Andrew S. Astritis

Professional Activities and Organizations

Law Society of Upper Canada

Canadian Association of Labour Lawyers

County of Carleton Law Association

 

Andrew Astritis practices in the areas of labour, employment, administrative, human rights and constitutional law. Andrew has acted in matters before labour arbitrators, the Public Service Labour Relations Board, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, the Federal Court, the Ontario Court of Appeal, the Federal Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. Andrew’s work focuses on written advocacy in judicial review and appellate litigation.

 

During his articles, Andrew clerked for the Honourable John Evans at the Federal Court of Appeal in Ottawa. As a law student, Andrew was active in the Workers’ Rights Division at Parkdale Legal Services, and was a Division Leader at the Community Legal Aid Services Programme at Osgoode Hall. Andrew also participated in numerous moot court competitions as both an advocate and coach, including the 2003 Jessup International Law Moot.

 

Andrew has also been involved in public interest work with indigenous communities in Guatemala, writing articles in this area and acting before the Inter-American Human Rights Commission.

 

Cases Andrew has worked on include:

• Amos v. Canada (Attorney General), 2011 FCA 38
• Kane v. Canada (Attorney General), 2011 FCA 19
• Fiona Ann Johnstone v. Canada Border Service Agency, 2010 CHRT 20
• Public Service Alliance of Canada v. Treasury Board (Program and Administrative Services Group), 2010 PSLRB 88
• Public Service Alliance of Canada v. Canada (Treasury Board), 2009 PSLRB 55
• Public Service Alliance of Canada v. Canada (Border Services, Program and Administrative Services and Operational Groups), 2009 PSLRB 37
• Johnstone v. Canada (Attorney General), 2008 FCA 101
• Public Service Alliance of Canada v. Parks Canada Agency, 2008 PSLRB 97
• Egan v. Canada (Attorney General), 2008 FC 649
• Gilbert v. Canada (Attorney General), 2008 FC 202
• Michon-Hamelin v. Canada (Attorney General), 2007 FC 1258
• Public Service Alliance of Canada and Bank of Canada, 2007 CIRB No. 387

Andrew J. Raven

Professional Activities and Organizations

Law Society of Upper Canada
Canadian Association of Labour Lawyers
County of Carleton Law Association

 

Andrew Raven has over thirty years of experience in all aspects of labour relations, human rights and employment law. He appears before numerous tribunals such as the Canada Industrial Relations Board, the Public Service Labour Relations Board and the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. Andrew routinely acts as an advocate before the Federal Court and the Supreme Court of Canada, where he has been appointed amicus curiae by the Court in a leading human rights case. Andrew also has extensive experience in representing trade unions, employee organizations and individuals in constitutional litigation, including Charter cases, and has a widely acknowledged expertise in all aspects of pay equity.

James G. Cameron

Professional Activities and Organizations

Law Society of Upper Canada
Barreau du Québec
Advocates’ Society
Canadian Association of Labour Lawyers
County of Carleton Law Association
Association of French Speaking Jurists of Ontario

 

For more than twenty five years, James Cameron has provided sound advice, effective negotiation strategies and able representation to clients with respect to labour relations, employment law and human rights matters.

 

James represents federal and provincial unions on a wide range of issues, including pay equity, pensions, classification, contract interpretation, discipline and Charter issues such as freedom of speech and freedom of association. He appears regularly before the Federal Courts, the Courts of Ontario and Quebec, Labour Boards and arbitrators.

 

James has represented hundreds of individual clients in employment law matters, including wrongful dismissal, LTD, complex CSST and CPP matters, discipline and promotion. James represents federal, provincial and municipal public and para-public service employees including education, hospital, RCMP and DND employees.

 

In addition, James represents a wide range of employees in private sector, industries and professions, including those in high tech, legal, accounting, engineering, the Regulated Health professions, manufacturing and the financial sector.

 

He has advised many clients with respect to human rights issues, such as physical and mental challenges and the duty to accommodate, and represented them before the Canadian and Ontario Human Rights Tribunals. In addition, he has frequently appeared before the Federal Courts on judicial reviews of Tribunal decisions.

 

James has been involved with Scouting for many years and in his spare time, seeks to become a better triathlete.

