BackFor the second year in a row, Ontario Ombudsman André Marin has been named one of the country's top lawyers in Canadian Lawyer magazine's annual "Top 25 Most Influential" list.
The list is the result of votes from the legal profession and the public, as well as input from the magazine's editors, and honours lawyers who have "a level of respect, the ability to influence public opinion and to help shape the laws of this country and others; contribution to the strength and quality of legal services as well as access to justice; and social and political influence and involvement," the magazine says.
The Ombudsman was the top vote recipient in the "Government/Non-profit/Associations" category, one of five categories in which five top lawyers were chosen. "For the second year in a row, Marin appears on this list as a tenacious advocate for Ontarians, including his review of electric utility billing practices, his reports on jailhouse brutality and the Transportation Ministry tracking drivers with uncontrolled hypoglycemia," the magazine said in a press release yesterday.
Voters praised Mr. Marin as a "highly reputable and responsive" official who "listens to the people" and takes action against "unfair policies" by Ontario government agencies. This past year, his "determination" to shine a light on government "has led Ontario to table legislation expanding the ombudsman's powers of oversight to municipalities, universities, and school boards," the magazine notes.
Deputy Ombudsman Barbara Finlay said it was an honour to see Mr. Marin named once gain to the prestigious list alongside Canada's brightest legal stars. "Mr. Marin is considered a leader in the field of ombudsmanship, and our office is supported by a team of skilled professionals. This honour is also a reflection of their dedication and expertise, especially in a year when have dealt with a record volume of public complaints and complex, large-scale investigations, as well as an historic legislative bid to expand our mandate."
Last year, Mr. Marin was named to the list as "an honest and tenacious advocate who has been effective in pushing the boundaries to ensure they are treated fairly and their tax dollars are not wasted." He was also named one of Toronto Life magazine's most influential Torontonians as a "tireless advocate for transparent, effective government." In 2012, Mr. Marin received the national Canadian Bar Association award for excellence in public sector law and the Ontario Bar Association's Distinguished Service Award.
- The leaders in Canadian Lawyer's other four categories are as follows:
- Changemakers: Supreme Court of Canada Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin
- Criminal Law/Human Rights: Prof. Alan Young, Osgoode Hall Law School, Toronto
- Corporate/Commercial: Simon Fish, BMO Financial Group, Toronto
- The World Stage: Louise Arbour
Joining Mr. Marin in the Government/Non-profit/Associations category are: Malcolm Mercer of McCarthy Tétrault, Toronto; Amy Sakalauskas of the Nova Scotia department of justice; Edgar Schmidt, formerly of Justice Canada; and Manitoba provincial court Justice Murray Sinclair.
Read the full "Top 25" story (English only).
Source: Ombudsman Ontario, CANADA
