Rarely could one describe the experience of attending a national conference in Ottawa as being a “tasty” experience. However, when it comes to the Canadian Bar Association’s most recent Administrative, Labour and Employment Law Conference, held at the historic Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Ottawa from November 29-30, 2024, no other descriptor comes to mind.
Like the Canadian Geese flying south, it has become the usual procedure in autumn of each year for legal academics, members of the bar, and members of the judiciary, to flock to our nation’s capital, to participate in the edifying presentations as arranged by the CBA’s noble volunteers.
This past year, the crowds were lucky enough to take-in presentations being offered by so many worthy speakers, highlights among them including:
- Professor Paul Daley, who has become a crucial mainstay of the conference, starting it off with his annual case law review, delivered with characteristic intellect and attention to detail;
- David Taylor, Julian N. Falconer, Nicole O’Bryne, and Andrea Menard who vitally enlightened attendees on self-governance versus self-administration, as well as truth and reconciliation, and how these concepts arise in both administrative and employment law contexts;
- Sheena Scott, Sharry Aiken, and Sania Chaudhry who provided an engaging discussion about procedural fairness and reasonable apprehension of bias in the administrative law context as legacy of Baker – and future gaps to address;
- Mark Mancini, Ewa Krajewska, and Alyssa Tomkins who examined whether administrative decision-makers now need to be experts on the Charter as an implication from the Commission Scolaire decision;
- David P. Jones, K.C, and Pam Hrick, who effortlessly weaved through robust developments in the judicial review of delegated legislation, managing to cause eruptions of laughter in the audience while they were at it; and
- The fireside chat we had with the newest Justice of our Supreme Court of Canada, the Honourable Mary T. Moreau, as interviewed by dedicated Moderator Justice Audrey Boctor, who herself was just newly appointed to La cour supérieure du Québec.
Candid, transparent, and brutally honest, all speakers and panelists were able to add their own flavour to these sumptuous events. We will never be able to show these volunteers enough gratitude, and so on behalf of the CBA, we wish to give all involved their due by saying “thank you,” “merci,” and by stating the obvious: “we are all so much better off as a result of your contributions to the profession, and development of law, in this country.”
The planning committees of the CBA’s national Administrative Law and Labour and Employment law sections are hard at work organizing this year’s edition of the conference. Get your tickets now, as it is likely to sell-out again. We recommend you stay-tuned to your CBA email blasts so that you don’t miss out on your next opportunity to attend – present planning indicates that this year’s conference will be occurring in Ottawa November 28-29, 2025.
See you there.
Michael A. MacDonald is an associate lawyer with McKercher LLP, a full-service law firm based out of Regina and Saskatoon. He volunteers for the CBA’s national Administrative Law and Labour and Employment Law Sections. In his spare time Michael enjoys reading, writing, biking, photography, and scuba diving.