Mr. Avrum Fenson

This oral history interview features Avrum Fenson and Susan Swift, legal research officers with the Research and Information Services Division of the Ontario Legislative Library. The interview provides detailed insight into the role of lawyers serving legislative committees, particularly the Standing Committee on the Administration of Justice (later renamed Standing Committee on Justice & Social Policy).

The discussion covers three major legislative initiatives that demonstrate the complexity and scope of committee work. Swift provides extensive detail about the Sunday Shopping legislation (Bills 113 and 114) in 1988, which required eight weeks of hearings across thirteen different locations in Ontario with nearly 500 witnesses. The committee’s research service conducted original research on drug store sizes to inform amendments to the legislation, illustrating the practical impact of committee work on legislative outcomes. The interview also examines the Alternative Dispute Resolution initiative in 1990, where the committee exercised its authority under Standing Order 106 to independently study ADR mechanisms, resulting in comprehensive background papers and expert testimony that contributed to the evolution of dispute resolution in Ontario courts.

The interview reveals the intricate relationships between legislative research staff, ministry lawyers, and committee processes. Both officers describe their collaborative yet independent role in providing research and analysis while maintaining neutrality across party lines. The discussion illuminates changes in legislative processes over time, including technological advances that transformed how summaries are prepared and the shortened timelines for committee work compared to earlier periods when committees had more extensive budgets and time for thorough examination of issues.

This description was written by AI and may contain some inaccuracies.