Patrick Baillie

Background

About Patrick Baillie

For the past 30 years, I have had the privilege of getting to know thousands of clients, hundreds of lawyers and investigators, dozens of judges, and a few truly special mentors. Each of those relationships has involved the giving and receiving of trust - an attribute that can disappear in an instant through a careless word or thoughtless act. Those clients? I have met them through my employment with Alberta Health Services, through my position with Calgary Police Service, through contracts with Correctional Service Canada / National Parole Board and with other organizations (including those outside of the forensic realm (e.g. national sports organizations)), and through referrals from some of those esteemed lawyers. My clients have been great teachers, helping me learn about what happened to them and about the skills they've used for self-care - some positive strategies, some negative. I have entered semi-retirement recently. My career has more than paid the bills, so the work I do now I do because it's interesting, because it makes a difference, because it might be fun. Pro bono? Sure, we can talk about that. And away from the client and court contacts, I advocate for better supports for jurors, including more funded access to qualified mental health practitioners, improved compensation, and enhanced information before jury service even begins. I advocate for better understanding of the verdict of Not Criminally Responsible, doing presentations and other speeches to address some of the myths and realities regarding that verdict. And I advocate for clearer rules around the use of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) for those whose sole diagnosis is a mental disorder. On 2023 March 17, MAiD was scheduled to become available - at the time, without explicit rules regarding the role of mental illness in a patient's capacity to request MAiD - to such individuals. Possibly a good thing, but not under the current regime. That legislative change was subsequently postponed to 2024 March 17, then punted again to 2027 March 17. Regardless of timing, it's still an incomplete and poorly conceived idea. And then there's this eight-year-old Poodle who wants his three walks per day. He helps keep the balance.