Publications

July 31, 2014

A pregnant worker’s right to benefits in the event of preventive withdrawal pursuant to section 36 of the AROHS does not apply to a business under federal jurisdiction: Éthier v. Commission des lésions professionnelles

This decision of the Superior Court of Québec addresses a pregnant worker’s right to preventive withdrawal where said worker is employed by a business under federal jurisdiction.1 In this case, questions of constitutional jurisdiction were raised and the Superior Court confirmed that article 36 of (…)

July 31, 2014

Right to refuse to work and preventive withdrawal: the Dionne v. Commission scolaire des Patriotes case

In Québec, the objective of the Act Respecting Occupational Health and Safety1 (the “Act”) is the elimination, at the source, of dangers to the health, safety and physical well-being of workers. Recently, the Supreme Court of Canada rendered a decision in the Dionne v. Commission scolaire des (…)

July 31, 2014

Supreme Court of Canada Ruling in Tsilhqot’in: Aboriginal Title and the Common Law

On June 26, 2014, the Supreme Court of Canada rendered a decision confirming aboriginal title to approximately five percent of the Tsilhqot’in First Nation’s traditional territory in British Columbia. This decision is very significant because it marks the first time a ruling defines aboriginal title (…)

July 31, 2014

The Wal-Mart Decision: The Supreme Court of Canada confirms that the collective dismissal of the employees of the Jonquière establishment constituted an illegal change in their conditions of employment under section 59 of the Labour Code[1]

THE FACTSWal-Mart Canada Corporation (hereinafter “Wal-Mart”) opened its Jonquière establishment in 2001. After the United Food and Commercial Workers, local 503 (hereinafter the “Union”), was certified to represent the employees in 2004, negotiations were initiated in view of concluding a first (…)

July 1, 2014

Serious breaches of the duty of loyalty by a human resources employee – Dismissal upheld by the C.R.T.

The Commission des relations du travail, both in its initial decision and on review, dismissed the complaints challenging the dismissal of an employee despite the absence of prior disciplinary measures. The complainant, who was hired in April 2011, held a position as an administration technician for (…)

June 1, 2014

New Anti-Spam Law: Better Act Quickly

In December 2010, the federal Parliament passed the Act to Promote the Efficiency and Adaptability of the Canadian Economy by Regulating Certain Activities1 that Discourage Reliance on Electronic Means of Carrying out Commercial Activities, better known as the “Canada’s Anti Spam Legislation” (CASL (…)

May 1, 2014

January 1, 2015: no more filling chillers with CFCs

INTRODUCTIONQuebec regulations create numerous obligations in connection with equipment that poses a risk to the environment. Replacing PCB-containing transformers, for example, or having high-risk oil and gas equipment inspected. Regulatees may be required to file reports, maintain registers or (…)

May 1, 2014

Heavy burden for employers respecting mitigation of damages for lost salary: following dismissal, an employee who makes no effort to mitigate his damages may still be entitled to an indemnity

The Court of Appeal recently reviewed the scope of the duty of employees to mitigate their damages for lost salary pursuant to section 128(2) of the Act respecting labour standards (ARLS).1In this case, the Court of Appeal allowed in part the appeal of an employee following a decision of the (…)

May 1, 2014

Labelling of your products in Canada, and particularly Quebec: don't forget to translate!

Our clients from outside the province of Quebec often ask us the following questions: what are the linguistic labelling requirements in Canada, and particularly Quebec? There are several statutes and regulations governing labelling in Quebec and Canada. The following is a summary of some of the (…)

April 1, 2014

Does the federal pension deemed trust outrank a perfected security interest in the context of CCAA proceedings? The Superior Court of Québec weighs in

In the last few years, pension deemed trust issues have been a subject of debate before the courts. The Supreme Court of Canada itself addressed some of these issues in the Indalex case.1 On November 20, 2013, the Honourable Justice Mark Schrager of the Superior Court of Québec rendered an important (…)

April 1, 2014

Overlapping Insurance Policies: The Court of Appeal of Ontario toes the line!

On January 16 last, the Supreme Court of Canada refused to grant leave to appeal by Lombard following a judgment rendered on June 20, 2013 by the Ontario Court of Appeal.1This decision deals with the issue of overlapping excess and umbrella policies.THE FACTSIn January 1995, an apartment building (…)

April 1, 2014

Quebec Government Tables Bill to Implement its Pension Plan Action Plan

In our January 2014 bulletin, we provided an overview of the Quebec government’s action plan aimed at [Translation] “correcting and restoring the situation of pension plans”. Also in that bulletin, we noted that in February 2014, the government was planning to introduce the first (…)

March 1, 2014

Fieldturf Tarkett inc. v. Gilman(1): The Court of Appeal upholds the payment of « phantom share » bonuses where employment has been terminated without a serious reason

THE FACTSOn January 22, 2014, the Court of Appeal of Québec confirmed the 2012 decision of the Superior Court of Québec in Gilman v. Fieldturf Tarkett inc.2 At issue in this case was whether the payment of so-called “phantom share” bonuses were to be paid to employees whose employment (…)