Speakers:
Gadhi Cruz, Senior Legal Counsel & Canada Location Head, Senior Vice President, Group Operations, Legal & Compliance, Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd, Canadian Branch;
2025-2026 Chair Legal Annual Meeting Advisory Council
Kate Walker, Senior Legal Counsel, Lead: Market Conduct & Anti-Fraud, CLHIA

This session will explore CLHIA’s current advocacy focus, how in-house counsel works with the CLHIA, and how they contribute to addressing the challenges and opportunities facing insurers in a rapidly evolving environment.

The conversation will include a special video message from Stephen Frank, President and CEO of CLHIA.
 

As fraud schemes become more sophisticated, organizations face increasing pressure to respond quickly while managing legal, regulatory, operational and reputational risks. Join Frédéric Plamondon (Norton Rose Fulbright) and Casey McInally (EY), moderated by Gabriel Querry (Langlois), for a practical discussion on emerging fraud risks impacting the insurance industry and how organizations can effectively investigate, contain and respond to significant incidents.

Topics will include:
•    Emerging fraud trends targeting insurers, including organized fraud rings, large-scale claims fraud and increasingly sophisticated bad actors;
•    The rise of generative AI as a potential source of fraudulent conduct, including situations where autonomous systems facilitate or generate deceptive schemes at scale;
•    Corporate exposure and accountability: when inadequate governance, oversight or controls may create legal, regulatory or even criminal risks for organizations whose systems enable fraudulent conduct;
•    Preserving solicitor-client privilege and conducting effective internal investigations following significant fraud events;
•    Building coordinated responses among legal, compliance, fraud, forensic and business teams to detect, investigate and mitigate losses.

Drawing on real-world investigations and crisis response experience, the panel will explore how organizations can prepare for a rapidly evolving fraud landscape in which artificial intelligence increasingly challenges traditional concepts of intent, responsibility and corporate accountability. Particular attention will be given to the practical investigative challenges created by AI-driven conduct and to the continued relevance of existing criminal law tools when confronting novel forms of fraud.
 

Bill C-36, the federal government's latest effort to modernize Canada's private-sector privacy framework, could significantly reshape the privacy landscape for insurers across Canada. Using Quebec's experience under Law 25 as a practical point of reference, this session will explore key features of the proposed legislation, consider whether challenges encountered under existing privacy regimes may be addressed by the new framework, and discuss what insurers should be watching as privacy regulation continues to evolve across Canada.
 

In the right circumstances in civil litigation, the CLHIA has proven to be a strong, influential voice to the court as an intervenor. But what’s involved in making that happen and, most importantly, when is the right time to ask?  Our speakers will provide valuable insights into the CLHIA’s intervention request process and the lessons learned from recent requests to the courts. This will be presented through a light-hearted frame of an appeal of a mock not-so-great trial decision. 
 

Who regulates the Canadian life and health industry, and what does each of them expect of you? In this interactive, law-school-style workshop, we take a realistic scenario and follow it through the regulatory system together, from OSFI and the federal framework to the provincial regulators, the industry bodies and the forums that connect them. Along the way, we build a practical map of who does what, how the pieces fit, where the rules overlap and where they diverge, and how to work with regulators effectively. Designed for those newer to the industry, and a useful refresher for everyone else. No prior knowledge required. Questions strongly encouraged.
 

This off-site session combines professional development with cultural learning and reflection. Attendees will hear from Marilyn Poitras, lawyer, negotiator, professor, film producer, and most importantly a community builder. During this talk, Marilyn will explore themes of connection, leadership, and the evolving relationship between law, community, and reconciliation.

The program continues with guided tours of Wanuskewin Heritage Park, where participants will learn about the history, cultures, and perspectives of Indigenous Peoples of the Northern Plains. Together, these experiences provide valuable context for understanding the broader social and cultural environment in which legal and policy decisions are made today.

3pm-4pm Connecting with Indigenous Peoples with Professionalism Speaker:
Marilyn Poitras, Ethical Space Designer, Public Speaker, Positive Deviant

Please make your own reservation.

Sponsor Prize draws

The role of the General Counsel is evolving quickly. New technologies, broader mandates, heightened regulatory expectations and increasing business demands require legal leaders to protect the organization while helping it move forward. In this two-part session, General Counsel from across the life and health insurance industry will share practical perspectives on responsible risk-taking, legal’s role as a strategic partner, the impact of AI and the future of the legal function. The discussion will then turn to action, with a live panel focused on what legal leaders and their teams should do differently in response.
 

As Canada's regulatory landscape continues to evolve, this session will highlight the federal regulatory developments that matter most for life and health insurers. Join Melissa and Eli as they discuss key changes, emerging supervisory priorities, and the practical implications for governance, compliance, and business operations. Attendees will leave with insights into the issues regulators are focused on today, areas of ongoing uncertainty, and actions life and health insurers should be considering as they prepare for 2027.
 

How do business leaders define a great legal partner? In this frank and practical discussion, senior business leaders will share what they expect from Legal, discuss examples of both effective and ineffective business-legal partnerships, and reflect on how their relationships with in-house counsel have evolved. Through real-world experiences and candid observations, panelists will explore the behaviours that build trust, strengthen collaboration, and create business value, while offering practical advice on how lawyers can move beyond being viewed as "speed bumps" to becoming trusted strategic advisors.
 

