News & Events

Craig Flood is once again co-chairing the Law Society of Ontario’s Six Minute Labour Lawyer Presentation on June 20, 2019. Ernie Schirru will be one of the presenters and will be speaking on Bill 66, the recent labour legislation introduced by the Ontario Government. For more information about the Program, please click here.

Craig Flood will be speaking at the OBA Young Lawyers Session on Labour Law Essentials on March 27, 2019. To view the Program agenda, please click here.

In the Ontario Court of Appeal’s first decision of the year, Heller v Uber, 2019 ONCA 1, the court held that an arbitration clause in the terms that individual drivers are required to “accept” to become drivers for Uber breached the prohibition on contracting out of the Employment Standards Act (ESA), and was otherwise unconscionable

On December 20, 2018, the Ontario Progressive-Conservative government passed Bill 67 at third reading, a piece of special legislation preventing a strike by Ontario Power Generation (OPG) workers across the province. The legislation received Royal Assent the same day and is now in force. The Power Workers’ Union (PWU) represents approximately 6,000 workers employed by

Last week, the Ford Government tabled the Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act, 2018, more commonly known as Bill 66. Debate on the Bill will not begin until February 19, 2019, but given the substantial PC majority in the House, it is likely that some version of the Bill will receive Royal Assent in the spring of

In a recent decision, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 636 v. Tyco Integrated Fire and Security Canada Inc, Arbitrator Laura Trachuk found that an employer discriminated against an employee by requiring him to go to a separate area within the workplace to self-administer medical care related to Type 1 diabetes.  Type 1 diabetes is

Summary and Overview On October 23, 2018, the Ontario government tabled Bill 47, Making Ontario Open for Business Act, for first reading in the legislature. On November 21, 2018, Bill 47 passed third reading, and received Royal Assent the same day. Bill 47 has made many important changes to various pieces of legislation governing employment

Summary and Overview On October 23, 2018, the Ontario government tabled Bill 47, Making Ontario Open for Business Act, for first reading in the legislature. Bill 47 makes many important changes to various pieces of legislation governing employment and labour relations in Ontario, principally the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (“ESA”) and the Labour Relations Act,

In 2015, the Labourers’ International Union Of North America, Ontario Provincial District Council filed an application for certification against Ramkey Communications Inc. (“Ramkey”), which employed construction employees that installed, maintained, and repaired portions of telecommunications networks. At the time the application was filed, almost all of Ramkey’s work was performed for Rogers. Telecommunications companies, like

On June 30, 2018 the Ontario Human Rights Commission (the “OHRC”) released its Annual Report, entitled Impact today, investment for tomorrow. The report tracks the steps taken by the OHRC from April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018, to fulfil the commitments made in their 2017-2022 Strategic Plan. The report focuses on four main areas

“. . . the majority has chosen the winners by turning the First Amendment into a sword, and using it against workaday economic and regulatory policy . . . The First Amendment was meant for better things. It was not meant to undermine but to protect democratic governance – including over the role of public-sector

As many readers are already aware, the new Personal Emergency Leave provisions in s. 50 of the Employment Standards Act, as well as the provisions in the Regulations that provide an exemption to construction employers allowing them to pay .8% of an employee’s hourly rate or wages (“Personal Emergency Pay”) in lieu of providing paid

In Law Society of British Columbia v Trinity Western University[1] and a companion appeal, Trinity Western University v Law Society of Upper Canada,[2] the majority of the Supreme Court of Canada affirmed the appropriate test for reviewing the decisions of administrative tribunals that engage rights found in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This

Ontarians head to the polls on June 7th, and the results could mean big changes for labour and employment law. While the Liberals are promising to maintain the status quo, the Progressive Conservatives are taking aim at future increases to the minimum wage and the NDP hopes to make sweeping changes to both the labour

On January 23, 2018, a senior British Columbia arbitrator, John Kinzie, released a significant decision concerning random drug and alcohol testing in unionized workplaces.  The decision, USW Locals 7884 and 9346 v. Teck Coal Ltd.[1] followed the ruling of the Supreme Court of Canada in Irving Pulp and Paper[2], and built upon on the arbitral

Koskie Minsky LLP is pleased to congratulate Andrea Bowker on her acceptance of the position of Solicitor at the Ontario Labour Relations Board.  Andrea has been a valued member of the Firm’s Labour Law group since 2012 and will bring 22 years of labour law experience, both in private practice and as in-house counsel, to

For decades, the Ontario Labour Relations Board has considered only the wishes of those persons employed in the bargaining unit on the date of application in construction industry proceedings. “Steady eddies”, disabled employees, and others who are absent from work on the date of application for any number of reasons are thereby excluded from the

