Former Nova Scotia Ombudsman delivers report on systemic discrimination in the legal profession

Former provincial Ombudsman Douglas Ruck KC has delivered his report to the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society (NSBS), outlining a comprehensive strategy to address systemic discrimination and promote an equitable legal profession.

The NSBS has announced its full acceptance of recommendations from Ruck’s report “Regaining Trust.” In April 2021, NSBS publicly recognized the existence of systemic discrimination within its organization and the broader legal profession, committing to an independent external review to identify and address these issues. The NSBS has emphasized that diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) are central to its mandate and essential for upholding the public’s trust in legal practice.

Ruck, a lawyer and former provincial Ombudsman, has extensive experience in labour relations and employment, human rights, occupational health and safety, civil litigation, and administrative law.  The “Regaining Trust” report, containing 21 recommendations, provided immediate and long-term strategies focused on policy reforms, educational initiatives, reporting, and disciplinary measures to initiate cultural change.

Ruck detailed his findings during a presentation to the NSBS Council, Implementation Task Force, equity committees, and associated stakeholders. Following his presentation, the council unanimously voted to adopt the report and pledged to maintain transparency and accountability during the implementation phase.

NSBS President Morgan Manzer and CEO Cheryl Hodder KC issued a statement reaffirming the society’s commitment to addressing systemic discrimination and fostering an inclusive organizational culture. “We thank everyone with whom the Society holds relationships for your continued interest in and commitment to helping us improve our organization and those we serve,” Manzer and Hodder said.

NSBS has recently published a racial equity survey report, which serves as a key precursor to Ruck’s report. The survey’s findings point to a challenging environment for racialized members of the legal profession, detailing experiences of discrimination and harassment.

NSBS has acknowledged past failures to address systemic discrimination and has committed to working collaboratively with its members and partners to ensure meaningful progress. The Implementation Task Force, alongside NSBS’s four equity committees, will regularly update the council on the advancement of these initiatives. NSBS’s current strategic plan, centred on trust, incorporates DEIA priorities to support these changes.