Delisting decisions carry significant legal, operational, and reputational risk. As scrutiny around these decisions continues to increase, insurers must ensure their processes and documentation can withstand challenge.

This session will equip attendees with a clear understanding of why insurers delist providers, how to conduct defensible investigations, and how to manage legal and reputational risks. Participants will gain practical insights on decision-making, communication, and best practices to ensure delisting actions are evidence-based, fair, and robust in the face of legal challenges. Attendees will gain practical insights into how to reduce legal exposure and approach delisting decisions with greater confidence and preparedness.
 

As usual in Canada, there have been some changes in pension and retirement savings law this year — new legislation, regulatory updates, and a few interesting cases.  This interactive session will bring you up to speed on key developments and what to watch for next, with a focus on retirement plan beneficiary designations and benefit unlocking.
 

Join two AML compliance and legal leaders to discuss the rapidly developing anti-money laundering regulatory landscape in the insurance sector. This session will examine the current realities of compliance for insurance companies, with a focus on the latest regulatory trends, the rising costs and risks of non-compliance, and the implications of the national risk assessment for insurance companies. Featuring Shawna Sykes, Chief Compliance Officer at Co-operators Insurance and Cindy Zhang, Partner at McCarthy Tétrault’s financial services group, the workshop will offer candid perspectives from the front and side lines, practical insurance-specific insights, and meaningful opportunities for discussion with peers and experts across the sector.

Much of today's litigation is shaped not in courtrooms, but through day-to-day written exchanges between counsel. The way lawyers communicate can influence the pace of a file, the effectiveness of negotiations, and the resolution of disputes. In this session, experienced litigators will discuss practical strategies for communicating with purpose, maintaining credibility, and using written advocacy to advance client interests while avoiding unnecessary escalation and inefficiency.
 

How do we transition seg funds from a principles-based approach to a rules-based framework? What do recent reforms mean for the insurance sector on the whole? This session will explore emerging market conduct reforms in the insured wealth sector, with a focus on oversight and implementation challenges, and the broader regulatory direction across Canadian jurisdictions. Speakers will delve into the grey areas in the requirements of the new seg fund regime. Designed to be practical and engaging, the session will highlight real-world challenges and encourage dialogue and audience interaction.
 

What happens before a treaty is signed?  More importantly, what happens after?  Reinsurance is far more than a risk transfer mechanism.  It influences product design, underwriting, claims decisions, governance, regulatory compliance and long-term commercial relationships.  Through a candid discussion featuring both cedent and reinsurer perspectives, this session explores the reinsurance lifecycle from placement and treaty negotiation through implementation, claims management, regulatory oversight and the occasional dispute.  Drawing on practical examples and real-world experiences, attendees will examine how reinsurance shapes business, legal and risk decisions, including product changes requiring reinsurer approval, complex claims scenarios, evolving regulatory expectations and the challenges of administering relationships that may last decades.  Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of where reinsurance intersects with everyday legal practice and why it matters across the insurance enterprise.
 

The proposed reforms to the Ontario Rules of Civil Procedure have been one of the most widely discussed topics over the past year and a half. While the momentum behind these changes has slowed in recent months, they continue to raise important questions about their potential impact on insurers and litigators. This session will provide a forum to exchange perspectives, explore possible outcomes, and discuss practical approaches to navigating a changing litigation landscape.
 

Insurance Regulators 101: A Practical Workshop on Who They Are, What Do They Expect and How to Work With Them by Tim Pavlov is rescheduled to Wednesday, 7 October 2026, 1 pm-2 pm due to a schedule change. 

Agent fraud can harm consumers and create significant legal, regulatory and reputational risks for insurers. Using a case study, we will walk through an investigation from FSRA’s point of view—from the initial red flags and submission of a Life Agent Misconduct Report through to examination and potential enforcement. We will discuss why these schemes continue to thrive, best practices for insurers and how to support a productive regulatory investigation.
 

Connect with colleagues from across the industry during an evening of networking, great food and fun at the Marquis Hall Events Centre on the University of Saskatchewan campus.

The Life & Health Insurance landscape continues to be shaped by significant judicial developments across Canada. In this session, experienced litigators from different regions will highlight some of the most noteworthy and anticipated decisions released over the past year, exploring their impact on insurers and litigation strategy. The discussion will also provide attendees with an opportunity to compare emerging trends across jurisdictions, exchange perspectives on key developments, and identify practical considerations for navigating an evolving legal landscape from coast to coast.
 

There have been several notable developments in provincial insurance regulation, including MGA licensing, incidental sale of insurance, and licenced agencies compliance requirements. This session will explore key developments across the country, with a focus on how organizations can stay on top of new and emerging requirements.
 

This presentation explores practical considerations for identifying, supporting, and protecting vulnerable clients. The session will examine emerging expectations, common risk factors, and organizational approaches to addressing vulnerability. The presentation emphasizes that protecting vulnerable clients is not solely a legal or compliance responsibility, but rather a shared obligation across the organization. We will discuss how legal teams can explore and foster collaboration among business, operations, customer service, risk, and other teams to help ensure client-centered and ethically sound outcomes.
 

Speaker:
Jacques Waite, Corporate Director, Litigation, Industrial Alliance, 2026-2027 Chair Legal Annual Meeting Advisory Council