A formal notice of the motion proposes that Convocation should “study the advisability of creating and maintaining a standing group of unelected advisors such as the EAG” at its next meeting.

The Equity Advisory Group consists of representatives from Arab Canadian Lawyers’ Association, L'Association des juristes d'expression française de l'Ontario, ARCH Disability Law Centre, Canadian Association of Black Lawyers, Canadian Association of Somali Lawyers, Canadian Hispanic Bar Association, Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association, Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers, Law Students’ Society of Ontario, Ontario Paralegal Association, Roundtable of Diversity Associations, and South Asian Bar Association. The goal of the group, according to the LSO website, is to help benchers on Convocation’s Equity and Indigenous Affairs Committee develop policies to promote equity and diversity in the legal profession.

In contrast to the statement of principles — which StopSOP critics lambasted as speech controlled by the regulator — the new StopSOP motions proposes limiting who may speak at LSO events and what is said on social media.

The motion says that at a recent law society event, a Talking Circle, EAG representatives were permitted to speak while several non-Committee member Benchers were “not permitted to speak.” The motion says that the meeting’s structure denied benchers their rights and privileges to fully participate and discharge their duties.

“While EAG has a limited mandate to assist in the governance of the LSO, neither it nor its representatives take precedence over the statutory mandate of benchers,” said the motion.