RLA – Winter and Spring Educationals 2017

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Since November’s AGM, where members heard from Raoul Boulakia on Test Case funding for challenging backlog/legacy cases, and Doyon Gold (Homewood Health, Member Assistance Program) and keynote speaker, Marley Mawhinney (Iyengar Yoga Centre) speaking about vicarious trauma and self-help and creating balance for refugee lawyers, the RLA held two members-only educational seminars in the winter and spring.

On February 28, 2017, Leigh Salsberg, Jacqueline Bonisteel, and Maureen Silcoff presentations on current issues around the Canada-U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement.

Jacqueline Bonisteel
Maureen Silcoff

Then, on May 10, 2017, the Honourable Justice Campbell, Richard Wazana, and Robert Blanshay spoke on emergency stays in Federal Court. Both Richard and Robert provided written materials for the attendees.

Richard Wazana
Robert Israel Blanshay
The Honourable Mr. Justice Campbell

RLA Winter Educational

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The Refugee Lawyers Association Winter Educational, held in Toronto on February 16, 2016, covered the importance of recent Supreme Court of Canada decisions in Kanthasamy and B10 on refugee law advocacy.

Refugee Lawyers Association Winter Educational: Raoul Boulakia explores the implication of recent Supreme Court of Canada decisions on inadmissibility cases
Raoul Boulakia explores the implication of recent Supreme Court of Canada decisions on inadmissibility cases

Refugee Lawyers Association: Aviva Basman and Barbara Jackman discuss the implications on refugee law practice, especially humanitarian and compassionate applications, of the Supreme Court's Kanthasamy decision.
Aviva Basman and Barbara Jackman discuss the implications on refugee law practice, especially humanitarian and compassionate applications, of the Supreme Court’s Kanthasamy decision.

RLA AGM November 17, 2015

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The Refugee Lawyers Association held it’s 2015 AGM at the CSI Annex in Toronto on November 17th.  The meeting featured a panel discussion with Barbara Jackman, Jean Marie Vecina, and Swathi Sekhar, about the Ontario Court’s Habeas Corpus jurisdiction over immigration detention matters, as well as a presentation by Ratna Omdivar about Lifeline Syria and the citizen-led initiative to get groups of residents in the Toronto area to sponsor 1000 refugees over the ext two years.

Barbara Jackman, Swathi Sekhar and Jean Marie Vecina discuss Habeas Corpus and immigration detention, at the RLA AGM, photo by ©j.martin/sevres-babylone
Barbara Jackman, Swathi Sekhar and Jean Marie Vecina discuss Habeas Corpus and immigration detention

The RlA executive for the upcoming year includes

Raoul Boulakia
Lani Gozlan
Pantea Jafari
Jack Martin
Dilani Mohan
Luis Antonio Monroy
Leigh Salsberg
Preevanda Sapru
Eve Sehatsadeh

What was in the 2014 RLA Members-Only Spring Educational – H&C

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The Refugee Lawyer’s Association (RLA) is pleased to invite its members to an essential and informative panel on the latest developments in humanitarian and compassionate law. This area of immigration law has seen many legislative and practical changes in the past few years. Recent changes have impacted who may apply on humanitarian and compassionate (H&C) grounds and what factors may be taken into account for assessing such applications. The simultaneous overhaul of the refugee determination system has changed the immigration landscape for clients and for the lawyers advising them. Our panelists will discuss the many facets of the H&C, including:

o Admissibility Issues in H&C Applications

o Judicially Reviewing H&C refusals

o The latest Federal Court decisions on H&C Applications

o Invoking H&C considerations in Live in Caregiver Applications, IAD Appeals, and in overseas applications

o Narrowing the definition of hardship – Federal Court of Appeal Update on IRPA ss 25(1.3) and ‘risk’ in H&C Applications

o Tools for preparing a comprehensive H&C Application

Date: Monday, May 26, 2014
Location: 60 Lowther Avenue, Toronto, ON M5R 1C7
Time: 1:00 – 4:00 pm
Cost: $50 for lawyers
$30 for students (pay by e-money transfer or by cash or cheque at the event)
Please note that this event is for RLA members only.

Panel:
Michael Battista, Jordan Battista LLP
Richard Wazana, Wazana Law
Barbara Jackman, Jackman and Associates
Sayran Sulevani, Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic