IMEs and the Scope of an Employer’s Communications with IME Examiners

The Ontario Court of Appeal has denied leave to appeal a judicial review of a Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (Tribunal) decision that found an employer’s request for an Independent Medical Examination (IME) as part of the accommodation process reasonable in the circumstances. This case further provides helpful guidance with respect to the scope of…

Union Need Not be Involved in Every Accommodation Request, Appeal Court Rules (and the Supreme Court Agrees)

Earlier this year, the British Columbia Court of Appeal issued a helpful decision for employers dealing with accommodation issues in a unionized context. On September 7, 2017, the Supreme Court of Canada denied the union’s request for leave to appeal from the B.C. Court of Appeal decision. The B.C. Court of Appeal decision considered the…

2017 HRPA Annual Conference & Tradeshow

Topic New and Evolving Issues in Workplace Accommodation Workplace accommodation is one of the most challenging issues facing both employers and service providers. Legal developments emerging from human rights tribunals, arbitration boards and courts across Canada have imposed additional challenges, expanded obligations, and the need to think outside the box as employers and service providers…

Leaves of Absence, Procedural Matters and More

In this latest edition of our School Board Update, we are bringing you summaries of three recent cases which will be of interest. They deal with abuse of process at arbitration, entitlement of part-time and custodial employees to miscellaneous leaves, and the balancing of religious freedom with other statutory requirements…

Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs (OAFC): 2017 Labour Relations Seminar

Over the course of two days, chief fire officers, senior municipal officials and human resource professionals hear from a team of legal experts, fire chiefs from across Ontario, and renowned international speakers that give insight, up-to-date knowledge and guidance into a wide range of labour relations issues that are currently impacting the fire service. Throughout…

Arbitrator Rules That He Has No Jurisdiction Over ETFO Central Grievance Concerning Report Cards

In a significant decision, Arbitrator Hayes has concluded that, as a Central Arbitrator, he does not have jurisdiction under the central terms of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) collective agreements to consider a grievance concerning a school board’s instructions to teachers regarding the preparation of report cards…