WeirFoulds Partner Benjamin Bathgate will join The Honourable Michael H Tulloch, Chief Justice of Ontario, to deliver the opening remarks at the Combating Cybercrime and Crypto Fraud in Canada: What the Courts, Law Enforcement, Regulators and Industry Can Do to Turn the Tide hybrid seminar taking place online and in person on October 13, 2026. WeirFoulds Partner Maureen Ward will also join Benjamin in moderating panels.
Developed through a collaboration between WeirFoulds LLP and the Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice (CIAJ), this program brings together leading Canadian thought leaders for a timely discussion on the widespread impact that cybercrime and crypto fraud are having on everyday Canadians and the resulting pressures on our legal system.
Expert panels will explore how courts, lawyers, regulators, law enforcement, and industry leaders can work together to better understand the impact of these crimes, identify vulnerabilities in our infrastructure, and assess how cross-sector collaboration can help deliver practical solutions for the millions of Canadians affected. The program will also examine what success looks like in combating cybercrime and crypto fraud, and the role each stakeholder can play in helping achieve meaningful change.
Cybercrime and Crypto Fraud Panel Topics
Panel 1 - Fighting Cybercrime and Crypto Fraud: How Courts, Law Enforcement and Industry Can Work Together
Moderated by Benjamin Bathgate, Partner, WeirFoulds
Through a victim-focused discussion, panelists will explore barriers to investigation, asset recovery, and compensation, while identifying opportunities for greater coordination among courts, regulators, law enforcement, and private-sector stakeholders.
Panelists:
- The Honourable Justice Clayton Conlan, Ontario Superior Court of Justice
- Michael Fawcett, Team Lead, Cybercrime & Cryptocurrency Team, Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General
- John Armit, Acting Detective Sergeant, IFARI, OPP
Panel 2 - Stopping Crypto Fraud in Canada: What More Can Industry and Regulators Do?
Moderated by Maureen Ward, Partner, WeirFoulds
Industry leaders, market participants, and regulators will discuss how public and private stakeholders can work together to strengthen prevention, detection, reporting, and market integrity.
Panelists:
- Alexandra Posadzki, Globe and Mail Reporter and Author covering financial services, cybercrime, and fraud
- Jonathan Rizzo, Director & Team Lead, Digital Finance, ATB Financial
- Gavin Smyth, Head of Criminal Investigations & Prosecutions, Ontario Securities Commission