 

Cases James has worked on include:

• Gauthier v. Canada (Attorney General), 2008 FCA 75 [Conflict of interest investigation of public servant acting as municipal counselor found to be flawed.]
• Sedrak v. Canada (Social Development), 2008 FCA 86 [Capacity of a person with paranoid schizophrenia to apply for CPP pension.]
• Canada Post Corporation v. Public Service Alliance of Canada (2008), 321 F.T.R. 196 [Judicial review of CHRT pay equity decision on behalf of 2000 CR employees.]
• Pérès v. Québec (Procureur général), 2007 QCCA 568 [Action against Union dismissed.]
• Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada v. Canada (Attorney General), 2007 CanLII 50603 (Ont.S.C.) [Claim by 150,000 federal employees seeking return of pension surplus.]
• Tomola v. Wal-Mart Canada Corporation, 2005 CanLII 2819 (Ont.S.C.) [Termination of pharmacist found to be without cause, damages awarded.]
• Gilchrist v. Canada (Treasury Board) (2005), 281 F.T.R. 135 [Classification process involved violations of procedural fairness.]
• Stenhouse v. Canada (Attorney General), [2004] 4 F.C. 437; (2004), 12 Admin. L.R. (4th) 299; (2004), 248 F.T.R. 248 [Termination of RCMP officer overturned for reasonable apprehension of bias.]
• Stopford v. Canada, [2004] 1 F.C. 431 [Soldier entitled to sue Crown despite limitations in Crown Liability and Proceedings Act.]

Susan Ballantyne

Professional Activities and Organizations

Law Society of Upper Canada
Canadian Association of Labour Lawyers
County of Carleton Law Association

 

Susan Ballantyne practices in the areas of labour, employment and administrative law, in both the provincial and the federal jurisdictions. She regularly represents union clients in the industrial, health care and education sectors before arbitration boards and labour boards. Susan has extensive experience as a union nominee on both rights and interest arbitration boards.

 

Susan has provided advice and representation with respect to the Employment Standards Act and related legislation to unions and individuals following plant closures.  She regularly provides advice and representation in the areas of human rights, pay equity and disability-related issues. In addition, she represents individual clients in wrongful dismissal claims and in professional discipline complaints.

 

A labour organizer before receiving her law degree, Susan draws on her union experience in providing advocacy training and policy advice to trade union representatives.

David G. Yazbeck

Professional Activities and Organizations

Law Society of Upper Canada

Canadian Association of Labour Lawyers

County of Carleton Law Association

 

David Yazbeck practices as an advocate for unions, employees, and human rights complainants in the areas of labour relations, human rights, judicial review and appeals, and Charter litigation, with an emphasis on the federal public sector. He has developed a particular expertise in the area of employee free speech and whistleblowing, where he has argued many of the leading cases.

 

David regularly appears before arbitrators, labour boards, human rights tribunals, and Courts at all levels. He has substantial experience arguing on judicial review applications and appeals in the Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal, and often acts as counsel or agent in the Supreme Court of Canada.

 

David has taught Public Sector Law to union activists at the Labour College of Canada both at the Residential Program and at the Canadian Labour Congress Ontario Region Winter School. He is often invited to speak at conferences on a variety of labour and human rights issues. David is an avid music fan. He channels that passion into producing and hosting the second half of the Thursday Morning Special Blend radio program, which airs every Thursday at 8:00 am (work permitting) on CKCU – 93.1 FM. David is also one of the original writers for one of Canada’s newest, and fastest growing, blogs dedicated to Canadian music: North by East West. Check out the site, where you can read postings from him and many others, and subscribe.

Mary Mackinnon

Professional Activities and Organizations

Law Society of Upper Canada
Ontario Vice President, Canadian Association of Labour Lawyers
County of Carleton Law Association

 

Mary Mackinnon has practiced labour and employment law for over 18 years. She acts exclusively for unions and employees working for public and private sector employers. Mary worked in Northwestern Ontario for a number of years prior to joining the firm in 2006, and maintains an active practice in the Thunder Bay area as well as in the Ottawa-Carleton region.

 

Mary has significant experience litigating before courts, arbitrators, labour boards, and other administrative tribunals. Her practice includes a special focus on disability-related problems, including workers’ compensation, long term disability (LTD) benefits, and accommodation in the workplace.

 

Mary provides solid advice and representation to individual clients in situations of wrongful dismissal, LTD benefits, workers’ compensation, occupational diseases, and Health and Safety.

 

Mary’s expertise is recognized by organizations who have called upon her to facilitate and present programs in labour and employment law, WSIB, employment standards, health and safety, workplace bullying, and human rights.

