Frequently Asked Questions
Who organizes this conference?
The 26th Annual Conference on Advanced Administrative Law & Practice is organized by the Canadian Institute (CI), part of C5 Group. For more than 25 years, this conference has brought together Canada’s administrative and public law community to examine significant legal developments and practical challenges affecting administrative decision-making, advocacy and access to justice.
What is the conference about?
The Advanced Administrative Law & Practice conference is a two-day forum for Canada’s administrative and public law community, bringing together federal and provincial decision-makers, tribunal members, legal counsel, Justices, private practitioners, civil servants and academics. The 2026 program examines the latest developments in standards of review, statutory interpretation, procedural fairness, judicial review, Charter rights and values, government accountability and access to justice.
The conference also addresses practical challenges facing administrative bodies and their counsel, including reducing tribunal backlogs, supporting vulnerable and self-represented parties, navigating allegations of bias and responsibly incorporating artificial intelligence into advocacy and adjudication.
The conference also addresses practical challenges facing administrative bodies and their counsel, including reducing tribunal backlogs, supporting vulnerable and self-represented parties, navigating allegations of bias and responsibly incorporating artificial intelligence into advocacy and adjudication.
Where and when will the conference take place?
The 26th Annual Conference on Advanced Administrative Law & Practice will take place October 28-29, 2026, at the Hilton Garden Inn Ottawa Downtown, 361 Queen Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1R 0C7. A livestream option is also available for attendees who cannot participate in person.
Two optional pre-conference workshops will take place on October 27, 2026, covering artificial intelligence in administrative law and administrative decision writing.
Two optional pre-conference workshops will take place on October 27, 2026, covering artificial intelligence in administrative law and administrative decision writing.
Who should attend?
The conference is designed for professionals who make, advise on, review or challenge administrative decisions. This includes Chairs and Vice-Chairs of administrative tribunals; adjudicators; tribunal members, counsel and paralegals; government, agency and commission lawyers; ombudspeople; arbitrators and mediators; municipal and university decision-makers and their advisors; and private practitioners working in administrative law contexts.
It is also highly relevant to municipal, provincial and federal employees, academics and legal jurists, and practitioners working at the intersection of administrative, constitutional and public law.
It is also highly relevant to municipal, provincial and federal employees, academics and legal jurists, and practitioners working at the intersection of administrative, constitutional and public law.
Which industries are represented?
The conference represents the legal, government, regulatory, tribunal and broader public sectors, with participation from administrative tribunals, agencies, boards, commissions, government departments, courts, universities and private law firms.
The program spans areas including human rights, labour and employment, transportation, information and privacy, accessibility, immigration and refugee law, professional discipline, pensions and veterans’ affairs, constitutional law and government decision-making. Faculty perspectives also extend to artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, Indigenous rights and environmental and public-interest law.
The program spans areas including human rights, labour and employment, transportation, information and privacy, accessibility, immigration and refugee law, professional discipline, pensions and veterans’ affairs, constitutional law and government decision-making. Faculty perspectives also extend to artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, Indigenous rights and environmental and public-interest law.
What topics are typically covered?
The 2026 conference examines significant developments across Canadian administrative and public law. Key topics include:
- Standards of review after Vavilov, Mason and Pepa
- Statutory interpretation
- Judicial review and privative clauses
- Charter rights and Charter values
- Government immunity
- Cabinet decisions and Orders-in-Council
- Procedural fairness
- Bias and recusal
- Tribunal backlogs
- Access to justice
- Active adjudication
- Accessibility and mental health
- Immigration and refugee decision-making
- Artificial intelligence in advocacy and adjudication
What will attendees learn?
Attendees will gain practical strategies for responding to the latest developments in administrative and public law and strengthening the quality and defensibility of administrative decision-making. The program examines how to apply evolving standards of review and statutory interpretation, navigate Charter rights and values, address bias and procedural fairness, manage judicial review, reduce tribunal backlogs and improve access to justice for vulnerable and self-represented parties.
Attendees will also explore how artificial intelligence is changing advocacy, adjudication and tribunal operations, including the risks associated with unreliable AI outputs, deepfakes, privacy and confidentiality. Sessions translate recent Supreme Court of Canada, Federal Court and appellate decisions into practical guidance for administrative decision-makers and the counsel who defend or challenge their decisions.
Attendees will also explore how artificial intelligence is changing advocacy, adjudication and tribunal operations, including the risks associated with unreliable AI outputs, deepfakes, privacy and confidentiality. Sessions translate recent Supreme Court of Canada, Federal Court and appellate decisions into practical guidance for administrative decision-makers and the counsel who defend or challenge their decisions.
What types of experts typically speak at this conference?
The faculty brings together Supreme Court and administrative decision-makers, senior government counsel, tribunal members and counsel, adjudicators, commissioners, private practitioners, arbitrators, mediators and leading legal academics. This multidisciplinary faculty provides perspectives from those who make administrative decisions, those who advise and represent administrative bodies, and those who challenge or defend decisions before the courts.
