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2024 | Webinar: The (Dis)Connect between Legislative Drafting and Statutory Interpretation: Perspectives from Three Branches of Government

Date

Tuesday, November 26, 2024

OVERVIEW

Legislative drafting is viewed as a specialized area of law that requires particular education, skills and experience. A legislative drafter’s legal opinion is that the text will have a certain legal effect when the relevant interpretative provisions are considered. To this end, professional legislative drafters follow specific drafting conventions, styles and practices.

However, drafting conventions are not well known by legal professionals outside of the specialized drafting community, nor are they commonly referenced by parties in court or in judicial reasons. This raises questions regarding their value in the statutory interpretation exercise, and what more could be done to increase familiarity with drafting conventions to those outside the professional legislative drafter community.

Further, principles of statutory interpretation have developed with reference to the way that drafters and drafting offices operate; however, contemporary realities may call reliance on some of these principles into question.

In this webinar, professionals from three branches of government discuss the theory and realities of drafting and statutory interpretation, and provide recommendations regarding how they can be better reconciled.

Panelists:

  • Gabriela Dedelli, Parliamentary Counsel, Legislative Assembly of Ontario
  • The Hounourable Justice Gareth Morley, Judge of the Supreme Court of British Columbia in Victoria
  • Christina Wasyliw, Deputy Legislative Counsel & General Counsel, MB Justice

Moderator: Jaimie Graham, Legal Counsel, Alberta Utilities Commission

RESOURCE: Legislative Drafting in Statutory Interpretation: A Plea for Recognition – Gabriela Dedelli

Fees
CIAJ Members: $40
Non-members: $55


Webinar | The (Dis)Connect between Legislative Drafting and Statutory Interpretation: Perspectives from Three Branches of Government

2024 | Webinar: Democracy at a Crossroads: Can We Still Save It?

Date

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Overview

The rule of law is a foundational principle of any civilized society. It creates an environment where democracy can thrive, ensuring that governance is just, transparent, and accountable without fear or favor, fostering public confidence. When this confidence erodes, so does the community’s willingness to engage with the legal system. The media serves as a crucial watchdog of democracy, holding power accountable and ensuring transparency in the justice system.

As public trust in democratic institutions wanes, our webinar aims to bring together justice system participants to critically examine the principles that support social stability and the rule of law.  Our goal is to deepen understanding of these essential principles and identify practical steps to enhance public trust in legal institutions, reinforcing this vital pillar of democracy. The webinar will also deal with the rise of global authoritarianism.

This program serves as a preview for our upcoming conference on Democracy, the Rule of Law, and Independence, taking place on November 18-19, 2025. Don’t miss it!

Panelists: 

  • The Honourable Irwin Cotler, former Minister of Justice of Canada
  • David Shribman, journalist Globe and Mail, member of the Max Bell Institute at McGill
  • Yuliya Kovaliv, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Canada

Moderator: Miray Granovsky, Deputy Judge, Small Claims Court; General Counsel, Atlantic Coated Papers

Fees
CIAJ Members: $50
Non-members: $65


2024  I Webinar: Democracy at a Crossroads: Can We Still Save It?

2023 | Free Program: A Dialogue on Self-Representation

Program

Date

Thursday, November 16, 2023

Theme

This online seminar is open to all members of the legal profession, and to self-represented litigants.

The Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice (CIAJ) and the National Self-Represented Litigants Project (NSRLP) have partnered to present a dialogue event on self-representation in the Canadian legal system. The objective is to ensure that justice system stakeholders are better able to understand each other’s experiences and the implications for the system at large. The day-long conference will bring together self-represented litigants, members of the judiciary, practitioners, and academics for a series of conversations exploring the practical challenges presented by the growth of self-represented litigants within the Canadian justice system. The program was be held virtually on November 16, 2023.

Chair: Jennifer Leitch, Executive Director, the National Self-Represented Litigants Project

Fees
CIAJ Members: Free
Non-members: Free


2023  I  Free Program: A Dialogue on Self-Representation

2023 | Symposium on Indigenous Courts

Program

Date

November 21-22, 2023

Theme

Further to its 45th Annual Conference on Indigenous Peoples and the Law, CIAJ continues to explore the current state and future of self-governance strategy for Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

Through this Symposium held in person in Ottawa and online from November 21-22, 2023, we aim to pursue our research on how Indigenous communities design their own legal institutions to create a justice system that reflects their values. We wish that this first edition of the Symposium will be followed by many more. Such an annual event would provide the space for dialogue and exchange among actors of the legal system.

