18th-century treaties and confirmed the rights of the Mi'kmaq to hunt, fish, and gather in order to earn agreement sets out the process and the subjects to be discussed in full negotia- tions that fall broadly under the categories of land, resources, and governance. The aim is also to reconcile the constitution- ally protected rights and interests of the Mi'kmaq people with the rights and inter- ests of other people in Nova Scotia. The next step in the negotiations pro- cess is to work on an agreement-in-princi- ple — a memorandum of understanding. This is an intermediate step, preliminary to the final accord. That historic occasion will have to wait awhile yet, however. The MOU is not expected to be ready for an- other five years, and a final accord another three years after that. In the meantime, lawyers and their firms throughout the province are looking with interest at the process. Several are actively involved, usually behind the scenes, in the negotiations. Firms throughout the region are also keeping a keen eye on what tran- spires. The made-in-Nova Scotia process has received regional and national atten- tion. It's not only groundbreaking, historic, and founded on a firm legal footing. It also just might work. — DONALEE MOULTON donalee@quantumcommunications.ca www. C ANADIAN Law ye rmag.com JUNE 2008 11