CMLA
Conference 2026

Celebrating our
75th Anniversary

June 16-18, 2026

 

Programme

Tuesday, June 16, 2026
Time: TBA
Opening Reception

The Rideau Club, 99 Bank St. 15th Floor

Located on the 15th floor of 99 Bank Street, an historic private Club know as a premier gathering place for political, business, and community leaders from across Canada.

 

Wednesday, June 17, 2026
8:45am - 4:30pm
Conference Sessions

Ottawa University, Fauteux Hall, 57 Louis Pasteur Private

8:45am - 9:00am

Introduction & Welcome

Rui Fernandes, CMLA President; Partner, Gardiner Roberts LLP
9:00am - 9:30am

Update on Case Law

Marc D. Isaacs, Isaacs Odinocki LLP
9:30am - 10:30am

Tariffs and Impact on Transportation - Practical Aspects

Simon Ledsham, CMLA Director, BLG
10:30am - 11:15am

Detention & Demurrage - Fireside Chat

Robin Squires, CMLA Director, Barnable Law PC

James Moseley Jr., First Vice President, The Maritime Law Association of the United States; GrayRobinson
11:15am - 11:30am Coffee Break
11:30am - 12:15pm

Shipping in the Arctic

Leona Baxter, CMLA Director, Oland & Baxter

Kyle Ereaux, Government of NWT
12:15pm - 12:45pm

The New Ship and Rail Compensation Canada Strategic Plan and What it Means for Claimants

Caroline Healey, Chief Executive Officer of the Ship and Rail compensation Canada & Administrator of the Ship Fund and Rail Fund Ship and Rail Compensation Canada

Cameron Grant, Office of the Ship-source Oil Pollution Fund
12:45pm - 1:30pm

Lunch Speaker: Navy Response to Underwater Security

Capt. Rob Watt, Director of Naval Strategy, Royal Canadian Navy
1:30pm - 2:15pm    

Vessel Arrest, Bankruptcy/CCAA and Maritime Liens

Eric Machum, CMLA National Vice-President, Metcalf & Co.

Andrew Stainer, Owen Bird Law Corporation
2:15pm - 3:00pm    

MASS (Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships) - AI Issues, impact on port operations, navigation, crew roles, what courts will face, control, jurisdiction

Marel Katsivala, University of Ottawa
3:00pm - 3:45pm

Pilotage Update

Tristan Laflamme, CMLA Constituent Member Rep., Canadian Marine Pilots' Association
3:45pm - 4:30pm Ethics Panel - Young Lawyers

 
Time: TBA
75th  Anniversary Gala Dinner

The Westin Hotel, Venue Twenty-Two, 11 Colonel By Drive

With floor-to-ceiling windows in the top floor of the Westin enjoy panoramic views of the Ottawa Skyline, Parliament Hill and the Ottawa River.

 

Thursday, June 18, 2026
Time: TBA
CMLA Annual Business Meetings

Transport Canada, 330 Sparks Street

Information & Updates on the CMLA, including the Annual General Meeting. Documents for the AGM will be distributed with the notice sent to Voting Members.

If you have any questions please contact cmla@cmla.org