Topics Overview:

  • The instruments for decision-making power
  • The scope of Indigenous jurisdictions
  • Strategies to create self-governance
  • Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
  • Decolonization of legal institutions
  • The enduring legacy of a colonial relationship

Guests Speakers:

  • The Honourable Murray Sinclair, CC, MSC, IPC, Former Senator; Chancellor, Queen’s University; General Counsel, Cochrane Saxberg, Winnipeg
  • The Honourable Justice Leonard Marchand, British Columbia Court of Appeal
  • Kory Wilson, Executive Director, Indigenous Initiatives and Partnerships, BCIT; Chair, BC First Nations Justice Council

Planning committee

  • The Honourable Marion Buller, Chancellor, University of Victoria
  • Jennifer Cox, K.C., Staff Lawyer, Dalhousie Legal Aid Service, Dalhousie University
  • The Honourable Deputy Chief Justice Joanne Durant, Alberta Court of Justice
  • The Honourable Justice Tracy Engelking, Superior Court of Justice (Ontario)
  • Adam Letourneau, K.C., Founder and Managing Partner, Letourneau LLP
  • Bradford Morse, Professor, Faculty of Law, Thompson Rivers University
  • Scott Robertson, Senior Associate, Nahwegahbow, Corbiere
  • The Honourable Justice Colleen Suche, Court of King’s Bench of Manitoba; Past President, CIAJ
  • The Honourable Judge Margaret I. Wiebe, Provincial Court of Manitoba
  • Nathan Afilalo, Lawyer, Legal Researcher, CIAJ
  • Christine O’Doherty, Lawyer, Executive Director, CIAJ

Videos (scroll down to access the videos)

  • Day 1 (4:51:24)
  • Day 2 (4:58:11)

Fees:

Per Day
CIAJ Members: $225
Non-members: $300
Students (enrolled full-time at Canadian universities): $10

Related PowerPoint presentations, documents and papers are available in the library under "documentation." (coming soon)


2023  I Symposium on Indigenous Courts

2023 | The Power of Languages and Stories in Drafting Indigenous Laws

Program

Date

Thursday, November 9, 2023

90-minute webinar

This program contains 1.5 CPD hours in all Canadian provinces

Theme

In this webinar, OKT Partner Maggie Wente and Professors Naiomi Metallic and Sarah Morales will explore the theory and practice of legislating Indigenous laws. The discussion will examine how linguistic diversity and meta-principles can be incorporated into legislation, as well as the use of oral stories and Indigenous languages in legislative development. Panellists will also recount their own experiences assisting Indigenous nations who are drafting legislation, with a focus on child welfare laws under An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families and the lessons learned.

Speakers

Fees
CIAJ Members: Free
Non-members: $45


2023  I  Legislative Drafting Webinar on The Power of Languages and Stories in Drafting Indigenous Laws

2023 | Annual Conference on The Law of Borders

Program

Date

October 25-27, 2023
In Ottawa, ON, & Online

Theme

CIAJ’s 47th Annual Conference will explore current issues related to the law of borders. It will open the door to discussion and challenge the definition of what a “border” is, including the very notion of national borders, taking into account indigenous perspectives.

For many people, moving across borders implies facing vulnerability and precarity. How can we provide better protection to migrants and refugees, extending our vision beyond individuals to include families? In a world experiencing the effects of climate change, is our legal definition of a refugee still accurate? Furthermore, economic frontiers are becoming increasingly blurred. In such a context, it is also important to address work issues from the perspective of the adequacy of protections available to migrant workers, the implications of working remotely across territories, and the challenges of studying abroad, and to join forces in creating a more just and inclusive world.

