Immigration Issues in Depth 2019

Course Chairs
Laura A. Best — Embarkation Law Corporation, Vancouver
Brett J. Nash — Department of Justice Canada, Vancouver

About the Course Chairs
Laura Best is a founding Director of Embarkation Law Corporation, where she practices Canadian immigration and refugee law. She assists clients who want to come to or remain in Canada: to reunite with family, to find safe haven, to pursue economic and academic opportunities. She represents clients with their applications to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and in proceedings with Canada Border Services Agency. She regularly appears before all levels of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada and at the Federal Court of Canada. She has also represented clients at the BC Supreme Court and Court of Appeal.

Laura regularly presents on issues of immigration and refugee law at continuing legal education conferences.

Brett Nash is counsel with the Department of Justice Canada in Vancouver and practices primarily in the area of immigration and refugee law. Brett has appeared in the Federal Court and Federal Court of Appeal on a wide range of immigration and refugee issues. Prior to focusing on immigration matters, Brett was counsel on Aboriginal rights and title claims in the Aboriginal Law Section, and prior to joining the Department of Justice, he had a general litigation practice. Brett holds a Master of Laws degree focusing on constitutional and statutory interpretation and international law.

Planning Committee
R. Keith Reimer — Legal Counsel, IRB, Vancouver

Faculty
The Honourable Paul Favel — Federal Court, Ottawa
Becky Chan — Acting Coordinating Member, Refugee Protection Division, Western Region, IRB, Vancouver
Adrienne Denham — LeBeau Law Corporation, Coquitlam
Amanda Dunn — Federal Court Registry, Vancouver
Paula Faber — Acting Assistant Deputy Chairperson, Refugee Appeal Division, Western Region, IRB, Vancouver
Professor Cristie Ford — Peter A. Allard School of Law, University of BC, Vancouver
Darren McLeod — Legal Counsel, IRB, Vancouver
Jocelyne Mui — Department of Justice Canada, Vancouver
Helen Park — Department of Justice Canada, Vancouver
Kay Scorer — Scorer Law Corporation, Vancouver
Banafsheh Sokhansanj — Department of Justice Canada, Vancouver
Alice Tang — Assistant Deputy Chairperson, Immigration Division, Western Region, IRB, Vancouver
William Tao — Edelmann & Company Law Corporation, Vancouver
Linda Taylor — Assistant Deputy Chairperson, Immigration Appeal Division, Western Region, IRB, Vancouver
Sandra E. Weafer — Department of Justice Canada, Vancouver

Click here for full faculty bios »

Welcome and Land Acknowledgement

Laura A. Best — Embarkation Law Corporation, Vancouver
Brett J. Nash — Department of Justice Canada, Vancouver

Jurisprudence Update: Administrative and Immigration Law

• review of key Federal Court, Federal Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court of Canada immigration, refugee and citizenship decisions in 2019
• discussion of recent developments in other areas of the law that may impact immigration, refugee, and citizenship law practice
• trends, highlights, and lowlights in recent jurisprudence and what is expected in 2020

Laura A. Best — Embarkation Law Corporation, Vancouver
Professor Cristie Ford — Peter A. Allard School of Law, University of BC, Vancouver
Darren McLeod — Legal Counsel, IRB, Vancouver
Banafsheh Sokhansanj — Department of Justice Canada, Vancouver

Break

The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada

• updates from the IRB
• Q & A session with the IRB

Becky Chan — Acting Coordinating Member, Refugee Protection Division, Western Region, IRB, Vancouver
Paula Faber — Acting Assistant Deputy Chairperson, Refugee Appeal Division, Western Region, IRB, Vancouver
Alice Tang — Assistant Deputy Chairperson, Immigration Division, Western Region, IRB, Vancouver
Linda Taylor — Assistant Deputy Chairperson, Immigration Appeal Division, Western Region, IRB, Vancouver

Networking Lunch (provided)

Legislative and Policy Updates

• caregiver program
• changes to the Immigration Refugee Protection Act
• previously undisclosed family members
• options for vulnerable workers and persons
• biometrics/entry and exit regulations
• College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants Act

Jocelyne Mui — Department of Justice Canada, Vancouver
William Tao — Edelmann & Company Law Corporation, Vancouver

Federal Court Practice Primer

• best practices and common pitfalls in Federal Court citizenship, immigration, and refugee proceedings
• view from the registry, new practitioner, and experienced counsel

Amanda Dunn — Federal Court Registry, Vancouver
Helen Park — Department of Justice Canada, Vancouver
Kay Scorer — Scorer Law Corporation, Vancouver

Break

Resolving Ethical Dilemmas

• incompetence of counsel allegations
• working with consultants
• limited retainers
• unbundling of legal services

Moderator: Laura A. Best — Embarkation Law Corporation, Vancouver
Adrienne Denham — LeBeau Law Corporation, Coquitlam
Sandra E. Weafer — Department of Justice Canada, Vancouver

View from the Bench

• immigration workload and scheduling
• recent and ongoing cases of note

The Honourable Paul Favel — Federal Court, Ottawa