Loreley Chekay: CBA President Priorities Focus on Justice System Resources

• Loreley Chekay will assume the presidency of the Canadian Bar Association on September 1, with a primary focus on securing adequate resources for the justice system.
• She warns that Canada's justice system is at significant risk of being overwhelmed due to delays, population growth, and increased demands.
• Chekay's priorities also include continued dialogue on protecting the rule of law and the independence of the bar and bench.
• Her extensive background includes serving as a Crown prosecutor for nearly 15 years and holding executive roles at Saskatchewan Government Insurance.
• The CBA's emphasis on justice system resources continues a focus shared by her predecessor, Bianca Kratt.

A primary challenge, she notes, involves ensuring that courts and other vital justice system institutions receive appropriate funding and support.

Loreley Chekay, a prominent Regina-based lawyer, is poised to assume the presidency of the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) on September 1. As the incoming Canadian Bar Association president, Chekay has articulated a clear set of Loreley Chekay CBA president priorities for her 2026-2027 term, with a central focus on mobilizing legal professionals nationwide to secure adequate resources for the justice system. This overarching goal stems from her extensive background, including her tenure as a lawyer, her service on the CBA's board of directors, and her recent year as the association's vice president.

Chekay underscores the critical state of Canada's justice system, warning that it faces a significant risk of becoming overwhelmed. She attributes this vulnerability to recent years marked by increasing delays, a growing population, and consequently, heightened demands on judicial infrastructure. A primary challenge, she notes, involves ensuring that courts and other vital justice system institutions receive appropriate funding and support. This emphasis on Loreley Chekay justice system resources highlights a pressing need for Canada legal system funding to address systemic pressures.

Beyond the immediate need for enhanced resourcing, Chekay's CBA 2026-2027 term goals also encompass a commitment to fostering ongoing dialogue regarding the protection of the rule of law in Canada. She further intends to champion discussions around safeguarding the independence of both the bar and the bench. While acknowledging that these topics are not novel, Chekay stresses their enduring importance for the CBA's fundamental role within society, emphasizing the necessity of continuous engagement with all relevant stakeholders.

This focus on systemic issues aligns with concerns previously raised by her predecessor, Bianca Kratt, who also identified justice system resources as a key area of attention during her term last year. The continuity in these priorities underscores a persistent challenge facing the Canadian legal landscape, making the Rule of law Canada CBA advocacy particularly relevant for legal practitioners and compliance officers monitoring the efficiency and accessibility of the justice system.

Chekay's professional journey provides a robust foundation for her leadership role within Canada's largest association for legal professionals. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, she pursued her third year of law school at the University of Saskatchewan and has since made the province her home. Her legal career commenced at Balfour Moss, a Saskatchewan firm that later merged with Miller Thomson in 2011.

For nearly 15 years, Chekay served as a Crown prosecutor for the province, gaining invaluable experience in public service. She subsequently transitioned to Saskatchewan Government Insurance, where her most recent position was executive vice president, general counsel, and chief risk officer. Her diverse professional background, spanning private practice, public prosecution, and corporate leadership, informs her comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the Canadian legal system.

Lawyers and compliance officers should monitor the Canadian Bar Association's advocacy under Loreley Chekay's presidency for potential impacts on court efficiency, legal aid, and the overall resourcing of the justice system, which could affect case timelines and access to justice.

Source: Original reporting via Canadian Lawyer