Honorary Chair

  • The Honourable Justice Mahmud Jamal, Supreme Court of Canada

Keynote Speaker

  • Her Excellency Yuliya Kovaliv, Ambassador of Ukraine, Canada

Fireside Chat

  • Ghizal Haress, Visiting Scholar, Faculty of Law and Massey College, University of Toronto; Former Ombudsperson, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Co-Chairs

  • The Honourable Justice P. Colleen Suche, Court of King’s Bench of Manitoba; CIAJ’s President
  • The Honourable Justice Julie Dutil, Court of Appeal of Quebec; CIAJ’s First Vice-President

Videos (scroll down to access the videos)

  • Day 1 (5:11:22)
  • Day 2 (6:30:22)
  • Day 3 (4:53:31)

Fees:

All days
CIAJ Members: $500
Non-members: $700
Students (enrolled full-time at Canadian universities): $30

Per Day
CIAJ Members: $175
Non-members: $250
Students (enrolled full-time at Canadian universities): $10

Related PowerPoint presentations, extra content, documents and papers are available in the library under "documentation."


2023  I  CIAJ’s 47th Annual Conference on The Law of Borders

2023 | National Roundtable on Administrative Law – Bias and Decision-Making: What’s Changed?

Program

Date

June 9, 2023
In person in Ottawa & Online

Participation in this program is accredited in provinces where CLE requirements for lawyers are mandatory.

Theme

This year’s National Roundtable on Administrative Law tackles bias and current administrative law issues. The program provides decision-makers with tools to recognize personal prejudices and cognitive biases in the decision-making process and avoid their effects on decisions.

This program is part of the first edition of the National Administrative Law Week*, organized jointly by CIAJ and the Council of Canadian Administrative Tribunals (CCAT).

Co-Chairs

  • Michael Gottheil, Accessibility Commissioner, Canadian Human Rights Commission
  • Athanasios Hadjis, Vice-Chair, Canadian Human Rights Tribunal
  • The Honourable James W. O’Reilly, Federal Court, CIAJ’s Past President

Speakers

  • Laurie E. Joe, Lawyer, Community Legal Services of Ottawa; Deputy Judge of the Small Claims Court, Superior Court of Justice (Ontario)
  • Louis Legault, Director of Legal Services, Régie de l’Énergie du Québec
  • Melissa Luhtanen, Senior Legal Counsel, Office of the Chief of the Commission and Tribunals, Alberta Human Rights Commission
  • The Honourable Justice Sylvain Lussier, Superior Court of Québec
  • Ian R. Mackenzie, Adjudicator (full-time), Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board
  • Lauren J. Wihak, partner, McDougall Gauley LLP

Fees
CIAJ Members: $550
Non-members: $650
Students (enrolled full-time at Canadian universities or at the Bar): $75

Related PowerPoint presentations and papers are available in the library under "documentation."


2023  I National Roundtable on Administrative Law – Bias and Decision-Making: What’s Changed?

2023 | Webinar Series on The Law of Borders

Program

Bilingual program with simultaneous interpretation
Participation in this program is accredited in provinces where CLE requirements for lawyers are mandatory.

This webinar series has been designed to initiate discussion and pave the way to CIAJ’s 47th Annual Conference on the Law of Borders to be held in Ottawa & online on October 25-27, 2023. The webinars aim to enrich the participants’ knowledge of the subjects that will be component parts of the larger issues examined at the conference, providing attendees with in-depth knowledge so as to enrich the discussions that will take place.

List of webinars (scroll down to access the videos)

  • 1st Webinar: June 21, 2023: Questing for Parentage: Surrogacy Across Borders

Speakers: Dr. Stefanie Carsley, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law − Common Law Section, University of Ottawa; Vanessa Gruben, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law − Common Law Section, University of Ottawa; Erin Nelson, Professor, Fellow and Member of the Advisory Board, Health Law Institute, Faculty of Law, University of Alberta
Moderator:Angela Campbell, Full Professor & Associate Provost (Equity & Academic Policies), McGill University Faculty of Law

  • 2nd Webinar: August 22, 2023: Accountability and Regulation of Canadian Resource Extraction Corporations Abroad

Speakers: Sara Ghebremusse, Assistant Professor and Cassels Brock Chair in Mining Law and Finance, Faculty of Law, Western University; Shin Imai, Professor Emeritus, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University
Moderator: Matt Eisenbrandt, Director of Transnational Investigations, Camp Fiorante Matthews Mogerman LLP

