CLE Online

Day 1: Thursday, November 20

Welcome and Introduction

Sandra F. Guarascio — Roper Greyell LLP, Vancouver
Lindsay M. Lyster — Moore Edgar Lyster, Vancouver

Judicial Review of BC Human Rights Tribunal Decisions

• review and update of significant BC Supreme Court, BC Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court of Canada cases

Katherine A. Hardie — BC Human Rights Tribunal, Vancouver
David G. Wong — Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Vancouver

Networking Break

Section 15(1) Charter Challenges to the Human Rights Code

• laying the foundation for Charter arguments before the tribunal
• setting up facts for judicial review
• s. 15(1) Charter challenge to the remedies provision of the Code
• is the code discriminatory within the meaning of the Charter?

Jason B. Gratl — Gratl & Company, Vancouver
Bryant A. Mackey — Ministry of Justice, Victoria

Human Rights Issues Before the Human Rights Tribunal and the Labour Relations Board

• similarities and differences in procedural issues (i.e. pre-hearing, case management, treatment of evidence)
• new rules
• pros and cons for management and unions in each jurisdiction
• duty of fair representation and duty to accommodate: rights and obligations

Stephanie D. Gutierrez — Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Vancouver
Catherine McCreary — BC Human Rights Tribunal, Vancouver
Catherine A. Sullivan — BC Government & Service Employees' Union, Burnaby

Lunch with Featured Speaker: "International Human Rights Law"

Gregory W. Kehoe — Greenberg Traurig, Tampa, Florida

Recent Developments for Pregnancy and Parental Leave and Benefits

• review and update of recent significant cases on pregnancy leave and benefits
• BC Court of Appeal decision on scale placement for employees on leave under the Employment Standards Act
• BC decisions on accrual of credits for conversion to a continuing contract while on pregnancy or parental leave
• Supreme Court of Canada decision on occupational health and safety in Quebec for pregnant women
• BC case under consideration by the Supreme Court of Canada on employer provided benefits and pregnancy discrimination

Delayne M. Sartison, QC — Roper Greyell LLP, Vancouver
Robyn P.M. Trask — Legal Counsel, BC Teachers' Federation, Vancouver

Networking Break

Rights of Migrant Workers in BC

• introduction to migrant workers and the legal regimes that govern their lives and work in Canada
• review of factors that cause migrant workers to be vulnerable to exploitation and face barriers to enforcing rights 
• legal options for migrant workers to pursue redress, including under Human Rights Code, Employment Standards Act, and civil courts
• practical challenges in representing migrant workers, and tips for overcoming those challenges

Devyn Cousineau — Community Legal Assistance Society, Vancouver
Charles Gordon — Koskie Glavin Gordon, Vancouver

Ethics Fact Patterns

• what would/should you do?
• discussions in context

Lindsay M. Lyster — Moore Edgar Lyster, Vancouver
Gabriel M.A. Somjen — Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Vancouver

Closing Questions and Comments

Sandra F. Guarascio — Roper Greyell LLP, Vancouver
Lindsay M. Lyster — Moore Edgar Lyster, Vancouver

Day 2: Friday, November 21

Welcome and Introduction

Sandra F. Guarascio — Roper Greyell LLP, Vancouver
Lindsay M. Lyster — Moore Edgar Lyster, Vancouver

Case Law Update

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

Christopher M. McHardy — McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Vancouver
Ryley M. Mennie — McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Vancouver

Networking Break

Human Rights Issues and Trinity Western University's Law School

Earl G. Phillips — Executive Director, School of Law, Trinity Western University, Langley
Professor Margot Young — Faculty of Law at Allard Hall, University of BC, Vancouver

Networking Lunch

Addiction Treatment and Substance Use Policies in Unionized Workplaces

• coerced addiction treatment; addiction treatment as a requirement for continued employment
• employer input into/control over an employee’s treatment plan
• employer monitoring of employee substance use and addiction treatment; alcohol and drug testing
• return-to-work of an employee with an addiction
• onus to pay for addiction treatment

Jonathan Chapnick — In-House Counsel, Hospital Employees’ Union (HEU), Burnaby
Adriana F. Wills — Harris & Company LLP, Vancouver 

Networking Break

Inglis v. Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, 2013 BCSC 2309

• public interest standing
• the scope and role of section 7
• discrimination in the justice system
• impact of international law in interpreting Charter rights
• intersecting grounds of discrimination
• lessons learned

Kasari Govender — Executive Director, West Coast LEAF, Vancouver
E.W. (Heidi) Hughes — Legal Services Branch, Ministry of Justice, Vancouver
Kevin Nakanishi — Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Vancouver
Sarah J. Rauch — Rauch Darby & Company, Vancouver

Issues in Class and Group Complaints

• overview of group vs. class complaints
• representative complaints
• the evolution of the SELI principles
• ethical and procedural issues

Jodie Gauthier — Koskie Glavin Gordon, Vancouver
Carol Whittome — Koskie Gavin Gordon, Vancouver

Closing Questions and Comments

Sandra F. Guarascio — Roper Greyell LLP, Vancouver
Lindsay M. Lyster — Moore Edgar Lyster, Vancouver