Landmark Arbitration Decision Upholds Indefinite Suspension of CFL Player for Sports Gambling

On August 27, 2024, Arbitrator Allen Ponak upheld an indefinite suspension imposed on Shawn Lemon, a veteran defensive end in the Canadian Football League (CFL), for wagering on CFL games in 2021, including a game in which he played. This decision highlights the complexities of player conduct in professional sports and raises important questions about…

Ryan Markesic

Ryan Markesic is a labour and employment lawyer practising out of Hicks Morley’s Toronto office in all areas of workplace law and in civil litigation. Ryan has assisted in arbitrations, tribunals and matters before all levels of courts including the Federal Court and Federal Court of Appeal. He has a particular interest and experience in advising and representing colleges and universities on a variety of issues.

Arbitrator Kaplan Clarifies Earlier Interest Arbitration Awards

On May 29, 2024, a board of arbitration (Board) chaired by Arbitrator William Kaplan issued its decisions on two interest arbitration cases in the school board sector which addressed outstanding compensation issues between the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF), the Crown, and the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) in respect of secondary school…

Successfully argued that, in meeting its obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and collective agreement provisions regarding health and safety, the employer (paramedic service) was correct in exercising its management rights to determine the appropriate safety equipment to be utilized.

Successfully argued that, in meeting its obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and collective agreement provisions regarding health and safety, the employer (paramedic service) was correct in exercising its management rights to determine the appropriate safety equipment to be utilized.

Successfully argued to uphold the termination of a firefighter for serious misconduct related to pornography in the workplace by establishing that, notwithstanding expert evidence to establish that the grievor suffered from a disability, there was no clear connection between the disability and the workplace misconduct sufficient to overturn the termination of employment.

Successfully argued to uphold the termination of a firefighter for serious misconduct related to pornography in the workplace by establishing that, notwithstanding expert evidence to establish that the grievor suffered from a disability, there was no clear connection between the disability and the workplace misconduct sufficient to overturn the termination of employment.