 

Fees
CIAJ Members: Free
Non-members: $45

 

2022 | Cosmetics Regulation and Product Labelling in Canada: The Challenges

Program

Date

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

90-minute webinar

This program contains 1.5 CPD hours in all Canadian provinces

Theme

What can we learn from histories of legislative drafting about the many ways that drafters shape the world? In this highly engaging presentation, Lara Tessaro will narrate the dramatic history of the 1953 revision to Canada’s Food and Drugs Act, focusing specifically on how legislative drafters and departmental solicitors grappled with cosmetics. Her historical research on Canadian cosmetics regulation has uncovered how these drafting and policy choices made 70 years ago continue to influence—if unintentionally and accidentally—how cosmetics are governed today, including their environmental and human health effects. As with much of Ms. Tessaro’s PhD research at the University of Kent, the central source for this historical account is a drafter’s file—notably, the file of well-known legislative counsel Elmer A. Driedger. As such, this presentation will also provide an opportunity for legislative counsel to reflect on the ways that modern-day filing, documenting, and archiving practices, all changing rapidly in response to electronic and remote work, will give form to important “future histories” written about the present.

Speaker

Lara Tessaro is a socio-legal researcher and historian of law, gender, and toxicity in twentieth-century Canada. Currently, she is pursuing a PhD in law at the University of Kent in the United Kingdom, funded by a Vice Chancellor’s research scholarship and a SSHRC doctoral fellowship. Her thesis explores histories of Canadian cosmetic regulation, with particular focus on the legal practices, ideas, and events that have given shape to cosmetic product labelling. In 2018, she attained a research-based LL.M. degree from Osgoode Hall Law School, which nominated her thesis for the York University thesis prize. From 2004 to 2017, Lara practiced law in BC and Ontario, primarily in environmental and administrative law. For much of that period, she worked as a staff counsel at Ecojustice Canada (formerly Sierra Legal Defence Fund), where she developed and advanced test case litigation on behalf of environmental organizations, First Nations, and scientists. She has also served as junior commission counsel to two federal public inquiries, the Commission of Inquiry into the Actions of Canadian Officials in Relation to Maher Arar (the Arar Inquiry), and the Commission of Inquiry into the Decline of Sockeye Salmon in the Fraser River (the Cohen Inquiry).

Moderator

  • Pauline Rosenbaum, Legislative Counsel, Ontario’s Office of Legislative Counsel

Pauline attended law school at the University of Toronto and articled as a judicial research clerk at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. She joined Ontario’s Office of Legislative Counsel in 2010. Before joining OLC, Pauline worked as counsel at the Ontario Human Rights Commission, at the Office of the Chief Justice of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and at a speciality legal aid clinic serving low-income seniors. Pauline also has experience working in the heath regulatory sector at the Ontario College of Pharmacists and the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario.

Fees
CIAJ Members: Free
Non-members: $40


2022  I  Legislative Drafting Webinar on Cosmetics Regulation and Product Labelling in Canada: The Challenges

2022 | Annual Conference on The Right to Dignity in Canadian Law

Program

Date

October 26-28, 2022
In Halifax, NS, & Online

Theme

CIAJ’s 46th Annual Conference, entitled “The Right to Dignity in Canadian Law,” will discuss dignity as a fundamental human right. The conference will cover the many facets of the concept of dignity, from moral and philosophical notions to its uses as a legal norm. Discussion of the topic will be grounded in eminently pertinent issues such as the role of dignity in gender identity and reproductive rights, as well as medical assistance in dying, elder care, disability, and equality rights. The role of dignity will also be discussed in the context of the Canadian criminal justice and carceral systems, particularly with regards to Indigenous Peoples, restorative justice, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and reconciliation.