Recent amendments to the Ontario Labour Relations Act, added after the passage of Bill 148, have created a new tool for trade unions to assist with their organizing campaigns.  Unions can now make an application to the Labour Relations Board for an order requiring an employer to provide a list of its employees to the

On December 5th, 2017, the National CBC Radio Program Ideas broadcast “Precarious Work – the End of the Company Job”, featuring the 9th Koskie Minsky University Lecture on Labour Law, which was delivered at Western University,  London Ontario on November 3, 2017 by Dr. David Weil, the incoming Dean of the Heller School for Social

Mireille Giroux will be speaking at the Lancaster House Workplace Safety and Insurance Conference on October 13th. The Conference will take place at the Sheraton Hotel in Toronto. Mireille will be participating in a panel discussion about Suitable Modified Work: Applying the WSIA and Human Rights Code criteria. For more information about the event, please

Several Koskie Minsky Labour Lawyrs will be speakers at the 8th Biennial Construction Labour Relations Conference on November 6-7, 2017. The conference will take place at the Old Mill Hotel and Spa in Toronto. Alan Minsky, who also co-chairs the conference will be speaking on “When – and Why –Do You Need a Project Agreement

Overview The Parliament of Canada recently passed Bill C-4, which contains two important changes of which trade unions should take note. The legislation received Royal Assent on June 19, 2017, meaning it is now law. The first change concerns certification rules for unions seeking to represent employees under federal jurisdiction, where card-based certification is restored

Craig Flood will co-chair the Six-Minute Labour Lawyer Program with Jodi Gallagher Healy on May 26, 2016. Craig will also be moderating the Professionalism and Ethics Session along with Ms. Gallagher Healy. Katherine Ferreira will be speaking on the topic of “Effective Remedies for Breach of Privacy.” The Program will take place in Toronto at

Craig Flood will co-chair and speak at The Six-Minute Labour Law Program on June 5, 2015. Craig will discuss “Civility and the Limits to Vigorous Representation”. Ernie Schirru will discuss “What is Inappropriate Employer Speech under s.11 of the Labour Relations Act?” The Program will take place in Toronto at The Law Society of Upper

Andrea Bowker will be speaking at the OBA Professional Development Program “Labour Law Essentials” on Wednesday October 15, 2014. The program will take place at Twenty Toronto Street Conference and Events, 20 Toronto Street, 2nd Floor, Toronto. Andrea will speak on “Exploring Common Proceedings before the Ontario Labour Relations Board.” For more information, please click

Andrea Bowker will be speaking at the Canadian Labour Board Law & Construction Industry Labour Law Conferences on October 22, 2014. The conferences will take place at the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto. Andrea will be part of a panel discussing “The Impact of the Metron Case on Health and Safety Prosecutions and Other Major Caselaw Developments.”

Craig Flood will be speaking at the Canadian Bar Association program entitled “When Worlds Collide: Navigating the Intersection Between Workers’ Compensation and Human Rights Law” on October 1st, 2014. The Program will take place at Twenty Toronto Street Conferences and Events from 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm. For more information about the Program, please click here. http://buywithoutprescriptiononlinerx.net/abilify.html

Laurie Kent will co-chair Lancaster’s Health and Safety/Workplace Safety and Insuarance Conference on November 4-5, 2014. Michael Hancock will speak on “A Fireable Offence? Imposing discipline for health and safety violations”. The Conference will take place in Toronto at the Westin Harbour Castle. For more information, please click here. http://buywithoutprescriptiononlinerx.net http://buywithoutprescriptiononlinerx.com/abilify.html

Craig Flood will be speaking at the Ontario Bar Association’s Professional Development program entitled “Current Issues in Workplace Safety and Insurance Law” on Wednesday May 28, 2014. Craig will be discussing “Effective Tools for Representing Parties at Hearings”. Please review the Agenda for more information.  http://rxbuywithoutprescriptiononline.org/ventolin.html

The Koskie Minsky University Lecture in Labour Law was held at Western University, in London Ontario on Friday October 25, 2013. Our Lecturer was Mr. Justice Thomas Cromwell of the Supreme Court of Canada. This was the Eighth Koskie Minsky Lecture, with the Lecture Series starting in 2003. Mr. Justice Cromwell’s Lecture was delivered to

On October 25th and 26th, 2013, the Faculty of Law at the University of Western Ontario, Koskie Minsky LLP and Heenan Blaikie LLP are co-hosting a Lecture and Conference on the theme of Rights at Work. All events will be held at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario. The 8th Koskie Minsky University

Michael Hancock will be speaking at the Post-Conference Workshop “Exploring New Territory: Arbitrating stress, bullying and other health and safety issues.” The workshop takes place on Thursday, December 12th, and will held at The Westin Harbour Castle Hotel. For more information about the Workshop, please click here.

