CLE Online

Welcome and Introduction

 

Mary-Jane Wilson — Greig, Wilson & Rasmussen LLP, Surrey

 

Pre-Sale Contracts:  Important Issues and Unresolved Questions

• the impact of the REDMA on enforceability of pre-sale contracts
• the importance of timely and accurate disclosure to purchasers
• the importance of filing and delivering amendments
• addressing strategies used by purchasers and developers

 

Andrew P. Morrison — Shields Harney, Vancouver
Andrew P. Prior — Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP, Vancouver
The Honourable Mr. Justice Nathan H. Smith — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver

 

Covenants and Other Nature Conservation Tools

• conservation covenants, a legal tool in BC
• ecological gifts, legal and taxation benefits for landowners
• BC case studies of covenants and gifts of land for nature
• BC's 30 Land Trusts - land partners in BC communities

 

Sheila Harrington — Program Director, Land Trust Alliance of British Columbia, Victoria 
Bill Turner — Executive Director, Land Conservancy of British Columbia, Victoria

 

Break

Property Transfer Tax Issues

• new legislation
• important dates
• how the PTT applies to presales
• tips and traps of the PTT

 

Randall E. Cobbett — Cobbett & Cotton Law Corporation, Burnaby
Renny Lubberts — Property Transfer Tax, Property Taxation Branch, Ministry of Finance, Victoria

 

Questions and Discussion

Lunch with Featured Speaker "BC's Prospects Amid a Shifting Economic Landscape"

 

Ken Peacock — Director Economic Research, Business Council of British Columbia, Vancouver

 

Avoiding Pitfalls in Challenging Times

• downturns in the economy and lawyers’ increased vulnerability to malpractice claims
• the “top ten” causes of reports to the Lawyers Insurance Fund when times are hard
• steps that you can take to help avoid being reported

 

Margrett M. S. George — Lawyers Insurance Fund, The Law Society of British Columbia, Vancouver

 

Real Estate Information: Beyond the Land Title Office

• introduction to law firm use of GIS - "Geographic Information Systems"
• free and cheap land information
• municipal GIS systems, "Landcor", and the BC "Online Cadastre"
• use of Google - Maps, "Earth", "Street View" and other Internet data.

         Ronald R. Usher — Bell Alliance Lawyers & Notaries Public, Vancouver

Break

HST Impact Update

• new housing rebates
• provincial sales tax (PST) transitional rebates
• transitional tax adjustments
• builder and resellers’ disclosure

 

David D. Robertson — Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Vancouver
Terry G. Barnett — Thorsteinssons LLP, Vancouver

 

Questions and Discussion