Honorary Chair

  • The Right Honourable Richard Wagner, P.C., Chief Justice of Canada

Co-Chairs

  • The Honourable Justice Julie Dutil, Court of Appeal of Quebec; First Vice-President, CIAJ
  • The Honourable Justice P. Colleen Suche, Court of King’s Bench of Manitoba; President, CIAJ

Keynote Speaker

  • R. Maria Shepherd, Principal, Sr. Paralegal & Notary Public, Shepherd Advocacy & Litigation; Co-Director, Innocence Canada

Videos (scroll down to access the videos)

  • Day 1 (4:37:37)
  • Day 2 (3:43:45)
  • Day 3 (5:02:54)
  • "The Systemic Ableism Within the Context of COVID-19 and Medical Assistance in Dying" Panel Five (1:10:30) – Free (Full Transcript - Download)
  • "Trust and Dignity: What Do Citizens Want and Need in a Modern Justice System?" Special Session Presented by PwC Canada (59:21) – Free
  • "Indigenous Dignity in the Quebec Health Care System" 2022 Charles D. Gonthier Research Fellowship (in French) (19:04) Free

Fees:

All days
CIAJ Members: $650
Non-members: $850
Students (enrolled full-time at Canadian universities): $50

Per Day
CIAJ Members: $250
Non-members: $300
Students (enrolled full-time at Canadian universities): $15

Related PowerPoint presentations, extra content, documents and papers are available in the library under "documentation."


2022  I  CIAJ’s 46th Annual Conference on The Right to Dignity in Canadian Law

2022 | The Honour of the Crown

Program

Date

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

90-minute webinar
Participation in this program is accredited in provinces where CLE requirements for lawyers are mandatory.

Accreditation: Accredited in provinces where CLE requirements for lawyers are mandatory (1 hour 30 minutes).

Theme

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of s.35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 recognizing and affirming the “existing aboriginal and treaty rights of the aboriginal peoples of Canada,” this webinar will critically consider and discuss the development of the honour of the Crown, its use and application.

The honour of the Crown is a constitutional principle and a “core precept” in Aboriginal Law—the law governing the constitutional relationship between the Crown and Indigenous peoples. The Supreme Court has defined the honour of the Crown as the principle that servants of the Crown, or the government, must “act honourably” and it is always “at stake” in the Crown’s dealings with Indigenous peoples. The duties that flow from the honour of the Crown will vary, but include the making and applying of treaties, protecting Aboriginal or Treaty rights recognized and affirmed under s. 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, and consulting and accommodating Indigenous communities when the Crown would undertake or consider an action that would potentially have adverse effects upon s.35 Aboriginal or Treaty rights. The honour of the Crown requires the Crown to interpret its constitutional obligations broadly and purposefully while diligently fulfilling them and prohibits even “the appearance of sharp-dealings” in the relationship between the Crown and Indigenous peoples.

This panel will explore the honour of the Crown, both in terms of its promises and its drawbacks. While the Supreme Court has framed the honour of the Crown as advancing the “reconciliation of the pre-existence of aboriginal societies with the sovereignty of the Crown”, this underpinning is problematized by the recognition of the history of colonization and assertion of Canadian sovereignty as unquestionably legitimate. Does the honour of the Crown represent an idealized and attainable way forward on the path to reconciliation, or is it too steeped in a colonial and paternalistic understanding of the Crown’s relationship with Indigenous peoples to truly effect change?

Speakers

Jason Madden is co-managing partner of Pape Salter Teillet LLP. He is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School at York University and is called to the bar in Ontario, Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Alberta, and Manitoba. He specializes in Indigenous rights law, with an emphasis on litigation, consultation and accommodation related matters, and the negotiation and implementation of modern day treaties. He is also recognized as being at the forefront of the development of Métis rights law in Canada. Jason is Métis and a descendant of the “Halfbreeds of Rainy River and Rainy Lake” who collectively adhered to Treaty No. 3 in 1875. His litigation practice focuses on a range of areas impacting Indigenous communities. He regularly advises and acts for First Nation and Métis communities. He is ranked by both Lexpert Magazine (“consistently recommended”) and Chambers & Partners as a leading practitioner in Aboriginal law.

