Recent arbitration rulings and initiatives are reshaping how Ontario school boards interpret key employment and education provisions. In this School Board Update, Brittany Bates, Jordynne Hislop and Vincent Panetta will review the decisions and discuss how they provide guidance for school boards in refining policy frameworks.
Industry: Education
Hicks Morley Welcomes Back James Davis
Hicks Morley is pleased to announce the return of James Davis to our Toronto office as an Associate. James brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience in litigation, employment law and human rights, along with a demonstrated commitment to delivering insightful and practical solutions to our clients.
James E. Davis
James Davis is an employment lawyer in Hicks Morley’s Toronto office. His practice involves advising clients in both the private and public sectors on a variety of matters related to litigation, employment law and human rights.
Ontario Catholic School Business Officials Association (OCSBOA): Annual Conference 2025
As part of the program, Njeri Damali Sojourner-Campbell will be presenting on attendance management and a recent arbitration decision, providing practical insights for school broads and business officials.
School Boards Take Note: Arbitrator Finds Class Size Maxima Still Apply to Mainstream Classes with Special Needs Students Expecting to Receive Less than Full Credit
In this School Board Update, Hicks Morley’s Michael Hines and Brittany Bates review the recent decision in Avon Maitland District School Board v Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, where Arbitrator Robert Herman concluded that standard class size maxima pursuant to the collective agreement still apply even when mainstream classes include special needs students expecting to receive less than full credit.
Federal Government Extends Temporary Employment Insurance Relief Measures in Response to Tariffs
Temporary employment insurance relief measures extended – in this FTR Now, Natasha Monkman and Andrew Easto provide an update on the recent announcement by the Federal Government designed to support employers in continued response to US Tariffs.
Ontario Government Taking Significant Steps to Break Down Interprovincial Barriers for Certified Professionals
On September 1, 2025, the Ontario government announced significant steps to break down interprovincial barriers for certified professionals, effective January 1, 2026. The new “As of Right” framework, a key part of the Protect Ontario through Free Trade within Canada Act, 2025, is designed to streamline the certification process for qualified workers from other provinces…
48 Hicks Morley Lawyers Recognized in The Best Lawyers in Canada™ 2026
Hicks Morley is proud to share that 48 of our lawyers have been included in the 20th edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada across 5 practice areas – Labour and Employment Law, Employee Benefits Law, Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Workers’ Compensation Law, and Education Law.
No Takebacks: Ontario Court Rejects Employee’s Attempt to Rewrite Settlement Terms in Johnstone v. Loblaw
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has delivered a clear message about the binding nature of settlement agreements in employment disputes, emphasizing that acceptance of settlement terms creates legally binding obligations that cannot be unilaterally modified after the fact.
In Johnstone v. Loblaw, Justice Brownstone enforced a settlement despite the employee’s subsequent attempts to introduce new conditions, stating emphatically that “Buyer’s remorse, a change of heart, or even growing concern about his ability to close his house purchase do not entitle him to renege on a settlement.”
School Board Management Conference: The New Rules of School Board HR
From new leave entitlements and Human Rights Tribunal changes to Charter rights and precedent-setting arbitration awards, the Human Resources landscape for Ontario school boards is shifting fast. Our School Board Management conference will equip you with the must-know updates and strategies you need to stay compliant and prepared.