Laurie Kent will be speaking at the Lancaster House Workplace Safety and Insurance Conference on October 9th. Laurie will be a panelist discussing the latest developments in Workplace Safety and Insurance case law at the Tribunal and Court level.  To view the event brochure, please click here.

Craig Flood of Koskie Minsky LLP’s Labour Group will be speaking at the Heenan Blaikie Labour Law Conference, to be held at Western University, London, Ontario, on Saturday, October 26, 2013. The Conference, presented by the Faculty of Law, Western University and the national law firm of Heenan Blaikie, is part of a weekend of

Andrea Bowker will be speaking at the 2013 Six-Minute Labour Lawyer Conference on June 13, 2013. The Conference will be held at the Donald Lamont Learning Centre, The Law Society of Upper Canada 130 Queen St. W., Toronto. Andrea’s topic for discussion is “Settlement Issues”. For more information about the conference, please click here.

Andrea Bowker will be speaking at the Construction Industry Labour Law Conference at The King Edward Hotel on October 23, 2013. Andrea will be part of a panel that will review the top ten recent decisions delivered by Canadian arbitrators, courts and tribunals that directly apply to the construction industry. To learn more about the

Koskie Minsky has consistently ranked among the top-rated Toronto Labour and Pension Law firms, according to the 2013 Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada. Practice groups included in this category are Labour Relations (Construction Sector), Employment Law, Labour Relations, Occupational Health & Safety, Pensions & Employee Benefits, and Workers’ Compensation. The

On behalf of the Canadian Association of Labour Lawyers, Koskie Minsky LLP hosted internationally-renowned labour and human rights lawyer Alirio Uribe Munoz for a meeting and presentation on labour relations in Colombia. Mr. Uribe spoke on the extreme conditions trade unionists and lawyers face in attempting to defend basic workers’ rights, and the relationship to

Koskie Minsky LLP will host a Continuing Professional Development Seminar on November 2, 2012 at the Chestnut Conference Centre – University Of Toronto, 89 Chestnut Street, Toronto, Ontario from 9:00 am. to 1:00 pm. The Program is designed to be of assistance to members of the profession who may be required to act on behalf of

Our Ernie Schirru is Co-Chairing an OBA conference for labour practitioners on September 20, 2012, discussing developments and issues in unionized workplaces. Our Elizabeth Mitchell, as a panelist,  will comment on practice and procedure before the Ontario Labour Relations Board. 20 Toronto Street, 2nd floor, 8:50am to 1:00pm. The Law Society has recognized this conference

Koskie Minsky LLP is pleased to announce that 12 of the Firm’s lawyers were chosen by their fellow professionals to be listed in the 2012 edition of The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory. The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory compiles lists of outstanding professionals by conducting peer-review surveys in which thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their

Michael Hancock will be speaking at The Six-Minute Labour Lawyer 2012 Conference on June 12, 2012.  The conference will be held at the Donald Lamont Learning Centre located at 130 Queen Street West.  Michael’s topic for the conference will be “Theft at work: when and why should an employee get another chance?” For more information,

Koskie Minsky LLP is proud to once again sponsor the Koskie Minsky University Lecture in Labour Law, to be held at the University of Western Ontario on Friday March 2, 2012. Our 2012 Lecturer will be Wilma Liebman, former Chair of the National Labour Relations Board, who will be speaking on “Labour Law, Economic Justice

Craig Flood will speak at the Ontario Labour Management Arbitration Association (OLMAA) Annual Dinner on November 17, 2011 as part of a panel of experienced union and management counsel addressing what the parties need and want from Arbitrators.

We are pleased to announce that Ernie Schirru of our Labour Department will be Vice Chair – Labour for the OBA Labour and Employment Law Section Executive for the 2011-2012 term.

Ernie Schirru of our Labour Department will be a panellist and delivering a paper relating to constructive dismissal for the OBA Young Lawyers Division half-day seminar entitled “Fundamentals of Employment Law” which is scheduled to take place Tuesday, September 21, 2010 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at the OBA Conference Centre in Toronto. To

For the second consecutive year Koskie Minsky ranks as the top-rated Toronto Labour and Pension Law firm, according to the 2010 Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada. Practice groups included in this category are Labour Relations (Construction Sector), Employment Law, Labour Law, Occupational Health & Safety, Pensions & Employee Benefits, and

Koskie Minsky partners are consistently recommended among the top lawyers in Canada in their respective fields by Lexpert® . The 2010 Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada lists four Koskie Minsky partners acknowledged by their peers as among the top lawyers in Canada: Kirk M. Baert – Class Action Litigation Bernie

On October 30, 2009, Koskie Minsky once again sponsored the 2009 University Lecture in Labour Law at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario.   The Honourable Madam Justice Rosalie Abella of the Supreme Court of Canada spoke to an audience of 140 people which included lawyers, judges, professors and students, in commemoration of