Candice Telfer is the Legal Director of the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs Ontario. After articling with the Constitutional Law Branch of the Ministry of the Attorney General, she has provided legal counsel across several provincial ministries and organizations including the Ministries of Health and Natural Resources and the Crown Law Office-Civil. She is an instructor of Constitutional Law for the University of Toronto’s Global Professional Masters of Law program, and regularly participates in Continuing Legal Education programs both within and outside of Government. Candice received her J.D. at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law. Prior to law school she worked as a theatre stage manager and then as an event planner for federal government-sponsored celebrations such as Canada Day in the Capital and Winterlude. She holds a B.A. in theatre and a B.Soc. in Political Science, as well as certification in technical production from the National Theatre School of Canada.

Moderator

After studying law and political science, René Morin began his career with the Department of Intergovernmental Affairs from 1973 to 1981. From 1981 to 2007, he was a lawyer specialized in Indigenous human rights at the ministère de la Justice du Québec, which led him to appear as counsel before the Supreme Court of Canada on numerous occasions. He completed his career as counsel with the McCarthy Tétrault law firm, from 2008 to 2016. He was also a lecturer at the Université Laval, acted as a speaker in Quebec, in Canada and abroad, and is the author of several papers on Indigenous human rights.

Fees
CIAJ Members: Free
Non-members: $40


2022  I  Webinar on The Honour of the Crown

2022 | Legislative Drafting Conference (21st Edition)

Program

Date (Online & In Person in Ottawa)

September 8-9, 2022

Program accredited in provinces where CLE requirements for lawyers are mandatory.

Theme

The 21st Legislative Drafting Conference fixes its gaze on the topic of change and the challenges it produces for legislative drafting. It looks at the changing environment in which legislative counsel work, the resulting changes to their roles and the way they perform them.

Change and its challenges are not new to legislative drafting. Although the COVID-19 pandemic is perhaps the most significant recent example of change affecting legislative drafting, the political, social, economic and technological environment for legislative drafting have produced changes affecting legislative drafting throughout its history.

The conference begins with this historical lens and then turns to examine the shifting role of legislative counsel resulting from current environmental factors, including client expectations, the political world and the policy issues that drive legislative agendas. These factors will be considered in terms of how they can be managed and their ethical implications. The conference will particularly address changing working conditions (working remotely and virtual meetings) and generational change (recruitment and training of legislative counsel).

One of the most significant continuing policy challenges for legislative drafting is reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. Legislation is the principal vehicle for recognizing and implementing the rights of Indigenous Peoples and their legal traditions. The conference will consider recently enacted legislation to implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and its implications for drafting legislation to respect these rights. Not since the enactment of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982 has there been such a significant change in the Canadian legal landscape affecting the preparation of legislation. One session will consider the implications of the UN Declaration generally and a second session will focus on its implications in the field of family law.

Finally, the conference will include a practical drafting workshop on preparing amending legislation or legislation based on existing legislation. The workshop will look at the scope for making drafting improvements and dealing with arguments against changing existing legislative texts.

Planning Committee

Chair

  • John Mark Keyes

Members

  • Pamela Louise Anderson
  • Catherine Beaudoin
  • Elena Bosi
  • Nathalie Caron
  • Charlie Feldman
  • Melanie Samson
  • Alexandra Schorah
  • Mark Spakowski
  • Lerissa Thaver
  • Scott Webber

Fees

Per Day:
CIAJ Members: $200
Non-members: $275
Students (enrolled full-time at Canadian universities): $25

Related PowerPoint presentations and papers are available in the library under "documentation."


2022 I 2022 Legislative Drafting Conference (21st Edition)

2022 | National Roundtable on Administrative Law: Promoting Mental Health in the Justice System

Program

Date

May 27,  2022 (Online)

Participation in this program is accredited in provinces where CLE requirements for lawyers are mandatory.
Accreditation: Accredited in provinces where CLE requirements for lawyers are mandatory (5 hours).

Theme

In this year’s National Roundtable on Administrative Law, we took a look at the mental health of both end users and of the people working within the administrative tribunals.

What is the responsibility and duty of the tribunals to accommodate people with mental health issues? How can we differentiate people with mental health issues from vexatious litigants? What are the ethical responsibilities of the tribunal, of the counsel, and of the opposing counsel respectively?

Finally, after two years of pandemic, how are employees and members of the tribunal doing? How are they dealing with exhausted users who have been impacted by the pandemic, on top of their legal concerns? What solutions are we offering to overwhelmed employees?

Join our distinguished panel of tribunal members, lawyers, judges and academics to discuss these current administrative law issues and collectively work towards solutions.

Co-Chairs

  • Michael Gottheil, Accessibility Commissioner, Canadian Human Rights Commission
  • Athanasios Hadjis, Senior Legal Counsel, Administrative Tribunals Support Service of Canada
  • The Honourable James W. O’Reilly, Federal Court, CIAJ’s Past President

Speakers

  • Dr. Donald Netolitzky, Complex Litigant Management Counsel, Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta
  • Jamie Springchief, Human Rights Officer, Alberta Human Rights Commission
  • Lauren J. Wihak, Partner, McDougall Gauley LLP, Saskatchewan
  • Lora Patton, Vice-Chair, Consent and Capacity Board of Ontario
  • Me Marie-Josée Persico, Director of Legal Office, Tribunal administratif du logement du Québec
  • Rachel Thibeault, O.C., Ph.D, FCAOT, Rachel Thibault, Consultant in psychological resilience and peer support

Related PowerPoint presentations and papers are available in the library under "documentation."


2022  I National Roundtable on Administrative Law: Promoting Mental Health in the Justice System for Both Professionals and Users

2021 | Annual Conference on Indigenous Peoples and the Law

Program

Date

November 17-19,  2021

Theme

CIAJ’s 45th Annual Conference on Indigenous Peoples and the Law explore the current state and future of the self-government of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Vital to the discussion are the issues of the decolonization of legal institutions, reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and the enduring legacy of a colonial relationship.

The recent finding of unmarked graves at residential school sites only reaffirms the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's vision of an “ongoing process of establishing and maintaining respectful relationships” with Indigenous Peoples. This conference is a space for dialogue and exchange on the continuation of active education and exploration of the TRC's message.

Honorary Chair

  • The Honourable Murray Sinclair

Chair

  • The Honourable Robert J. Bauman, Chief Justice of British Columbia and of the Court of Appeal of Yukon

Videos (scroll down to access the videos)

***When buying separate days, the purchase of one part gives access to all the videos for that day, in both official languages.
Example: If you purchase Day 1-Part I in English, you will receive the code to access Day 1-Part II in English and both parts in French.

Fees:

All days
CIAJ Members: $650
Non-members: $850
Students (enrolled full-time at Canadian universities): $50

Per Day
CIAJ Members: $250
Non-members: $300
Students (enrolled full-time at Canadian universities): $15

Related PowerPoint presentations, documents and papers are available in the library under "documentation."


2021  I  CIAJ’s 45th Annual Conference on Indigenous Peoples and the Law

2021 | National Roundtable on Administrative Law: All the Voices We Don’t Hear

Program

Date

June 11,  2021

Program accredited in provinces where CLE requirements for lawyers are mandatory
Accreditation: Accredited in provinces where CLE requirements for lawyers are mandatory (5 hours 30 minutes).

Overview

In this year’s Annual National Roundtable on Administrative Law, we look to stretch our commitment to accessible justice.

Special Guest

  • The Honourable Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella, Supreme Court of Canada

Co-Chairs

  • Mr. Michael Gottheil, Chief of the Commission and Tribunals, Alberta Human Rights Commission
  • Mr. Athanasios Hadjis, Senior Legal Counsel, Administrative Tribunals Support Service of Canada
  • The Honourable James W. O’Reilly, CIAJ President

Speakers

  • Paul Aterman, Chairperson, Social Security Tribunal of Canada
  • The Honourable Judge Mary Kate Harvie, FASD Court, Manitoba
  • Laverne Jacobs, Associate Professor and Associate Dean, Research & Graduate Studies, Faculty of Law, University of Windsor
  • Sophie Lefebvre, Executive Director, Mile End Legal Clinic
  • Julie Matthews, Executive Director, Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO)
  • Michael McNeely, Law Graduate, Accessibility Consultant, and Self-Advocacy Instructor, Canadian Helen Keller Centre
  • Paul Muldoon, Lawyer; Former Associate Chair, Assessment Review Board
  • Selwyn A. Pieters, Barrister & Solicitor, Pieters Law Office (Ontario)
  • Gary Stein, Lawyer; Executive Director - Community Legal Services of Ottawa
  • Anita Szigeti, Founding Principal, Anita Szigeti Advocates, Toronto
  • Surprise Guest: The Honourable Justice Ardith Walkem, Supreme Court of British Columbia

Related PowerPoint presentations and papers are available in the library under "documentation."

2021 | Webinar Series on Legislative Drafting

Program Episode 1 Program Episode 2

Date
The first episode of this series was webcast on May 17, 2021 and the second one on June 7, 2021.

List of webinars (scroll down to access the videos)

  • Episode 1, May 17, 2021: Artificial Intelligence in Administrative Decision-Making (1 hour 20 minutes CPD)
    With Professor Paul Daly, Chair in Administrative Law and Governance, University of Ottawa; Patrick McEvenue, Director – Express Entry & Digital Policy, Strategic Policy and Planning, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada; Michelle Mann, General Counsel, Legal Services, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Government of Canada

  • Episode 2, June 7, 2021: Legislative Drafting in Time of Pandemic (1 hour 30 minutes CPD)
    With Glenn Joynt, Legislative Counsel and Assistant Deputy Minister, Legislative Counsel Division, Manitoba Justice; Riri Shen, Deputy Assistant Deputy Minister, Public Law and Legislative Services Sector, Department of Justice Canada; Mark Spakowski, Chief Legislative Counsel, Ministry of the Attorney General, Ontario

2021 | Webinar Series on Court Modernization

Webinar #1 Program Webinar #2 Program Webinar #3 Program

Overview

This three-part webinar series held in collaboration with PwC Canada will initiate a discussion on the future of justice and help pave the way to a major roundtable, taking place in the spring of 2022. The webinar’s aim is to refine the participants’ knowledge of key trends affecting the administration of justice. These topics will then be examined at greater depth during our roundtable. This series will provide attendees with in-depth knowledge and insights that will help build a future with improved justice services and better outcomes for families, businesses, and society.

60 to 90-minute webinars
Participation in this program is accredited in provinces where CLE requirements for lawyers are mandatory.

List of webinars (scroll down to access the videos)

  • Webinar #1, May 12, 2021: Hybrid Courts – The New Operational Normal
  • Webinar #2, June 16, 2021: Redesigning Justice Administration − Pillars and Obstacles of Innovation
  • Webinar #3, November 30, 2021: Transforming the Justice System: Exploring a Trauma-Informed Approach
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2021 | Judgment Writing and Bias

Program

Date
Webcast on April 14, 2021

This 90-minute webinar was made possible thanks to the support of the New Brunswick Law Foundation.

Language: In English, with simultaneous interpretation
Audience: All judges

Speakers

Moderator

Topics Overview

How to write concise, clear, complete and convincing decisions; the issue-driven approach; point-first writing; bias in judgment writing: how to become aware and overcome them, etc.

2021 | Restorative Justice Measures in Canada

Program

Date
Webcast on March 17, 2021

This 90-minute webinar was made possible thanks to the support of the New Brunswick Law Foundation.

Language: In English, with simultaneous interpretation
Audience: All judges, court employees

Speakers

  • The Honourable Justice Patrick Healy, Court of Appeal of Quebec
  • Marie-Eve Sylvestre, Dean, Full Professor, Faculty of Law – Civil Law Section, University of Ottawa

Moderator

  • The Honourable Chief Justice Marc Richard, Court of Appeal of New Brunswick

Topics Overview

Sentencing in other provinces; mental health components; probation services; alternatives to long-term imprisonment; etc.

Related documentation:

2021 | Why Are Gladue Reports so Important?

Program

Date
Webcast on February 17, 2021

This 90-minute webinar was made possible thanks to the support of the New Brunswick Law Foundation.

Language: In English, with simultaneous interpretation
Audience: All judges, court employees and lawyers (defence and Crown)

Speakers

Moderator

  • The Honourable Chief Justice Tracey K. DeWare, Court of Queen’s Bench of New Brunswick

Topics Overview

Why do we use Gladue reports? How are they being used in other provinces? Who writes them? Have they changed anything since their implementation?

Related documentation: