NOTE: Registration closes on Wednesday, April 22!
This event is open to CCS and CTCS designates only.
Enhance your understanding of SIMA reporting and compliance!
Nervous about normal values? Suspicious of subsidy amounts? The determination and reporting of anti-dumping and countervailing duties can be daunting. The CSCB’s April 2026 Designate Day is designed for those seeking a practical, hands-on understanding of the Special Import Measures Act (SIMA), its day-to-day operation and risks to clients and client relationships. This dynamic in-person workshop will be hosted on April 25, 2026, at the Burlington Convention Centre, and features subject matter expert George Reid of Bennett Jones LLP.
Through an engaging blend of expert-led discussion and interactive case study analysis with your peers, you will review key SIMA concepts, including subjectivity, export prices, normal values calculation, subsidy amounts, CARM reporting, re-determinations, and the SIMA ACE Portal. Participants will gain insights into the legal rules governing anti-dumping and countervailing duty assessments and how the CBSA administers these rules in practice.
By the end of this session, you will have deepened your understanding of SIMA and be better prepared to navigate its requirements with confidence and accuracy. Please note that reference materials (presentation slides and learning tools) will be made available to all designates after the session.
Date and time:
April 25, 2026 | 8:30 am to 3:00 pm
Format:
In-person*
Location:
Burlington Convention Centre
1120 Burloak Drive
Burlington, ON L7L 6P8
Price:
$100.00 plus applicable taxes.
CCS Points/CTCS Credits:
10 CCS Points, 10 CTCS Credits
Speaker/facilitator:
| George Reid is a partner in the International Trade and Investment Group at Bennett Jones LLP specializing in customs, trade remedies, export controls, economic sanctions, government procurement, contract security, controlled goods and anti-corruption. George's cross-disciplinary practice spans trade litigation, audits, verifications, voluntary disclosures, internal investigations and compliance. George advises and represents clients in a range of highly regulated industries, including apparel, nuclear, steel, oil & gas, natural health products and medical cannabis, on issues arising from the cross-border movement of goods, government procurement and foreign investment. | 
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Agenda:
| Time | Session | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM | Registration & Breakfast | Welcome, networking, and breakfast. Participants gather in main room. |
| 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM | Introduction & Ice Breakers | Participant introductions, ice-breaker activities, and an overview of the day’s agenda. |
| 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM | Presentation: SIMA for Customs Brokers | A comprehensive overview of key SIMA topics, including subjectivity, export price, normal value, subsidy amounts, CARM reporting, re-determinations, and the ACE Portal. |
| 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Lunch | Lunch break with networking opportunities. |
| 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | Case Study 1 | Group-based scenario and problem-solving session focused on real-world SIMA issues. Teams work through practical import cases and report back to the group. |
| 1:30 PM – 1:45 PM | Break | Refreshment break. |
| 1:45 PM – 2:45 PM | Case Study 2 | A second scenario session where participants tackle additional cases to deepen their understanding of SIMA complexities. |
| 2:45 PM – 3:00 PM | Closing Remarks | Summary of key learnings, final reflections, and wrap-up. |
Register Today! NOTE: Registration closes on Wednesday, April 22!
*About CSCB Designate Days
The CSCB offers professional development opportunities for CCS and CTCS designates in a range of formats, both in-person and virtual. The Society has received numerous requests for in-person professional development opportunities over the past several years, however it has not offered an in-person Designate Day session since prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are adopting a cautious, phased approach to learn what our designate community is seeking through in-person and virtual engagement, and what works for them in terms of format, content, duration, and timing.
Our first in-person session will be in Burlington, ON, in April 2026, followed by a virtual session in Fall 2026. We will take the lessons learned from these sessions to plan future designate learning opportunities in both in-person and virtual formats. Given that six years have passed since our last in-person designate day, the CSCB feels that it is a prudent use of members’ funds to proceed pragmatically via a phased approach rather than to invest heavily in multiple in-person sessions that may not best represent designate needs or expectations for an in-person experience.
Designates have a range of opportunities for professional development (and earning designate points) beyond Designate Days. The CSCB continues to offer designate quizzes, webinars, and recognition of participation in other associations’ webinars and events as a means of accumulating designate points. Designate Days—whether virtual or in-person—are not a mandatory event for CCS or CTCS designates. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected].