David Eby, Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Housing, has released the following statement on the passing of Joe Arvay, OC, OBC, QC:

“I am profoundly saddened to hear of Joe Arvay’s tragic and unexpected passing.

“Joe was one of the finest constitutional lawyers in this country and was a tireless advocate for human rights, Indigenous peoples and countless other marginalized or disadvantaged groups. He donated thousands of hours of his time to defend the rights of people who are on the margins, and he did so to make our country a better and more equal place.  

“Joe’s commitment to the public interest was matched by his exceptional talent. He was brilliant in arguing even the most difficult cases, and his willingness to take on causes at the edge of the law meant that his work reshaped constitutional law in Canada.

“We studied Joe’s work in law school, I aspired to work with him as a law student and young lawyer, and I had the honour to retain him on our most difficult challenges as attorney general. He was universally respected and admired for his remarkable intellect, unparalleled work ethic, legal creativity and courage.

“In 2017 and 2018 respectively, Joe was named an Officer of the Order of Canada and awarded the Order of British Columbia.

“Joe’s loss will leave a profound gap, not just in the legal community, but in our country. However, his legacy is a generation of lawyers inspired by his example to give back to their communities through their talents and efforts.

“My thoughts are with Joe’s family and close friends at this very difficult time. I hope they draw comfort from the positive change Joe brought to the lives of thousands and thousands of Canadians through his selfless legal advocacy.”