Conference Program

Sunday, September 22

Welcome Reception

Help us kick off the conference in style! Connect with old and new friends as we officially launch this year’s conference with a special Calgary welcome tradition!

Monday, September 23

The View from Here: Perspectives on International Trade & Canadian Supply Chains

Speaker: Maninder Sidhu, Member of Parliament for Brampton East, and member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on International Trade (CIIT)

The Ever-expanding World of Sanctions: What do Brokers Need to Know?

The Government of Canada is in the midst of implementing new amendments targeting sanctions evasion under the Proceeds of Crime, Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act, some of which directly target importers and exporters. This presentation will provide a high-level overview of Canada's sanctions regime, discuss the recent amendments to the PCMLTFA, and detail what customs brokers need to know about Canada's new mandatory sanctions evasion declaration process for importers, exporters and persons financing import/export transactions.

Speaker: Julia Webster, Partner, Baker McKenzie

Moderator: Candace Sider, CSCB Board Member

CSCB Special Announcement

Speakers: Janine Harker, CSCB and Deborah Osborne, CSCB Chair

Break-out Sessions

Select two of the three concurrent sessions

13 :30 – 14 :15

Global Affairs Canada (GAC) is responsible for fostering the development of international law, international trade and commerce. Our division offers support and services on trade controls to various stakeholders, from custom brokers and Canadian businesses to GAC quota managers and decision makers. In this presentation, participants will gain a sense of:

• Existing GAC services, initiatives and programs that can be leveraged by Canadians and Canadian businesses to foster Canadian trade;    
• Information on the New Export Import Control System (NEICS); to support trade activities and
• Information on the New Export Controls Online (NEXCOL) to support the exportation of strategic goods. 

Speakers: Gilles Russell and Kiani Duquette, Trade Controls Division, Global Affairs Canada

Moderator: Lucas Bauer, CSCB Board Member

CARM: Sharing What We Know

Join CSCB Board Chair Deborah Osborne and Melanie Bedard, CSCB’s lead representative on CARM, for an update on CARM implementation. As we head closer to the planned October 21, 2024, implementation date, we hope to be able to provide concrete details about what the cutover and transition period will look like, as well as updates on other CARM issues of concern for brokers.

Speakers: Deborah Osborne, CSCB Chair and Melanie Bedard, CSCB

Ask a Surety

Join us for an informative session with a panel of financial security specialists who will provide their perspectives on recent changes in the surety industry that could impact customs brokers. This session offers a moderated opening discussion followed by an open Q&A for customs brokers to ask the panel questions about the impact of CARM, coverage requirements, or related issues. 

Speakers: Keith Sherwood, NFP; Jim Zuhlke, Avalon; Pina Mazzoli, RAISE; Olga Iankine, Intact; Colleen Clarke, Roanoke

Moderator: Jason Delisle, CSCB Board Member

14 :15 – 15:00

Global Affairs Canada (GAC) is responsible for fostering the development of international law, international trade and commerce. Our division offers support and services on trade controls to various stakeholders, from custom brokers and Canadian businesses to GAC quota managers and decision makers. In this presentation, participants will gain a sense of:

• Existing GAC services, initiatives and programs that can be leveraged by Canadians and Canadian businesses to foster Canadian trade;    
• Information on the New Export Import Control System (NEICS); to support trade activities and
• Information on the New Export Controls Online (NEXCOL) to support the exportation of strategic goods. 

Speakers: Gilles Russell and Kiani Duquette, Trade Controls Division, Global Affairs Canada

Moderator: Lucas Bauer, CSCB Board Member

CARM: Sharing What We Know

Join CSCB Board Chair Deborah Osborne and Melanie Bedard, CSCB’s lead representative on CARM, for an update on CARM implementation. As we head closer to the planned October 21, 2024, implementation date, we hope to be able to provide concrete details about what the cutover and transition period will look like, as well as updates on other CARM issues of concern for brokers.

Speakers: Deborah Osborne, CSCB Chair and Melanie Bedard, CSCB

Ask a Surety

Join us for an informative session with a panel of financial security specialists who will provide their perspectives on recent changes in the surety industry that could impact customs brokers. This session offers a moderated opening discussion followed by an open Q&A for customs brokers to ask the panel questions about the impact of CARM, coverage requirements, or related issues. 

Speakers: Keith Sherwood, NFP; Jim Zuhlke, Avalon; Pina Mazzoli, RAISE; Olga Iankine, Intact; Colleen Clarke, Roanoke

Moderator: Jason Delisle, CSCB Board Member

The Supply Chains Act – Lessons Learned and What Lies Ahead

Canadian entities have completed their first round of reporting under the Supply Chains Act, also known as S-211. Learn how the process unfolded and hear from experts on key takeaways from this initial experience, while looking forward to what could change as we head into Year 2.  

Speakers: Chad Westmacott, Public Safety Canada; Jacob Mantle, Osler; Michael Zobin, Livingston International

Moderator: Shelley Gares, CSCB

Dinner and Social @ Ranchmans!

Join us for Western food and fun at Calgary’s iconic country nightclub and Stampede hot spot for more than 50 years. Get ready for a night of great food, live music, dancing and—if you dare—a turn on the mechanical bull!

Buses leave the hotel at 17:15. Buses leave Ranchmans in 20-minute intervals starting at 20:00.

Tuesday, September 24

Best Practices in Moving Perishables in the Supply Chain 

Our esteemed panel of industry and government representatives will review the supply chain through the lens of importing perishables.

Speakers: Gloria Terhaar, Pacific Customs Brokers; Angela Collins, CSCB Board Member

Moderator: Gillian Lochhead, CSCB Board Member

Global Markets Are What We Do – What’s New in E-commerce? 

Join us for an invigorating discussion on the state of importer of record (IOR) liability in the casual stream, the CLVS moratorium, the proposed changes and what this means to the customs broker. Robert Stein, VP of Braumiller Consulting Group, will also provide an overview of the US experience with e-commerce and Type 86 entries.

Speakers: Robert Stein, Braumiller Consulting Group; Shelley Gares, CSCB; Penny Moulton, CSCB Board Member

Moderator: Jey Sanmuganathan, CSCB Board Member

Selected Sales Tax Issues: A Primer On E-commerce Platforms, Non-Residents, and Customs Brokers  

We demystify selected import sales tax issues in this session. Topics include: sales tax collection and remittance rules for e-commerce firms who are “marketplace facilitators”; import sales tax rules for remote sellers (i.e. “non-resident importers”); and provincial sales tax rules applicable to customs brokerage fees. Join us to learn more.

Speakers: Colleen Ma, Partner, Miller Thomson LLP, Calgary; Satinder Bains, Customs Expert, Miller Thomson, LLP, Vancouver

Moderator: Alan Dewar, CSCB Board Member

The Role of AI in Customs Brokerage

There has been an explosion in the nature and availability of AI technologies. Hear from our panel of industry specialists about what AI can and cannot do, and how it can affect both the role and the responsibilities of brokers. 

Speakers: Joseph Haroun, VP Professional Services, Windmill; Matt Earish, Portway; Anupa Rongala, Invensis; Glenn Palanacki, Descartes

Moderator: Janine Harker, CSCB

SIMA Enforcement and the Broker’s Role 

The mysterious world of the SIMA enforcement regime is a source of confusion for importers, brokers, and foreign producers. This panel discussion will provide brokers with key perspectives on SIMA enforcement from legal professionals who deal with these complex files.  

Speakers: Jacob Mantle, Osler; George Reid, Bennett Jones

Moderator: Amber Park, CSCB Board Member