In Canada (Attorney General) v. Hicks, the Federal Court recently confirmed that the ground of family status in the Canadian Human Rights Act can protect eldercare responsibilities. Mr. Hicks worked for the federal government in Nova Scotia. He was relocated to a new position in Ottawa when his previous position became redundant. Mr. Hicks’ wife […]
In Bellehumeur v. Windsor Factory Supply Ltd., the Court of Appeal of Ontario confirmed an employer’s decision to terminate an employee with a mental disability following an instance of workplace violence. The employer, Windsor Factory Supply, had been accommodating Mr. Bellehumeur for various disabilities he had reported over time, including alcoholism, thyroid and cardiac issues. […]
EMPLawyers’ Update has kept its readers informed about the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulations under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA), which creates obligations for employers in the areas of customer service, employment, information and communications, transportation and the built environment on an ongoing basis. January 1st, 2016 will mark the deadline for […]
The Changing Workplaces Review The MOL has launched public consultations on the changing nature of the modern workplace. The Changing Workplaces Review will consider the broader issues affecting the workplace and assess how the current labour and employment law framework addresses these trends and issues with a focus on the Labour Relations Act (LRA) and […]
Recently, in Howard v. Benson Group, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice determined that a termination clause was ambiguous and therefore unenforceable. Consequently the Employer had an obligation to provide reasonable notice at common law as opposed to the minimum statutory requirements under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 as amended (“ESA”). The Employee was a […]
In Western Grain By-Products Storage Ltd. v. Donaldson, the Federal Court of Appeal decided that employers are entitled to more detailed medical information to establish an employee’s fitness to work after an absence of six months or longer. Peter J. Donaldson had been employed by Western Grain By-Products Storage Ltd. (“Western Grain”) for about 20 […]
In Drummond v. Community Living Ajax Pickering Whitby, (“Drummond”), the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (the “Tribunal”) barred the Employee from filing any future applications against the Employer and declared the Application unsubstantiated. In Drummond, an Employee filed an Application alleging discrimination with respect to employment because of disability and reprisal contrary to the Human […]
In the case of Keenan v. Canac Kitchens, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice reminds employers of the factors to be considered in discerning whether an independent contractor agreement or relationship is actually not an employee relationship… or something else. Lawrence Keenan worked for Canac from 1976 to 2009. Mr. Keenan’s wife worked for Canac […]
The Federal Court has recently ruled that the Canadian Human Rights Act (the Act) does not include a stand-alone right to procedural accommodation. In a recent application to the Federal Court, the Canadian International Development Agency requested that the Court overturn a decision of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. The Tribunal had allowed a complaint […]
In Potter v. New Brunswick Legal Aid Services Commission, the Supreme Court of Canada concluded that a non-unionized employee who is suspended with pay is constructively dismissed when there is no express or implied authority for the suspension of the employee and the suspension is both unjust and unreasonable. Mr. Potter, the employee, was a […]