What Unions Need to Know About Cannabis
Partial Legalization – What is legal? possession up to 30 grams of legal cannabis, dried or equivalent in non-dried form in public share up to 30 grams of legal cannabis with other adults buy dried or fresh…
Category: Human Rights
Ontario Midwives Win Important Human Rights Case on Pay Equity
On September 24, 2018, at the outset of Canada’s Gender Equality Week, the Association of Ontario Midwives obtained a historic win from the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. This decision is an important victory not just for…
#WorkLawWednesday: Can an Employer ask me if I have a Criminal Record?
By Dan Wilband Last month, The Coast published a piece exploring the widespread use of criminal record checks in hiring practices, both in Nova Scotia and elsewhere. It documents the challenges faced by individuals with criminal convictions in their…
Sexual Harassment Law – Part 5: Sexual Harassment Protection for Federal Employees & Parliament Hill Staff
By Gail L. Gatchalian, Q.C. On Wednesday, June 13, 2018, I was invited to make a presentation to the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights to comment on Bill C-65, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code (harassment…
Human Rights Hearing Continues About Community-Based Supports and Services for People with Disabilities
A human rights hearing regarding the Province’s provision of community-based supports and services for people with disabilities resumed this week. Vince Calderhead of Pink Larkin…
Sexual Harassment Law – Part 4: Choosing the Right Forum
Victims of workplace sexual harassment may be able to pursue a claim against their employer or the perpetrator in several different forums, for example, in the courts, at a human rights tribunal, and/or before a labour standards…
Supreme Court of Canada Releases New Charter Cases on Systemic Discrimination
By Katrin MacPhee, Articling Student The Supreme Court of Canada struck down provisions of Quebec’s Pay Equity Act and clarified the law regarding systemic discrimination through two decisions released May 10th. The Act was introduced to…
Sexual Harassment Law – Part 2: Does Intention Matter?
Does intention matter when it comes to workplace sexual harassment? The short answer is no. Sexual harassment is conduct of a sexual nature that is known or ought reasonably to be known to be unwelcome. This means…
Dalhousie’s Decision to Restrict Position to Racialized and Indigenous Applicants: Is it Legal?
PL’s Gail Gatchalian recently spoke to the Canadian HR Reporter about Dalhousie University’s decision to restrict applicants for the position of Vice Provost of Student Affairs to racially-visible and indigenous applicants, and whether this was legal. As…
The duty to accommodate injured workers: Can Nova Scotia’s limitations be justified?
In a recent decision, the Supreme Court of Canada has considered the nature and extent of an employer’s duty to accommodate a worker who becomes disabled in a workplace accident: Quebec (Commission des normes, de l’équité, de…