Successfully represented an employer before the Federal Court in a judicial review of a decision of the Canadian Human Rights Commission dismissing a complaint against the employer as vexatious.
Practice Area: Litigation - Judicial Review & Appeals
Nigel McKechnie
Nigel has a keen interest in trial advocacy. He has developed an expertise in the rules of evidence and litigation strategy, and in applying the Rules of Civil Procedure.
Successfully represented multiple clients in judicial review applications.
Successfully represented multiple clients in judicial review applications.
Diane Harbin
Diane provides strategic advice and representation to employers in both the private and public sectors on a wide-range of labour, employment and human rights issues. This includes wrongful dismissal actions, disability related litigation, labour disputes, grievance arbitrations, and human rights and accommodation.
Advantage CPD: University Faculty Bargaining – Hot Topics Webinar
2021 is a big year for faculty bargaining in the University sector. To ensure you are ready, we have put together a webinar that flags the hot topics in the sector as you prepare to head to the bargaining table.
Modernizing Federal Labour Standards, and More
In this Federal Post, we look at the recently released study on modernizing labour standards in the federally regulated private sector, the second such study in the last few years.
New Standard of Review for Treatment Capacity Appeals – The Vavilov Effect
In December 2019, the Supreme Court of Canada established a new framework that is designed to guide courts on applying the standard of review in judicial review applications. The Court’s long-awaited “trilogy” of cases in Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) v Vavilov and the two companion appeals heard together in Bell Canada v Canada (Attorney General) (collectively, Vavilov) represents an express departure and evolution from the framework that the Court set out in previous cases. Consequently, these decisions will affect the standard upon which Consent and Capacity Board (CCB) appeals will be heard by the courts.
New Year – New Standard of Review
Just prior to the end of 2019, the Supreme Court of Canada established a new framework that is designed to guide lower courts on applying the standard of review in judicial review applications. The Court’s long-awaited “trilogy” of cases in Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) v. Vavilov and the two companion appeals heard together in Bell Canada v. Canada (Attorney General) represents an express departure and evolution from the framework that the Court set out in the case of Dunsmuir decided over a decade ago.
Alberta Appellate Court Renders Significant Decision on University Autonomy and Expressive Rights
Universities value their autonomy, and though subject to court supervision, have long been accorded significant leeway in managing their academic and non-academic affairs. The Alberta Court of Appeal recently issued a decision that is controversial in its recognition that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms governs an Alberta university’s control over the use of its space. This decision conflicts with jurisprudence in other jurisdictions and may be challenged, but it does highlight the pressures on university autonomy today, particularly as they pertain to matters involving free expression.
School Board Management Conference 2019
Change is a constant in the human resources world, particularly for Ontario’s school boards. Ongoing developments in the law, whether through new legislation, arbitrations or the courts, and the rapid evolution of best practices create a fast-paced learning environment for human resources professionals, directors of education, supervisory officers and trustees.