Ontario Government Introduces Municipal Accountability Act, 2025

On May 01, 2025, the Ontario government announced Bill 9, the Municipal Accountability Act, 2025 (Bill 9). Bill 9 re-introduces legislation originally proposed under Bill 241, the Municipal Accountability Act, 2024, that was not enacted prior to the provincial election. If passed, Bill 9 would enable the creation of a new, standardized municipal code of…

Zohra Bhimani

Zohra is a labour and employment lawyer in Hicks Morley’s Waterloo office. She offers advice and representation to employers and management in both the private and public sectors on a wide range of labour, employment, and human rights issues. Zohra received her Bachelor of Laws from Queen Mary University of London, where she received the…

Drew McArthur

Drew McArthur is an employment lawyer practising out of Hicks Morley’s Ottawa office. Drew enjoys advising employers on a variety of matters related to litigation, employment law, and human rights.

Justin Jalea

Justin Jalea is an employment, labour and human rights lawyer in Hicks Morley’s Ottawa office. His practice includes providing advice and representation to employers in the public and private sectors on a wide range of human rights and employment matters. Justin brings a unique lens to legal practice with a multidisciplinary background in DEI strategy, higher education, and the arts.

Arbitrator Dismisses Faculty Grievance over Bill 124 Wage Dispute: No Arbitral Jurisdiction Without Reopener Provision in Collective Agreement

In a recent labour arbitration decision, Arbitrator William Kaplan dismissed a grievance filed against Wilfrid Laurier University (University) by the Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty Association (the Association) on behalf of its Contract Teaching Faculty (CTF) bargaining unit. This decision provides important guidance on the limits of an arbitrator’s jurisdiction in addressing legislative constraints on collective…

Madeline Lusk

Madeline has a unique background in social work, which enhances her ability to deliver client-centered, results-driven solutions for her clients. She specializes in advocating for employers in complex workplace issues across Ontario and Western Canada, with a particular focus on human rights and employment litigation.