Brochure contains printable registration form.

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THE 2017 ACCOMMODATION LAW CONFERENCE (OTTAWA)

New legal breakthroughs in the duty to accommodate and their impact on union and employer representatives in Canada

Ottawa
Fairmont Chateau Laurier
May 24 & 25, 2017

Attend this state-of-the-law conference and stay on top of the latest legal breakthroughs in the duty to accommodate and their impact on unionized workplaces in Canada.

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ATTENTION LAWYERS: This conference consists of 10.75 hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits and can be applied towards 9 of the 12 hours of annual CPD required by the Law Society of Upper Canada (not the New Member Requirement).  

This conference has been approved for 10.75 continuing professional development (CPD) hours by the Human Resource Professionals Association (HRPA).

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 24

Registration: 8:30 - 9:00 a.m.

MORNING SESSION - 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Peter Engelmann and Judith Parisien

The Year's Top Accommodation Cases
A review of important new accommodation cases in Canada and their impact on Ontario unions and employers. 

AFTERNOON SESSION - 1:15 to 4:30 p.m.
Paul Champ and Meg Steele

Update on Accommodating Family Status
The rapidly developing case law on family status discrimination will be examined, touching on issues including elder care, breast feeding, work scheduling, absenteeism and self-help.
 
Update on Accommodating Mental Disabilities
New cases reflecting the influx of mental health accommodation needs in the workplace will be examined touching on conditions including stress, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and oppositional defiance disorder.
 
Update on Accommodating Substance Addiction
New cases on substance addiction in the workplace will be examined touching on issues including theft, self-disclosure, last-chance agreements and reinstatement.

Update on Accommodation Remedies
How arbitrators, tribunals and the courts are continuing to reaffirm, through significant awards of damages and other remedies, the importance of human rights in the workplace.

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THURSDAY, MAY 25

MORNING SESSION - 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Andrew Astritis and Kecia Podetz

Is Your Workplace Ready for Legalized Pot?
The accommodation issues likely to arise when marijuana is legalized in Canada will be examined, including some lessons learned from the increased use of medical marijuana and experience with alcohol and drug addiction.  

When and How the Duty to Accommodate is Triggered
When a formal medical diagnosis may not be necessary to trigger the duty to accommodate and when the self-reporting of medical symptoms may be enough.

Individually Assessing Accommodation Needs: A Wake-up Call from Arbitrators
As more arbitrators require employers to individually assess an employee’s accommodation needs rather than rely on blanket accommodation policies, learn practical tips for assessing an employee’s accommodation needs on an individual basis. 

When the Accommodation Duty Ends
Recent cases weigh in on when the employer’s duty to accommodate comes to an end for reasons involving attendance, addiction, lack of work, failure to cooperate or doubtful improvement.

AFTERNOON SESSION - 1:15 to 3:00 p.m. 
Judith Allen (Chair), Jean-Michel Corbeil and Craig Stehr

Accommodation Allowed...or Denied? 
A labour arbitrator offers instant rulings on accommodation grievances presented by union and management counsel.  

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PRESENTERS

Judith Allen
Labour Arbitrator and Mediator
Arbitration Investigation Mediation (AIM)
Ottawa

Andrew Astritis
Union Counsel
Raven, Cameron, Ballantyne & Yazbeck
Ottawa

Paul Champ
Union Counsel
Champ & Associates
Ottawa

Jean-Michel Corbeil
Union Counsel
Goldblatt Partners LLP
Ottawa

Peter Engelmann
Union Counsel
Goldblatt Partners LLP
Ottawa

Judith Parisien
Employer Counsel
Fasken Martineau
Ottawa

Kecia Podetz
Employer Counsel
Emond Harnden
Ottawa

Margaret-Marie (Meg) Steele
Senior Legal Counsel
City of Ottawa
Ottawa

Craig Stehr
Employer Counsel
Gowling WLG
Ottawa

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Hotel accommodations

Special guestroom rates starting at $299 (standard, single/double plus taxes) have been arranged for registrants at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, 1 Rideau Street in downtown Ottawa.

Phone hotel reservation directly at (613) 241-1414 and ask for the group rate for "The Accommodation Law Conference." Reserve early as availability is limited.
  
The Fairmont Chateau Laurier is a unionized hotel.

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Tuition

Includes two-day program, conference binder, Certificate of Attendance, continental breakfast and refreshments. Accommodations and other meals are not included.

Individual: $795 (plus $103.35 HST = $898.35) 
Group (3+ each): $745 (plus $96.85 HST = $841.85) 
Super Group (7+ each): $695 (plus $90.35 HST = $785.35)

To qualify for group rates, individuals must be from the same organization, or union local, AND register together at the same time.

Individuals registering separately will not qualify for group rates.

CANCELLATIONS must be in writing and received by May 17 in order to qualify for a full refund less a $50 administration fee. Non-compliance will result in liability for the entire tuition.

SUBSTITUTIONS may be made at any time.