CCPartners | Blog

By Baldeep Bhathal

Be careful what you say! Recent HRTO decision underscores the importance of confidentiality and non-disparagement clauses

A recent decision of the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal (the “HRTO”) serves as an important reminder that breaches of confidentiality an...

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By Kelsey Orth

This Ain’t Brewster’s Millions: “None Of The Above” Not An Option When Employer Offers Reasonable Accommodation

The recent decision in Aguele v. Family Options Inc., by the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (“HRTO”) is a significant ruling in the c...

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No Chance: HRTO Dismisses Application for Lack of Prima Facie Case and No Reasonable Prospect of Success

In Loucks v. London Life Insurance Company, 2023 HRTO 955 the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario determined that the Applicant did not establish a pr...

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OHRT Decision that an Employer’s Requirement for Proof of Canadian Citizenship or Permanent Residency Discriminatory Reasonable Say Ontario Court of Appeal

Most of Canada is currently dealing with the effects of an unprecedented labour shortage and finding a suitable candidate is not the only potential...

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By Mike MacLellan

A Costly Lesson: Human Rights Tribunal Issues Large Damages Award Against Employer in Breach of Human Rights Code

In Matheus v McCann, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario heard an application alleging discrimination in employment on the bases of race, ancestry...

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SUPREME COURT OF CANADA FINDS LABOUR ARBITRATOR HAS EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OVER HUMAN RIGHTS COMPLAINT IN UNIONIZED WORKPLACE

In the recent decision of Northern Regional Health Authority v Horrocks the Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) has ruled that a unionized ...

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DISCRIMINATION AND RETALIATION: EMPLOYEE TERMINATED AFTER COMPLAINING ABOUT INAPPROPRIATE COMMENTS ON HER APPEARANCE

In The Sales Associate v. Aurora Biomed Inc. and others, 2021 BCHRT 5 the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal ruled in favour of a Complainant w...

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On Duty with Diapers: Supreme Court of Canada Finds an Employer Policy Providing Fewer Pension Benefits to Women with Childcare Obligations is Discriminatory

In Fraser v. Canada (Attorney General), 2020 SCC 28 (“Fraser”), the Supreme Court of Canada put the interpretation of the right to equa...

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By Mike MacLellan

Racist Outburst at Work Resulted in Just Cause Termination of 23 Year Union Member

A labour arbitrator has found that a White employee’s use of anti-Black racial slurs gave the employer just cause to terminate employment, an...

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Back to Basics: The Duty to Accommodate

As employers begin to turn their minds to reopening, it is an ideal time to revisit some basics of employment law best practices. This week, we&rsq...

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Are you Ready For It? WSIB New Rate Framework will apply beginning January 1, 2020

Change is coming for Schedule 1 Employers who are insured under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act. The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (&...

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By Rob Boswell

MORNINGSTAR LIGHTS THE WAY-WSIAT Rules No Right to Sue Employer for Constructive Dismissal Related to Workplace Harassment!

A landmark decision of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal (WSIAT), Decision No. 1227/19, has taken away Judith Morningstar&rsqu...

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By Kelsey Orth

DEALING WITH LONG-TERM ABSENCES: YOU MAY BE FED UP AS THE EMPLOYER, BUT THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE ONLY THING FRUSTRATED

  You may recall or already know that the doctrine of frustration of contract exists, and intersects with an employer’s duty to accommod...

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Employer Pays A Heavy Price For Discriminatory Hiring Policies

A recent decision by the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario provides a stark reminder for employers that hiring policies which violate Ontario’...

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You Get What You Give – Court Confirms it is appropriate to provide Part-Time Benefits when Accommodated Employee works in a Part-Time Position

By now most employers know (or should know) that accommodation is a difficult process to navigate. One of the challenges that employers must addres...

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Fighting Fire with Favour: accommodation efforts for pregnant firefighter did not discriminate on the basis of sex or family status

In Ajax (Town) v Ajax Professional Fire Fighters' Assn, Local 1092 (Badame Grievance), [2019] OLAA No 238  the grievor was a pregnant firefigh...

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You Can’t Always Get What You Want – HRTO Confirms that Accommodation does not have to be Employee’s Preferred Accommodation

Employers are well aware of the significant obligation imposed by the duty to accommodate under the Ontario Human Rights Code. In a recent decision...

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By Susan Crawford

A Deal May Still be a Deal: Ontario Court of Appeal Overturns Summary Judgment Decision that Severance Transaction was Unconscionable while Entitlement to LTD Benefits was a Live Issue.

In the recent decision Swampillai v. Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Company of Canada the Court of Appeal was asked to consider the issue of co...

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By Mike MacLellan

The Only Thing Certain Was The Outcome: Human Rights Tribunal Finds Employer Discriminated Based On Family Status, But Does Not Apply Either Competing “Test”

Employers have a responsibility to accommodate employees’ family status obligations up to a point of undue hardship.  The Human Rights T...

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By Kelsey Orth

THE FRUSTRATION OF ACCOMMODATION GETS A BIT OF CLARITY: FRUSTRATION OF CONTRACT RESOLVED BY WAY OF SUMMARY JUDGMENT, EMPLOYER VINDICATED

A welcome decision for employers recently came to light as the Ontario Divisional Court in Katz et al. v. Clarke, 2019 ONSC 2188 ruled that frustra...

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