Resources: Administrative

Vaccination Status and the “New Normal”

As governments and businesses seek to avoid closures that have so heavily impacted the economy and everyday life, many are looking to vaccine passports and/or considering mandatory vaccination in the workplace to facilitate a return to “normal” operations.

Read More +

Major Apprenticeship Initiative Funded by Federal Government May Help Recruit and Employ New Workers

The Federal Government’s Apprenticeship Service is engaged in a large scale funding campaign, designed to increase apprenticeship opportunities and promote apprenticeships. It is also designed to increase diversity. This bulletin will focus on employers in the construction industry in BC, although the program is not limited to such employers.

Read More +

BC Supreme Court Weighs in on Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policies

On September 27, 2022, the BC Supreme Court released its decision in Parmar v. Tribe Management Inc., 2022 BCSC 1675 (“Parmar”). This is the first time the BC Supreme Court has directly weighed in on the validity of mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policies in non-unionized workplaces and was a much-awaited decision for many employers and employees in British Columbia who are involved in similar litigation.

Read More +

Through the Looking Glass: 2022 BC Labour Law Forecast

It is the start of a new year and we are ready to look ahead. In B.C., we are anticipating some significant labour decisions in 2022, which could be consequential for unionized workplaces. Join us as we fall down the rabbit hole of Charter challenges and vaccination policies.

Read More +

Employment Standards Claims Cannot be Pursued in B.C. Courts

A recent summary trial decision from the B.C. Supreme Court confirms that claims arising from breaches of the B.C. Employment Standards Act (ESA) cannot be pursued in a civil action and denies the application of the tort of intimidation to a threatened breach of an employment contract.

Read More +

Buyer Beware: The Labour Relations Board Deals With New Successorship Provisions in the BC Labour Relations Code

Bill 30 introduced new contract retendering successorship provisions in section 35 of the Labour Relations Code (the “Code”). Our firm has commented previously that the new provisions will have a significant impact on certain contractors in BC.

Read More +

Six Months for Six Months: Is One Month’s Notice per One Month of Employment Reasonable?

The past few years have seen a wave of Canadian court awards involving significant reasonable notice periods for short service employees, and the recent B.C. case of Greenlees v. Starline Windows Ltd, 2018 BCSC 1457 is a prime example.

Read More +

Canada’s Digital Charter: The Problem of Trust in a Growing Digital World

Canada’s privacy legislation may be headed for significant renovation.

On May 21, 2019, the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development, The Honourable Navdeep Bains, introduced Canada’s Digital Charter. This Charter sets out 10 principles intended to guide the government’s decisions about the digital and data economy.

Read More +

Summary of Changes to the B.C. Employment Standards Act

On May 30, 2019, the Provincial Government passed changes to the B.C. Employment Standards Act (the “ESA”). The ESA is the law that sets minimum standards for workplaces in the province, and has not been significantly updated for 15 years. The changes are overwhelmingly employee-friendly.

Read More +

Final Amendments to the B.C. Labour Relations Code, Now in Effect!

Further to our May 2, 2019, update, on May 30, 2019 the Provincial Government passed Bill 30-2019, Labour Relations Code Amendment Act, 2019.  Everything in the First Reading was accepted, save for a change to the construction industry raid period.

Read More +