April 26, 2017

Cannabis Legalization: Weeding Out the Regulations

As the Federal Government recently introduced its legislation to legalize and regulate recreational cannabis, it is clear that legalization is now imminent.

November 28, 2016

11 Steps to Minimize Holiday Party Liability

It is time to revisit the topic of Host Liability and what an employer can do to ensure the holiday party is the social event of the year and not a litigation nightmare.

November 23, 2016

Serious and Temporarily Disabling Injuries Satisfy Definition of Minor Personal...

In the decision of Douthwright v. Duffy, 2015 NBQB 224, the 43 year old Douthwright was injured in a serious roll-over accident. Liability was admitted, but the parties differed on damages.

November 17, 2016

Dismissal Following Positive Drug Test Excessive form of Discipline, Alberta...

A recent arbitration decision from Alberta tackles a myriad of issues related to a positive post incident drug test.

Medicinal Monday to Fridays: When Employees Are Under the Influence...

The recent arbitration decision, Unifor, Local 2001 NB v Old Dutch Foods Ltd, 2016 CanLII 61672 (NB LA) Arbitrator Doucet addresses the emerging topic of managing medical marijuana in the workplace, combined with searches of personal employee property.

October 25, 2016

Employee’s Failure to Disclose Medical Marijuana Use a Factor in...

A recent labour arbitration decision out of Newfoundland and Labrador considers the obligation of employees to disclose medical marijuana use in safety-sensitive workplaces.

December 10, 2015

Can An Employer Require That a Candidate Undergo Pre-employment Drug...

The law of drug and alcohol testing in Canada is in a state of evolution. While the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada, Local 30 v Irving Pulp & Paper Ltd., 2013 SCC 34, provided important guidance on the strict standard that employers must meet in order to subject employees to random testing, it raised many questions regarding how those principles would be applied to other forms of testing.

11 Steps to Minimize Employer Liability at the Holiday Party

It is time to revisit the topic of Host Liability and what an employer can do to ensure the holiday party is the social event of the year and not a litigation nightmare.

April 15, 2014

Suncor Decision: High Standard for Random Drug and Alcohol Testing...

In June 2013, the Supreme Court of Canada weighed in on the issue of random alcohol testing in Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada, Local 30 v. Irving Pulp & Paper, Ltd, 2013 SCC 34 (“Irving”). Following the Supreme Court’s ruling, the Alberta Arbitration Board (the “Board”) recently issued a decision concerning the random drug and alcohol testing policy of Suncor Energy Inc., Oil Sands (“Suncor”). The union in this case, Unifor Local 707A, (“Unifor”) represents over 3,000 employees at Suncor’s oil sands operation in Fort McMurray, Alberta.

Random Alcohol Testing Not Permitted in the Workplace

Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada, Local 30 v. Irving Pulp & Paper Ltd., 2013 SCC 34

On June 14, 2013, the Supreme Court of Canada issued a decision that affirmed the role of alcohol testing in the workplace. The Court upheld the arbitrator’s decision which prohibited the employer’s random alcohol testing policy.