PRIVACY POLICY
Bird Richard recognizes the importance of privacy and the sensitivity of personal information it collects about its employees and clients. READ MORE >>>
BIRD RICHARD
508-130 Albert St,
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 5G4
T: 613-238-3772
F: 613-238-5955
DISCLAIMER
Before you send an e-mail to Bird Richard, please be aware that your communications with us through this message will not create a lawyer-client relationship with us. Do not send us any information that you or anyone else considers to be confidential or secret unless we have first agreed to be your lawyers in that matter. Any information you send us before we agree to be your lawyers cannot be protected from disclosure.
Supreme Court of Canada will not hear the Appeal of the ‘Curative’ Clause
/in Spring 2017 /by BirdRichardIn our summer 2016 edition of EMPLAWYERS’ Update, we reported on Oudin v Centre Francophone de Toronto, in which the Ontario Court of Appeal upheld a termination clause, despite finding that some of its provisions violated the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (“ESA”). On February 2, 2017, the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed the employee’s Application […]
Divisional Court sets aside an Award of Aggravated Damages
/in Spring 2017 /by BirdRichardIn Walker v Hulse, Playfair and McGarry, 2017 ONSC 358, the Ontario Divisional Court set aside an award of aggravated damages stemming from a wrongful dismissal lawsuit brought in the Small Claims Court. In December 23, 2013, the Plaintiff was suspended with pay while the employer, a local funeral home, conducted an investigation into inappropriate […]
Supreme Court to revisit the Meaning of “Employment” in Human Rights Code
/in Spring 2017 /by BirdRichardIn 2014, the Supreme Court of Canada considered whether a partnership agreement constituted protected “employment” pursuant to the British Columbia Human Rights Code in McCormick v Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP. The Supreme Court ruled that a partnership was not “employment” and dismissed the case. On March 28, 2017, the Supreme Court will once again have […]
Conduct Aimed at Forcing a Resignation – Court Awards Damages against the Employer
/in Spring 2017 /by BirdRichardIn Bovin et al v Over the Rainbow Packaging Services Inc., 2017 ONSC 1143, the Superior Court of Justice sent a clear warning to employers who employ bad faith tactics aimed at forcing employees to quit. Ms. Bovin and Ms. Sidhu began their employment with the Defendant, a packaging company, in 1997. Ms. Bovin was […]
Termination was Discriminatory as “Ultimate Reason” of Employee’s Dismissal
/in Spring 2017 /by BirdRichardIn Ben Saad v 1544982 Ontario Inc., the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario determined the termination of Ben Saad, the employee, was discriminatory on the basis of his disability. Mr. Saad and three Tunisian friends came to Canada in June of 2014 on a work permit to work as welders for Windsor Management, the […]
Employers to Pay the Price: Extended Parental Leave Policies
/in Spring 2017 /by BirdRichardThe Federal Budget, released on March 22, 2017, proposes to change the current Employment Insurance (EI) parental benefits regime to allow parents to choose between: an extended period of EI parental benefits of up to 18 months at a lower benefit rate of 33 per cent of average weekly earnings; or to remain at the […]
Duty to Accommodate does not include a “duty to allow an employee not to work”, Court holds
/in Winter 2017 /by BirdRichardIn Ontario Public Service Employees Union v. Ontario (Children and Youth Services), the Divisional Court upheld the decision of the Ontario Grievance Board. The Board held that the employer had not breached its duty to accommodate the employee’s disability when it terminated his employment on the ground of innocent absenteeism. Mr. Bartolotta, who worked as […]
$50,000.00 in Punitive Damages Awarded to Dismissed Employee for Breach of the Duty of Good Faith
/in Winter 2017 /by BirdRichardIn Morison v. Ergo-Industrial Seating Systems Inc., the Ontario Superior Court found not only that the Plaintiff was wrongfully dismissed, but that the employer had made allegations of just cause with no reasonable support in order to improve its negotiation position. The Plaintiff was a 58-year old regional manager of who had been in the […]
Legislative Update – Amendments to the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code will create protections based on gender identity or expression
/in Winter 2017 /by BirdRichardOn May 17, 2016, Bill C 16 – An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code passed first reading in the Senate. The federal Bill proposes amendments to the Canadian Human Rights Act, which seeks to extend equal opportunities in employment and provision of services, without hindrance from discriminatory practices […]
Decision to Dismiss Discrimination Complaint of Employee was Unreasonable
/in Winter 2017 /by BirdRichardIn Dupuis v. Canada (Attorney General), the Federal Court granted the Application for Judicial Review of a Canadian Human Right’s decision to dismiss the employee’s complaint alleging discrimination on the basis of disability. Mr. Dupuis was employed in the Public Service of Canada since 1988. For the first few years of his employment with Statistics […]