CLE Online

Course Introduction and Land Acknowledgement (9:00 – 9:15)

Nadia Myerthall — Program Lawyer, CLEBC, Vancouver
Colin Galinski — Galinski Pension and Benefits Law, Vancouver
Online Moderator: Beatrice C. McCutcheon — Cook Roberts LLP, Victoria

Taking Stock—Where We Are Today in BC and How Did We Get Here (9:15 – 9:45)

• overview of BC pension division system
• best practices to identify client pension entitlement
• history and future of Part 6 of the Family Law Act

Colin Galinski — Galinski Pension and Benefits Law, Vancouver

View from the Bench and Beyond (9:45 – 10:20)

• "do it yourself" or "hire an expert"
• the value of valuation

Peter Leask, KC — Vancouver

BREAK (10:20 – 10:35)

Bill 17 Amendments to Part 6 of the FLA: A Primer (10:35 – 11:20)

• expansion of entitlement to include the estate of a deceased spouse
• availability of commuted values transfers vs. periodic payment
• expansion of division of annuities and other retirement savings vehicles

Mark R. Slay — North Shore Law LLP, North Vancouver

Pension Administrator Insights and Tips (11:20 – 12:05)

• best practices and most common issues the Pension Corporation encounters when administrating pension divisions
• tips that will help family lawyers ensure a smooth pension division experience for their clients

Gillian Dabbs — Director, Policy — BC Pension Corporation, Victoria
Stephanie Griffith — Bilsland Griffith Benefit Administrators, Burnaby

NETWORKING LUNCH (provided to in-person registrants) (12:05 – 1:05)

Actuarial Advice and Services (1:05 – 1:50)

• pension valuation for compensation payment purposes (outside plan)
• estimates of pension or lump sum for member and spouse (within plan)

Stephen Cheng, FCIA, FSA — Managing Director & Senior Consulting Actuary, Westcoast Actuaries Inc., Vancouver

Drafting Tips and Traps for the Family Lawyer (1:50 – 2:35)

• identifying the pension—how to determine the applicable legislation and the available methods of division
• drafting provisions about pension division—when to use precedents and when to get help

Beatrice C. McCutcheon — Cook Roberts LLP, Victoria

BREAK (2:35 – 2:50)

Drafting Exercise: Group Reports and Discussion (2:50 – 3:50)

Colin Galinski — Galinski Pension and Benefits Law, Vancouver

Closing Remarks (3:50 – 4:00)

Colin Galinski — Galinski Pension and Benefits Law, Vancouver