Submitted by Section Co-Chair, Cristen Gleeson
Summary of Meetings
Number of Meetings Held: 4
October 7, 2013
Guest Speaker: Dr. Elterman
Meeting Title/Topic: Family Law Act, Section 211 Reports, and Prental Alienation
Synopsis: Dr. Elterman spoke about section 211 reports, the new Family Law Act and parental alienation. He spoke about the complexity of parental alienation cases and various studies which have been done regarding parental alienation.
February 13, 2014
Guest Speaker: The Honourable Justice Harvey of the Supreme Court and Master Caldwell of the Supreme Court
Meeting Title/Topic: Changes under the new Family Law Act
Synopsis: The speakers talked about litigation and practice under the new Family Law Act. Both indicated not a lot has changed. Mr. Justice Harvey emphasized that more definition is needed for the term "substantially unfair" under the Act. Both talked about chambers practice.
April 10, 2014
Guest Speakers: The Honourable Judge Robert Hamilton of the Provincial Court
Meeting Title/Topic: Provincial Court Family Law Practice and the FMEP
Synopsis: Judge Hamilton talked about Maintenance hearings and also about interviewing children under the Family Law Act.
June 26, 2014
Guest Speaker: The Honourable Justice N. Brown of the Supreme Court
Meeting Title/Topic: The New Family Law Act Chambers Practice
Synopsis: Mr. Justice Brown will talk about practice under the new Family Law Act and his decision under the family violence provisions.
Comments and Observations of the Chair
The Section provides an excellent opportunity to discuss and review new developments in family law and in particular the new Family Law Act which came into force in March 2013. It provides and excellent opportunity for counsel to liaise with the bench and to get the judges' perspectives in an intimate setting.