The Honourable Wally Oppal, K.C.*

BC Supreme Court Justice | Attorney General | Order of BC Recipient

Few Canadians can lay claim to the stellar achievements, recognitions, and profile of the Honourable Wally Oppal, K.C.

Marking over 10 years at Boughton, Mr. Oppal, K.C., is among Canada’s most trusted senior counsels. He specializes in mediating and arbitrating local, national, and international matters related to commercial businesses, various levels of government, Indigenous Nations, and disciplinary matters under the Police Act of BC.

In 2018, the Government of Canada appointed Mr. Oppal, K.C., a panelist to resolve disputes involving the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), now called the United States, Mexico, Canada Trade Agreement.

His other notable works include:

• Commissioner of the Inquiry into Policing in British Columbia (1994) that led to the legislation of widespread policing reforms
• Commissioner of the Missing Women Inquiry (2012)
• Special prosecutor on numerous high-profile criminal and commercial cases

For nearly 20 years, Mr. Oppal, K.C., served as a BC Supreme Court Justice from 1985 to 2003, after which, he was appointed to the BC Court of Appeal. In 2005, he was appointed Attorney General of British Columbia during which time he was instrumental in significant reforms in the justice system, including establishing Canada’s first community court to deal with chronic offenders, developing new rules to hasten dispute resolutions that were taxing the system, and notably developing initiatives to deal with violence against women.

A lifetime resident of BC, Mr. Oppal, K.C.’s life work is dedicated to social justice and community safety. In 2017, he was awarded the Order of BC, and in 2012 and 2022, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden and Diamond Jubilee medals, respectively.

Professional Activities

• Board Member, The Law Courts Inn
• Member, Dhillon Centre for Business Ethics Advisory Board (UBC Sauder School of Business)
• President, Law Courts Education Society of British Columbia
• Board Member, CKNW Orphans Fund
• Board Member, College of Veterinarians of BC
• Former Director, B.C. Coalition for Safer Communities
• Former Director, Family Services of Greater Vancouver
• Chancellor, Thompson Rivers University
• Chairman, Simon Fraser University India Advisory Council
• Board of Directors, Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation
• Commissioner, Missing Women Commission of Inquiry
• Member, Golden Key International Honour Society
• Georges A. Goyer, QC, Distinguished Service Award (2000)
• Anthony P. Pantages, QC, Medal for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Public Safety (2005)
• Lawyer Helping Lawyer Award, Lawyers Assistance Program of B.C. (2007)
• Lifetime Achievement Award, RBC Mehfil Magazine (2010)
• Honorary Doctor of Laws, University of the Fraser Valley (2010)
• Member, Vancouver Bar Association
• Honorary Fellows, Douglas College (2015)
• Awarded The Order of BC (2017)
• Honorary Doctor of Laws, Simon Fraser University (2021)
• Honorary Doctor of Laws, Thompson Rivers University (2022)

Select Professional Achievements:

Provincial Policing Reform

From 2020 to 2022, Wally served as a committee member for the report from the B.C. Legislative Assembly’s Select Standing Committee on the Rural and Remote Access to Justice. The 2022 committee report highlights the need for better access to legal services, greater collaboration between various justice sector organizations and emphasizes the importance of addressing the unique cultural and linguistic needs of Indigenous peoples in rural and remote communities. He—along with other committee members—recommended the enhancement of delivery of legal services to ensure that British Columbians have access to a fair and efficient justice system.

In 1992, while sitting on the Supreme Court, Wally was appointed to conduct a commission of inquiry into policing in B.C., after several high-profile shootings involving police and the public. After holding over fifty days of public hearings, the commission filed the Closing the Gap: Policing and The Community report, which led to many reforms in policing, both in B.C. and across Canada.

International Dispute Resolution

In 2018, Wally was the only Canadian panelist included in the drafting of the CUSMA—a trade agreement to replace NAFTA between Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Aimed at promoting and expanding trade between the three countries, Wally and other panelists helped design the provisions to enhance cooperation on labor and environment, modernizing the North American trade relationship and increasing economic growth and competitiveness.

Wally also acts as a Canadian representative on the Chapter 10 Binational Panel for CUSMA Dispute Settlements.

Wills Variation Act:

During Wally’s tenure as Attorney General of B.C., he was a vocal advocate for retaining sections of the Wills Variation Act that permitted non-dependent adult children to contest disinheritance on the basis of just and equitable distribution of the estate. Wally—along with others in government and the public—argued keeping the provision embolden more women to fight for equality in their inheritance without fear of consequences.

Civil & Criminal Justice

Wally was appointed as Attorney General of B.C. and Minister for Multiculturalism in 2005. For the next 4 years, Wally led many significant reforms in the Civil and Criminal Justice systems including the establishment of a Community Court which sought to address the issue of chronic offenders in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

The rules of the Supreme Court were also reformed to include mandatory Alternative Dispute Resolution in many cases—an update aimed as speeding up access to justice. During his years as Attorney General, Wally was a vocal advocate for woman seeking justice from violence, engaging with numerous community forums across the province.

The Missing Women Commission of Inquiry

In 2010, Wally was appointed to lead the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry into the Robert Pickton murders. The B.C. commission was established to evaluate law enforcement’s response to the disappearance and death of numerous women—many of them Indigenous—from Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside between 1997 and 2002.

The commission was given the mandate to examine the actions of the police and government agencies in response to the disappearances and deaths, as well as recommend changes to improve the coordination of investigations and protect vulnerable women. Over 2 years, the commission spoke with 83 witnesses and reviewed countless documents before issuing its final report and 65 recommendations.

International Public Safety

In 1994, the newly elected government of South Africa appointed Wally—along with three others—to conduct an investigation and make recommendations on access to justice in the post-apartheid country. The committee spent five weeks in South Africa holding public meetings with many groups and subsequently issued a report to the government with recommendations on how to better serve the public in the areas of public safety, and civil and criminal justice.

Early Career

After graduating from the UBC Law School in 1966, Wally became a trial lawyer for 14 years. During that time, he was appointed as a Special Prosecutor by the Attorney General on many high-profile criminal cases, including over fifty homicide cases. He was also a Special Prosecutor on numerous commercial crime and drug cases.

Wally served as a judge in the County Court of B.C. from 1981 to 1985, and in the B.C. Supreme Court from 1985 to 2003, when he was appointed to the B.C. Court of Appeal before stepping down in 2005.

Political Office & Judiciary:

Member of the B.C. Legislative Assembly – Vancouver Fraserview (2005 – 2009)

B.C. Attorney General & Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism (2005 – 2009)

Judge – County Court of B.C. (1981 – 1985)

Judge – Supreme Court of B.C. (1985 – 2003)

Judge – B.C. Court of Appeal (2003-2005)

Select Legislative Work:

Bill 28 of the Wills, Estates, and Succession Act (2008)

Bill 1 of An Act To Ensure The Supremacy Of Parliament (2008)

Bill 42 of the Elections Amendment Act (2008)

Bill 31 of the Human Right Code (2007)

Bill 20 of the Securities Act (2006)