On December 10, 2015, the Ontario government passed Bill 109, the Employment and Labour Statute Law Amendment Act, 2015 and Bill 144, the Budget Measures Act, 2015, two pieces of legislation that implement a number of reforms to various workplace laws. Among other things, Bill 109 amends: the labour relations provisions of the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997 (“FPPA”) to incorporate…
Practice Area: Workplace Safety & Insurance
Federal Court of Appeal Clarifies Employer Obligations to Investigate Workplace Violence Allegations under the Canada Labour Code
In a recent decision, Canada (Attorney General) v. Public Service Alliance of Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal upheld a decision of the Federal Court which clarified an employer’s obligation to appoint an impartial “competent person” to investigate complaints of workplace violence. The Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (“Regulations”) require an employer to appoint…
Vincent M. Panetta
Vince advises a range of employers in the public and private sectors on all matters of employment law, labour relations, privacy and human rights.
Edward J. O’Dwyer
As an experienced litigator, Edward acts as employer counsel in wrongful dismissal and wrongful competition matters for clients in a variety of sectors including federally regulated employers and employers in the financial services industry. He regularly appears before arbitrators, administrative tribunals and appellate courts. In addition to his courtroom experience, he routinely acts for employers in complex WSIB/WSIAT matters including cases involving traumatic mental stress, chronic mental stress and presumptive PTSD.
Siobhan M. O’Brien
Siobhan routinely provides advice on wrongful dismissal litigation, human rights law, grievance arbitration, labour relations, collective bargaining and strike management.
Matthew J. Mihailovich
Matthew is the chair of the firm’s Healthcare Practice Group. He advises a wide variety of employers in both the public and private sectors on issues relating to their workplaces. He appears before labour arbitrators, in court, and before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, the Ontario Labour Relations Board, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal. He also regularly acts as spokesperson in collective bargaining.
Kathryn L. Meehan
Kathryn Meehan is an employment and labour lawyer in Hicks Morley’s Waterloo office. She frequently represents clients before the courts and administrative tribunals including labour arbitrations, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal and the Ontario Labour Relations Board.
Ted J. Kovacs
Ted regularly advises employers in all matters of employment and labour law, both in unionized and non-unionized workplaces.
Carolyn L. Kay
Carolyn is a labour and employment lawyer who advises employers on the wide range of legal rights and responsibilities associated with their relationship with employees and unions. She provides ongoing advice to employers in their collective bargaining relationships and she heads up the firm’s practice group for pay equity, an area in which she has developed a singular expertise.
Charles V. Hofley
Charles is a fully bilingual labour and employment lawyer with more than 30 years of experience advising employers on a broad range of employment and labour matters. He is an experienced negotiator and regularly appears before boards of arbitration, administrative tribunals and all levels of court.