CLE Online

Welcome and Introduction

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

Family Status Cases

• the test for family status discrimination in BC and other jurisdictions
• case law update
• trends and implications
• policy considerations arising from the various tests for family status discrimination
  
  Jennifer Devins — Roper Greyell LLP, Vancouver
  Krista James — Canadian Centre for Elder Law, BC Law Institute, Vancouver
  Catherine Sullivan — British Columbia Government & Service Employees’ Union, Vancouver

S. 7 of the Charter and Human Rights Issues

• recent s. 7 case law, including consideration of the Insite and Tent City cases, and the Polygamy Reference
• section 7 as a basis for substantial positive health rights
• a critique of s. 7 applied methodology
• the future of s. 7 challenges
  
  Brent B. Olthuis — Hunter Litigation Chambers, Vancouver
  Matthew R. Voell — LLM Candidate, Faculty of Law at Allard Hall, University of BC, Vancouver

Networking Break

Pregnancy and Parental Leave and Benefits

• pregnancy and parental leave and benefits and discrimination under the Human Rights Code
• entitlement to leave and return from leave under the Employment Standards Act
• termination and notice of termination for employees on pregnancy and parental leave
• entitlement to pregnancy and parental EI benefits
• who has jurisdiction to hear a complaint?: the courts, employment standards branch, a labour arbitrator, or the human rights tribunal?
  
  Robyn Trask — Legal Counsel, British Columbia Teachers’ Federation, Vancouver

Lunch With Featured Speaker

The Honourable Mr. Justice Thomas Cromwell — Supreme Court of Canada, Ottawa

Concurrent Sessions (choose 1)

A. Human Rights Tribunal Judicial Review Update

• recent Supreme Court and Court of Appeal cases
• role of the Court and the Tribunal
• issues respecting the record of proceedings
• standard of review
• available relief
  
  Jessica Connell — Legal Counsel, British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal, Vancouver

OR

B. Bona Fide Exception for Retirement and Benefits

• what is covered under the exception?
• BC Code provisions 
• survivor benefits case
• practical implications for group benefits and human capital strategies
  
  Paul Fairweather — Harris & Company LLP, Vancouver
  Dan Eisner — Mercers, Vancouver

Networking Break

Ethics Fact Patterns

• what would/should you do?
• discussions in context
  
  Master Heather M. MacNaughton — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver
  Bruce R. Grist — Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Vancouver
  Gabriel Somjen — Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Vancouver

Case Law Update

• key cases
• analysis, impact, and effects
• trends
  
  Jillian N. Humphreys — McCarthy Tetrault LLP, Vancouver
  Christopher M. McHardy — McCarthy Tetrault LLP, Vancouver

Closing Comments and Questions