 

Mary has been active as a Board member in community organizations including family service organizations, legal clinics, and hospital foundations.

 

Cases Mary has worked on include:

• Simpson-Bowlyn v. Commissionaires (Great Lakes), 2009 HRTO 1362
• Decision No. 838/03, 2008 Ont. WSIAT 496 [carpal tunnel]
• Decision 1804/05, 2005 Ont. WSIAT 2276 [SEB inappropriate as worker had not completed training required for occupation at time of assessment]
• Sheet Metal Workers’ International Assn., Local 397 v. Northland Superior Supply Co. Ltd., 2004 CanLII 9137 (OLRB) [related employer application]
• Ontario Public Service Employees Union v. Ontario (Ministry of Public Safety and Security), 2003 CanLII 52902 (Ont. G.S.B.) [discrimination and harassment based on gender]
• Decision No. 444/01, 2001 Ont. WSIAT 1112 [aggravation of pre-existing condition]
• Decision No. 350/99, 2000 Ont. WSIAT 459 [accident in employer's lunchroom]
• Decision No. 724/99, 1999 CanLII 15803 (Ont. WSIAT) [chronic pain syndrome]
• Decision No. 381/96, 1996 CanLII 8947 (Ont. WSIAT) [motor vehicle injury on way in to work]

Papers Mary has presented and/or published include:

• Common but Complex Employment Situations (CCLA Solicitors’ Conference, May 2007)
• Workplace Stress and Employment Law (TBLA CLE Conference, October 2004)
• Supreme Court in Martin: Chronic Pain Claims and Administrative Law Implications (TBLA CLE Conference, October 2004)
• Avoiding or Escaping Timeliness Disasters Post-Leisureworld (UFCW Lawyers’ Conference, May 2002)

Alison Dewar

Professional Activities and Organizations

Law Society of Upper Canada
Canadian Association of Labour Lawyers
Carleton County Law Association
National Association of Women and the Law (member, National Steering Committee)

 

Alison represents federal and provincial unions in a wide range of matters, providing advice and representation in human rights, pay equity, interpretation of collective agreements, discipline, and Charter issues. Alison also provides individual clients with advice on a wide range of issues affecting their employment. Alison regularly appears before the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, Public Service Labour Relations Board, private arbitrators, and provincial and federal labour boards.

 

Before deciding to pursue a career in law, Alison was a university professor at the University of British Columbia in the School of Human Kinetics and Faculty of Education Teacher Education Program. She was also an affiliate of the Centre for Research in Women’s Studies and Gender Relations. Alison maintains an interest in sport and education and has given classes to students at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University.

 

Cases Alison has worked on include:

• Bayers (Re) (2008), CIRB Decision No. 416 [duty of fair representation complaint]
• Comstock v. Canada (Treasury Board), 2008 FCA 197 [payment of union dues by employee who opposes union policy supporting same sex marriage and equality rights for gays and lesbians on grounds that policies are contrary to her catholic faith]
• B.C. Workers Compensation Appeal Tribunal, Decision No. 2008-00104, 2008 CanLII 9100 [appeal of permanent partial disability award for post traumatic stress disorder]
• B.C. Workers Compensation Appeal Tribunal, Decision No. 2007-01476 [appeal of permanent partial disability award for post traumatic stress disorder]
• Currie et al v. Canada Revenue Agency, 2008 PSLRB 69 [work description grievances]
• Desormeaux v. Ottawa (City) (2005), 54 C.H.R.R. 462; 2005 FCA 311 [employer's duty to accommodate absenteeism due to disability (migraine headaches); medical evidence of family doctor sufficient to prove prima facie case]
• Bredin v. Canada (Attorney General), 2007 FC 1361 [judicial review of CHRC's refusal to exercise its discretion to accept a complaint filed outside the one-year time limit]
• Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation v. Public Service Alliance of Canada (Local 70396) (2006), 294 F.T.R. 104; 2006 FC 704 [judicial review of CHRT's refusal to strike portions of the union's pay equity complaint]
• Mellon v. Canada (Human Resources Canada), 2006 CHRT 3 [employer's duty to accommodate disability (panic attacks and anxiety) of a term employee working in the federal public service]
• Bell Canada v. Young, 2005 CanLII 27523 (Ont. S.C.J.) [injunction regarding the scope the right to picket]