Welcome and Land Acknowledgement (9:00 – 9:10)
Brad Cocke — Harris & Company LLP, Vancouver
Peter Eastwood — HHBG Employment Lawyers, Vancouver
Board Update (9:10 – 10:00)
- overview of recently released reports and their implementation
- upcoming legislative and policy changes
- impact of COVID and related issues on practice moving forward
Speaker TBC
Mental Disorders (10:00 – 10:40)
- general framework and policy issues
- recent changes
- subjective/objective/modified objective test
- labour relations exclusion scope
- pre-existing conditions
Alissa Demerse — Roper Greyell LLP, Vancouver
Kevin Love — Community Legal Assistance Society, Vancouver
BREAK (10:40 – 10:55)
Serious and Fatal Investigations (10:55 – 11:35)
- update and current issues
Andrew Wood — Harris & Company LLP, Vancouver
Disability Awards (11:35 – 12:15)
- changes to Loss of Earnings assessments
- psychological conditions
- chronic pain
- retirement age
Sarah O'Leary — Harrison O'Leary Lawyers LLP, Vancouver
LUNCH BREAK (12:15 – 1:15)
Prohibited Action Complaints (1:15 – 1:45)
Brad Cocke — Harris & Company LLP, Vancouver
Adjudicator Update (WorkSafeBC and WCAT) (1:45 – 2:25)
- current issues
- practice tips for advocates
- role of employer in reviews/appeals
Luningning Alcuitas-Imperial — Workers’ Compensation Appeal Tribunal, Richmond
Susan Hynes — Chief Review Officer, Review Division, WorkSafeBC, Richmond
BREAK (2:25 – 2:40)
Return to Work and Vocational Rehabiliation Issues (2:40 – 3:20)
- "selective/light employment"
- employer concerns with keeping costs down vs. workers concerns about health
Melanie Vipond — Gall Legge Grant Zwack LLP, Vancouver
Worker Breakout: Medical Evidence and Causation (3:20 – 3:50)
Gail Sharma — GKS Law Corporation, Surrey
Employer Breakout: Supervisor Duties Under the Act
Graeme Hooper — Graeme Hooper Law Corporation, Vancouver
Worker Breakout: Judicial Review Update (3:50 – 4:10)
Speaker TBC
Employer Breakout: Relief of Costs
Dave Haralds — Executive Director, Employers' Advisers Office, Langley
Closing Comments (4:10 – 4:15)
Brad Cocke — Harris & Company LLP, Vancouver
Peter Eastwood — HHBG Employment Lawyers, Vancouver