The Barreau du Québec, Québec’s equivalent to Ontario’s Law Society of Upper Canada (it was originally called the Bar of Lower Canada), has launched a new multimedia advertising campaign. Its theme, “24,000 lawyers working for a just Québec,” illustrates positions the Barreau du Québec has recently taken on three controversial issues: abortion rights, keeping the long-gun registry and the right for terminally ill patients to die with dignity.
The campaign “emphasizes the social role played by our professional corporation, by regularly defending the rights and freedoms of our fellow citizens,” said Nicolas Plourde, president of the Barreau du Québec.
Although this is the first time one of the Barreau’s advertising campaigns has focused solely on defending Québecers’ rights and freedoms, the Barreau takes stands about 60 times a year on draft legislation, public debates relating to the administration of justice or legal issues, added Claude Provencher, executive director of the Barreau du Québec.
The province-wide campaign is taking place on various platforms — including television, websites of daily newspapers, print media and social media (with the hashtag #VotreJustice) — from now until March 17. Those of us outside of Québec can follow the campaign on microsites yourjustice.ca and votrejustice.ca. A section on gun control has already garnered a flurry of comments debating the Barreau’s stance on the issue (it is against destroying the Long-gun Registry, as are some groups in Ontario), and whether the Barreau should even state its opinion.
The sites will be updated throughout the campaign’s run and currently feature a 30-second commercial (also found below) as well as three print ads containing the slogan “finding the right balance.”
Image and video courtesy of the Barreau du Québec