Our Committee - Members

Sherri Torjman (co-chair), Vice-President of the Caledon Institute of Social Policy, a non-profit social policy research organization. Ms. Torjman has written extensively on disability matters and other social policy issues. She also worked for the House of Commons Committee on the Disabled and the Handicapped in 1981.

Robert Brown (co-chair), a tax expert who served as the Clifford Clark Visiting Economist—a key advisory position in the Department of Finance—from 1998 until 2001. He has also served as Chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers, Chair of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants and Chair of the Canadian Tax Foundation.

Brian Arnold, a tax lawyer with Goodmans LLP and Professor Emeritus at the University of Western Ontario. Mr. Arnold has also served as a consultant on tax matters to various government organizations, including the Department of Finance, the Auditor General of Canada, the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the Australian Tax Office.

Michael Bach, Executive Vice-President of the Canadian Association for Community Living, a national advocacy organization to advance the human rights and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities and their families. For a number of years Mr. Bach was the Director of Research and Vice-President at The Roeher Institute, a national institute for research on disability, public policy and human rights.

Laurie Beachell, National Coordinator, Council of Canadians with Disabilities, a national advocacy association of persons with disabilities. Mr. Beachell has also acted as Special Advisor to the Federal Task Force on Disability Issues and was a member of the Advocacy Working Group for the Voluntary Sector Initiative. Mr. Beachell has served on numerous boards and committees related to the issues of Canadians with disabilities.

Harry Beatty, a lawyer and consultant specializing in disability law. Mr. Beatty has written several papers and reports on aspects of Canada’s programs for persons with disabilities, and has participated in government and community consultations on these topics over the past 20 years. Mr. Beatty was formerly the Director of Policy and Research at ARCH: A Legal Resource Centre for Persons with Disabilities. Prior to joining ARCH in 1986, he was Legal Counsel at Community Living Ontario.

Gary Birch, Executive Director, Neil Squire Foundation. Dr. Birch is also an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia, and chair of the Minister’s National Advisory Committee for Industry Canada on Assistive Devices.

Lembi Buchanan, public relations consultant and the Chair of the Coalition for Disability Tax Credit Reform. Ms. Buchanan has written on and advocated extensively for tax fairness for Canadians with disabilities.

Dr. Karen R. Cohen, Associate Executive Director (AED) and Registrar of the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA). Dr. Cohen has a PhD in the area of Clinical Psychology and post-doctoral training in rehabilitation and neuropsychology. Prior to assuming her AED position at the CPA, she worked in a variety of clinical and administrative roles at a rehabilitation centre.

Yude M. Henteleff, C.M., Q.C., Senior Counsel to the Winnipeg law firm Pitblado and Honorary Solicitor, Learning Disabilities Association of Canada. Mr. Henteleff has also served as President of the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada and as a Commissioner on the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

Guy Lord, a partner in the Taxation Department at the law firm of Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP. Mr. Lord has held senior positions in the Department of Finance including those of Director General, Tax Policy and Legislation, and General Tax Counsel. He was also Professor and Assistant Dean at the Faculty of Law of the Université de Montréal.

Dr. Gail Beck is the Acting Associate Secretary General and Director of the Office for Women in Medicine at the Canadian Medical Association. Dr. Beck practices child psychiatry in Ottawa. She is the President of the Academy of Medicine of Ottawa, the Chair of the Ontario Medical Association’s Committee on Women’s Issues, and was the founder of the Maternity Leave Benefits Plan in Ontario. Dr. Beck was also the founder of the Ontario Medical Association’s Mentorship Program for Medical Women.