On Tuesday, March 27, the Ontario Government introduced its 2012 Budget, which is entitled Strong Action for Ontario (the “Budget”). The Government also introduced Bill 55, the Strong Action for Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2012 (“Bill 55”), omnibus legislation designed to implement a number of the proposals contained in the Budget. The Budget sets out…
Practice Area: Labour Relations
Ontario to Table Budget Later Today
Finance Minister Dwight Duncan will be tabling the Government’s much-anticipated 2012 Budget at 4:00 p.m. this afternoon. The Budget comes on the heels of the Drummond Report, which was released in mid-February and which recommended sweeping reform measures aimed at increasing efficiencies within the broader public service and the delivery of a variety government programs….
Hicks Morley Recognized by Chambers Global 2012
Hicks Morley is pleased to announce it has been named in the Chambers Global 2012: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business as a leading specialist practice for Employment & Labour and Pensions & Benefits in Canada. Sources of this publication comment that Hicks Morley is “a very prominent labour boutique – they have a great…
Jurisdiction of an Arbitrator to Examine Procedures Issued by the Chief of Police
In two recent decisions involving the Toronto Police Services Board (“TPSB”) and the Toronto Police Association (“TPA”), Arbitrator Paula Knopf held that she lacked jurisdiction to hear grievances that challenged certain Procedures issued by the Chief of Police. In both cases, the TPSB raised successful preliminary objections and argued that the arbitrator lacked jurisdiction as…
The Drummond Report – Impact on the Broader Public Sector
On February 15, 2012, the Commission on the Reform of Ontario’s Public Services (the “Commission”) released its long-awaited, 543-page report (the “Report”, commonly referred to as the “Drummond Report”) which identifies sweeping reform measures aimed at increasing efficiencies within the broader public service (“BPS”). In our companion FTR Now, Drummond Commission Reports on Elementary and…
Hicks Morley makes Canadian Lawyer Magazine’s Top 10 List
Hicks Morley is pleased to announce it has been named one of Canadian Lawyer’s top 10 labour and employment boutique firms. An Ontario-based in-house counsel comments: “We deal with them a lot. Universally, the feeling is that Hicks is it. You don’t get anyone better on the management side.” View Article
Craig Rix Interviewed on Business News Network
Hicks Morley’s Craig Rix discusses whether 2012 will be a tough year for labour negotiations in a recent interview with Business News Network. Watch part one of the interview. Watch part two of the interview.
Hicks Morley Named in 2012 Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide
Hicks Morley is pleased to announce it has been ranked as the leading law firm in the Labor Relations and Pensions category according to the 2012 Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada. Practice groups included in this category are Employment Law, Labour Relations (Construction Sector), Occupational Health & Safety, Pensions &…
Craig Rix Quoted in The Globe and Mail
Hicks Morley’s Craig Rix was quoted in the January 7, 2012 edition of The Globe and Mail. In an article entitled “Bracing for trouble on the picket line“, Craig comments on this year’s picket-line battles suggesting that employers are going to be using hard bargaining, including potential lockouts, to make gains. View Article
Three Recent Decisions, Three Different Results – An Update on the 24 Hour Shift in the Fire Sector
INTRODUCTION In recent years, the issue of whether or not to adopt a 24 hour shift schedule has become one of the top demands that fire associations are seeking at the bargaining table and at interest arbitration. Fire associations have sought the 24 hour shift regardless of the size of the department, population served or…