Program
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2025
Espace Innova, Learning Crossroads Pavilion, 100 Louis-Pasteur Private
Workshop
Academic Works-in-Progress Workshop
8:30am - 2:15pm
Closed workshop, by invitation only
Student Panel
Sponsored by Gowling WLG
Emerging Voices in Food Law and Policy
2:30pm - 3:45pm
Gowling WLG - Joel Taller Prize for Emerging Voices in Food Law
The Gowling WLG – Joel Taller Prize for Emerging Voices in Food Law will be awarded to the JD student or recent law school graduate with the best presentation in the area of food law and policy at the Canadian Food Law and Policy Conference.
The Gowling WLG – Joel Taller Prize for Emerging Voices in Food Law is in memory of Joel Taller, who passed away on May 13, 2017. Joel Taller was a pioneer and a well-known expert in the area food law in Canada. Joel practiced for 34 years in the Ottawa office of Gowling WLG, working with companies of all sizes. Joel was well respected by both industry and government for his legal expertise and sound judgment. He was instrumental in developing the Food & Beverage group at Gowling WLG, a significant team of lawyers and scientists who support companies doing business in Canada, Europe and other jurisdictions around the world.
Speakers
Ashoke Mohanraj - Schulich School of Law
Adam Wexler - McGill Faculty of Law
Wei Zhang - University of Ottawa Faculty of Law
Moderator
Nadia Lambek - Western Faculty of Law
Film Screening
Les Incendies Dans les Bâtiments Agricoles
4:00pm - 5:30pm
Espace Innova, Learning Crossroads Pavilion, 100 Louis-Pasteur Private
open to the public!
Opening Reception
5:30pm - 7:00pm
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2025
Room 4101 Desmarais Hall, 55 Laurier Avenue East
Welcome and Opening Remarks
8:30am – 9:00am
Plenary
Eating Local :
Regulating the Movement of Goods and Workers in Canada
9:00am - 10:30am
Speakers:
Katrina Coughin – Partner, Gowling WLG LLP
Jay Holmes – Senior Director, Food Risk Management Division, CFIA
Lauren Martin – Senior Director, Public Affairs & Corporate Counsel, Canadian Meat Council
Joseph Murdoch Flowers – Executive Director, Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre
Myriam Dumont Robillard – Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, Université de Montréal
Plenary
“Elbows Up” :
Trade, Tariffs and Cross-Border Food Fights
10:50am - 12:20pm
Speakers:
Elaine Feldman – Senior Fellow, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa (former senior Government of Canada official)
Marjolaine Mondon & Jocelyn Roy – Conseil des appellations réservées et des termes valorisants du Québec
Additional speakers to be announced shortly
Plenary
From Field to Cloud:
Navigating Data Governance in Canadian Agriculture
1:30pm - 2:45pm
Speakers:
Kelly Bronson – Canada Research Chair in Science and Society, University of Ottawa
Sarah Marquis – Outreach Strategist, National Farmers’ Union
Sarah-Louise Ruder – Postdoctoral Candidate, University of Ottawa
Additional speakers to be announced shortly
Plenary
Sponsored by McCarthy Tétrault
Updates in Canadian Food Law and Policy
2:45pm - 4:00pm
Speakers:
Laura Bowman – Staff lawyer, EcoJustice
Friends of the Earth Canada v. Canada (Attorney General), 2025 FC 300
Jenna Khoury Hanna – Associate, Kinch Eddie Litigation
Mariposa Woods Inc. et al v. Kawartha Lakes (City), OLT-24-000868
Amélie Gouin – Partner, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Overview of 2024–2025 class actions on food labeling
David McLauchlan - Associate, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Developments in the plant-based and cellular agriculture sectors
Jennifer Quaid, Full Professor, University of Ottawa
Greenwashing and the Competition Act: Understanding the 2024 Amendments and 2025 Enforcement Guidelines
We will update the list with additional speakers as they are confirmed to provide updates on the food industry impacts of Quebec’s Regulation respecting the language of commerce and business, the regulation of plastics and packaging, and trademark disputes.
Closing Reception
4:00pm - 5:30pm