The 2026 program includes a special fireside chat with the Honourable Michelle O’Bonsawin of the Supreme Court of Canada, alongside senior professionals from federal and provincial government, administrative tribunals, commissions, law firms and Canadian law faculties.
The 2026 program includes a special fireside chat with the Honourable Michelle O’Bonsawin of the Supreme Court of Canada, alongside senior professionals from federal and provincial government, administrative tribunals, commissions, law firms and Canadian law faculties.
Which organizations are represented on the faculty?
The 2026 faculty includes representatives from a wide range of courts, government departments, administrative tribunals, agencies, commissions, universities and law firms. Public-sector organizations represented include the Supreme Court of Canada, Department of Justice, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, Ministry of the Attorney General, Administrative Tribunals Support Service of Canada, Canada Industrial Relations Board, Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario, Veterans Affairs Canada, Health Professions Discipline Tribunals, Social Security Tribunal of Canada, Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board, Canadian Human Rights Commission and Canadian Transportation Agency.
Academic and private-sector organizations represented include the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, York University Osgoode Hall Law School, Thompson Rivers University Faculty of Law, Gowling WLG, Dentons, BLG, Torkin Manes LLP, Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP, Goldblatt Partners LLP, Norton Rose Fulbright LLP and McDougall Gauley LLP, among others.
Academic and private-sector organizations represented include the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, York University Osgoode Hall Law School, Thompson Rivers University Faculty of Law, Gowling WLG, Dentons, BLG, Torkin Manes LLP, Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP, Goldblatt Partners LLP, Norton Rose Fulbright LLP and McDougall Gauley LLP, among others.
What networking opportunities are typically available?
Attendees have access to more than six hours of dedicated networking with federal and provincial decision-makers, legal counsel, Justices, attorneys, civil servants, academics and other administrative law professionals. Opportunities include networking breaks, meals and informal discussions throughout the two-day program.
Day One concludes with a Networking Cocktail Reception, giving attendees an additional opportunity to connect with speakers, colleagues and peers from across Canada’s administrative and public law community.
Day One concludes with a Networking Cocktail Reception, giving attendees an additional opportunity to connect with speakers, colleagues and peers from across Canada’s administrative and public law community.
Are group discounts available?
Yes. Team discounts are available when colleagues from the same organization or firm register together in one transaction. Groups of 4-8 attendees receive a 10% conference discount, while groups of 9-12 receive a 15% conference discount.
Groups of more than 12 attendees can contact the Canadian Institute directly for additional group registration information.
Groups of more than 12 attendees can contact the Canadian Institute directly for additional group registration information.
What is the cancellation policy?
The conference is covered by the Canadian Institute’s Worry-Free Registration Guarantee. Registrants who register and pay can lock in their applicable rate and remain eligible for a full refund until October 16, 2026.
If a registrant is unable to attend, they may choose a full credit note for themselves or a colleague to attend another event, or a full refund. All cancellations and changes must be submitted to Canadian Institute Customer Service by October 16, 2026.
If a registrant is unable to attend, they may choose a full credit note for themselves or a colleague to attend another event, or a full refund. All cancellations and changes must be submitted to Canadian Institute Customer Service by October 16, 2026.
What hotel accommodations are available?
The conference will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn Ottawa Downtown, 361 Queen Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1R 0C7. A limited number of hotel rooms are available to conference delegates at a negotiated rate.
Delegates should contact the hotel directly and quote “CI / Advanced Administrative Law & Practice” to access the conference room block. The guest room block cut-off date is October 6, 2026; after that date, or once the room block fills, availability and the negotiated rate cannot be guaranteed.
Delegates should contact the hotel directly and quote “CI / Advanced Administrative Law & Practice” to access the conference room block. The guest room block cut-off date is October 6, 2026; after that date, or once the room block fills, availability and the negotiated rate cannot be guaranteed.
Are CLE, CPD, or CME credits available?
Yes. The main conference can be applied toward 9.0 Substantive Hours of annual Continuing Professional Development (CPD) required by the Law Society of Ontario, as well as 1 EDI Hour. Participants can also receive 3 Professionalism Hours for Workshop A and 3 Substantive Hours for Workshop B.
The same number of hours may be applied toward continuing legal education requirements in British Columbia, while the Barreau du Québec automatically recognizes the same number of hours for training accredited by another Law Society subject to MCLE. Members of the Law Society of Saskatchewan should submit the CPD Activity Application Form and agenda directly for approval, while members of the Law Society of Alberta may submit their attendance toward Continuing Professional Development requirements.
The same number of hours may be applied toward continuing legal education requirements in British Columbia, while the Barreau du Québec automatically recognizes the same number of hours for training accredited by another Law Society subject to MCLE. Members of the Law Society of Saskatchewan should submit the CPD Activity Application Form and agenda directly for approval, while members of the Law Society of Alberta may submit their attendance toward Continuing Professional Development requirements.