CLE Online

Sandra F. Guarascio — Roper Greyell LLP, Vancouver
Marino J. Sveinson — Roper Greyell LLP, Vancouver

The Future of the Human Rights Tribunal

          Faculty TBA

When Rights Clash: Accommodating Religious Beliefs in a Changing Society

• the challenges in accommodating religious beliefs
• access to government services vs. security and resource concerns
• undue hardship in accommodating religion in employment
• when religion clashes with other rights
• a review of recent human rights and Charter cases
• policy considerations
• a look at the global picture
  
  Wendy J. Harris, QC — Harris and Company LLP, Vancouver
  Eleni Kassaris — Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, Vancouver
  Lisa C. Kerr — J.S.D. candidate, New York University School of Law, NY

Networking Break

Human Rights Tribunal Judicial Review Update

• recent Supreme Court and Court of Appeal cases
• test for prima facie discrimination
• standard of review and the role of the court, discretionary decisions, mootness and issues respecting the record
• impact of the new BCSC rules
   
  Denise E. Paluck — BC Human Rights Tribunal, Vancouver

Lunch with Featured Speaker
 
         The Honourable Mobina S.B. Jaffer — Senator for British Columbia, Senate of Canada, Ottawa

Human Rights Issues When Advising First Nations

• status provisions
• Bill C-3, gender discrimination and McIvor
• Bill S-4 and its effects on matrimonial property on a reserve
• balancing individual rights vs. collective rights of the First Nation or Indian Band
• effects of the repeal of s. 67 of the Canadian Human Rights Act on First Nation government and organizations jurisdiction
• duty to accommodate—incorporating First Nation’s legal traditions and customary laws as a part of employer responses
• implementation of Special Programs for disadvantaged groups and individuals under the Charter, BC Human Rights Code and Canadian Human Rights Act
• potential for self-governing First Nations’ own human rights legislation, commissions, and tribunals
  
  Christopher G. Devlin — Devlin Gailus, Victoria
  Michael J. Weiler — Boughton Law Corporation, Vancouver
  

Concurrent Sessions: (choose 1)

A. Anti-Bullying Legislation 

• what the legislation looks like
• update on the three provinces that have passed the legislation
• option in BC—should it be a tort, human rights, WCB, or ESA claim?
• considerations when drafting legislation
• resources available
  
  
    Robyn Durling — BC Human Rights Coalition, Vancouver

OR:

B. Accommodation of Psychological Illness

• identifying psychological illnesses
• unique characteristics of accommodating a psychological illness within the workplace
• what information can and should be shared with managers, supervisors, co-workers, and more
• accommodation and identifying alternatives
• follow-ups
• practical considerations
   
  Dr. Merv Gilbert, RPsych — Gilbert Acton, Organizational Consultants, Vancouver
  Patricia Janzen — Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Vancouver

Networking Break

Case Law Update

• key cases
• analysis, impact, and effects
• trends

Christopher M. McHardy — McCarthy Tetrault LLP, Vancouver
Donovan G. Plomp — McCarthy Tetrault LLP, Vancouver

Closing Questions and Comments