Chair of the Canadian Firearm Advisory Committee
The Honourable Wally Oppal, Q.C., LLD, FCIArb (Hons.)
The Honourable Wally Oppal, Q.C., LLD, FCIArb (Hons.)
Wally Oppal is a Canadian lawyer, former judge and provincial politician. Mr. Oppal is presently involved as a mediator and arbitrator, particularly in commercial disputes involving business, Government and First Nations. He is also an adjudicator and commissioner in disciplinary matters under the Police Act of British Columbia.
Mr. Oppal began his career as a trial lawyer for fourteen years and was appointed as a Special Prosecutor by the Attorney General on many high profile criminal cases including over fifty homicide cases. From 1981 to 1985, Mr. Oppal served as a judge in the County Court of British Columbia, and in the B.C. Supreme Court from 1985 to 2003, when he was appointed to the B.C. Court of Appeal. While he sat on the Supreme Court bench he was appointed to conduct a commission of inquiry into policing in British Columbia. The inquiry led to many reforms in policing both in British Columbia and across Canada.
In 2005, Mr. Oppal was appointed Attorney General of British Columbia and Minister for Multiculturalism. During his years as Attorney General, he contributed to many significant reforms in the civil and criminal justice systems. These included establishing a Community Court and making alternate dispute resolution mandatory. He was an advocate at a number of community forums relating to violence against women.
In 2010, Mr. Oppal was appointed by the Treasury Board of Canada as an independent advisor on matters related to Federal budgets and Federal spending.
On September 27, 2010, Mr. Oppal was named Commissioner of the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry.
Over the course of his tremendous career, Mr. Oppal has received numerous awards for his achievements and efforts and is a frequent speaker at many international conferences.
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