CMLA
Conference 2026

Celebrating our
75th Anniversary

June 16-18, 2026

 

Programme

Tuesday, June 16, 2026
5:30 - 7:30pm
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.

Sponsored by

 

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

Sponsored by

*Change of Venue
Ottawa University, Desmarais building, Desmarais 12102, 55 Laurier Avenue East

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
Francois Marier, Transport Canada
10:30am - 11:15am
Detention & Demurrage - Fireside Chat

Robin Squires, CMLA Director, Barnable Law PC
James Moseley Jr., 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, Denroche & Associates
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

Sponsored by

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

Moderator:
Ian Breneman, Partner, Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP
 
Panelists
Conal Calvert, Associate Lawyer, Gardiner Roberts LLP
Breaden Stang, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

Reception: 6:00pm

Dinner: 7:00pm
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.

Sponsored by

 

Thursday, June 18, 2026
Time: 9:00am  - 11:30am
CMLA - Transport Canada Meeting

Transport Canada, 330 Sparks Street

Limited spots available for CMLA Members on a first come, first serve, basis. (Attendance now closed).
Time: 1:00pm
CMLA Annual General Meeting

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