Latest News

News and Events

The lawyers and staff at RCBY are always involved in legal or community events or dealing with cases of interest to the public. Check here for information about the latest news and the events we are involved with.


  • May 13, 2013 - James Cameron and Andrew Astritis present at 2013 Accommodation Conference

    On May 2, 2013, James Cameron and Andrew Astritis each presented at the 2013 Accommodation Law Conference in Ottawa, sponsored by Labour Law Online.ca, the Centre for Labour-Management Development.  Their presentations addressed Workplace Policies and the Duty to Accommodate, Discipline, Discharge and the Disabled Employee, Accommodating Family Status, Disabilities requiring special Accommodation, as well as [...]


  • April 25, 2013 - Board finds violation of statutory freeze

    On April 23, 2013 the Public Service Labour Relations Board upheld the Public Service Alliance of Canada’s complaint against the Treasury Board and Canada Border Services Agency. The PSLRB found that the Treasury Board and CBSA violated the statutory freeze on terms and conditions of employment by terminating a long-standing practice of granting union officers [...]


  • April 10, 2013 - National Gallery not obliged to bargain minimum payment to artists (Federal Court of Appeal)

    A recent decision of the Federal Court of Appeal overturned a decision by the Canadian Artists and Producers Professional Relations Tribunal.  A majority of the court held  that the refusal of the National Gallery to discuss minimum compensation to artists did not constitute bad faith bargaining on the part of the Gallery, as the imposition [...]


  • April 3, 2013 - David Yazbeck and James Cameron present on PTSD at REACH conference

    On June 7th, David Yazbeck and James Cameron will speak on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at a conference organized by REACH Canada.  REACH has offered lawyer referrals and public education for individuals living with disabilities since 1981.  Ravenlaw is a long-term, proud supporter of REACH.  For more information, and to register for the conference, please [...]


  • - Andrew Raven to speak on Accommodating Family Responsibilities

    Andrew Raven will speak at the Lancaster House  Ottawa Labour Law Conference, on May 15, 2003, on employers’ responsibilities to accommodate employees’ family responsibilities. There is a growing understanding that employers, unions and employees must work together to assist workers in maintaining a functional balance between work life and family life. A failure to accommodate [...]


  • - David Yazbeck to chair Labour Law Conference

    David Yazbeck will co-chair the Lancaster House Ottawa Labour Law Conference, on May 16-17 at the Ottawa Conference Centre.  For more information, please visit the Lancaster House website:  http://lancasterhouse.com/conferences/show/id/17/info/overview.


  • March 23, 2013 - James Cameron Speaks on High Conflict Personalities

    On March 21, 2013, James Cameron participated on a panel on persons with high-conflict personalities and how to deal with them in the workplace.   People who have a pattern of creating or increasing conflict with others can be characterized as people with ‘high-conflict personalities.’ With these individuals, the issue in dispute doesn’t cause the [...]


  • February 1, 2013 - Family Status: Fiona Ann Johnstone v A-G of Canada

    Federal Court upholds Human Rights Tribunal – family status includes child care needs; employer to pay special compenstion – case argued by Andrew Raven and Andrew Astritis of RCBY T-1418-10


  • September 12, 2012 - Ravenlaw-sponsored Folk Festival a Great Success!

    Ravenlaw was proud to sponsor the 2012 Ottawa Folk Festival, continuing the ongoing relationship between the firm and this wonderful event. This year’s festival was a huge success, with many outstanding performances at the Ravenlaw stage and elsewhere. The festival also featured free activities for folk fans of all ages to come and experience the [...]


  • February 13, 2012 - Pension Surplus: Supreme Court of Canada Hears Appeal Regarding the Removal of over $28 Billion in Surplus Amounts from the Public Service, RCMP and Canadian Forces Pension Accounts

    Our firm recently presented arguments to the Supreme Court of Canada in a significant case involving the removal of the over $28 billion surplus that had built up in the federal Public Service, RCMP and Canadian Forces pension accounts.   Advancing arguments on behalf of the Public Service Alliance of Canada and a number of [...]


  • February 12, 2012 - Andrew Astritis speaks at Lancaster House Audio Conference on Dishonesty in the Workplace

    Andrew Astritis recently participated as a panellist in the Lancaster House Audio Conference entitled Lying, Cheating and Stealing: What Acts of Employment Dishonesty Warrant Automatic Discharge.   The Audio Conference dealt with a wide range of issues including a review of recent case law regarding the discipline of dishonest conduct, the penalties for theft and [...]


  • January 13, 2012 - 2012 Raven, Cameron, Ballantyne & Yazbeck Human Rights/Social Justice Internship

    Our firm is renewing its partnership with the University of Ottawa and continues its commitment and funding to the Raven, Cameron, Ballantyne & Yazbeck LLP/s.r.l. Human Rights/Social Justice Internship which provides a student with an opportunity to work full time over the summer as an intern in the areas of social justice and human rights. [...]


  • November 23, 2011 - Pay Equity: Supreme Court of Canada allows PSAC’s Appeal

    Our firm recently represented the Public Service Alliance of Canada (“PSAC”) in an appeal before the Supreme Court of Canada regarding the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal’s 2005 decision to uphold PSAC’s pay equity complaint against Canada Post.   In a rare ruling from the bench, the Supreme Court overturned the decision of the Federal Court [...]


  • August 9, 2011 - RavenLaw Renews Sponsorship with Ottawa Folk Festival

    Raven, Cameron, Ballantyne & Yazbeck is proud to continue its sponsorship of the Ottawa Folk Festival for a third consecutive year. This year Folk Festival Participants will be able to see many fabulous acts on the RavenLaw stage.   Set amidst the natural beauty of Hog’s Back Park, the Ottawa Folk Festival is a four-day [...]


  • February 21, 2011 - FCA Confirms Adjudicator’s Right to Enforce Settlement Agreements

    The Federal Court of Appeal recently released its decision in Amos v. Attorney General of Canada, affirming the jurisdiction of an Adjudicator appointed under the Public Service Labour Relations Act to enforce a settlement agreement entered into by the parties to an adjudicable grievance.   In allowing Andrew Amos’ appeal, the Federal Court of Appeal [...]


  • February 10, 2011 - RCBY challenging Policy excluding employees with Type 1 Diabetes

    Raven, Cameron, Ballantyne & Yazbeck LLP/s.r.l. represented Bronwyn Cruden, a Canadian International Development Agency (“CIDA”) aid worker and member of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (“PSAC”) before the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal.   Ms Cruden filed a complaint with the Tribunal in 2008 against CIDA and Health Canada after being denied a field posting [...]


  • February 2, 2011 - RCBY wins Abuse of Authority case at Federal Court of Appeal

    The Federal Court of Appeal recently released its decision in Kane v. Attorney General of Canada, the first case before that Court involving a decision of the Public Service Staffing Tribunal. In its ruling, the Court of Appeal overturned the Tribunal’s decision, which had rejected Robert Kane’s argument that his employer had committed an abuse [...]


  • January 19, 2011 - Tax System Undermines Pay Equity Settlement

    Raven, Cameron, Ballantyne & Yazbeck LLP/s.r.l. is currently representing the Public Service Alliance of Canada (“PSAC”) and Cathy Murphy before the Federal Court in an application for judicial review of a decision of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal.   The Tribunal dismissed the human rights complaint filed by the PSAC and Ms Murphy that alleged [...]


  • December 2, 2010 - RCBY Represents CARFAC and RAAV before the CAPPRT

    Raven, Cameron, Ballantyne & Yazbeck LLP/s.r.l. is proud to represent the Canadian Artists Representation (CARFAC) and the Regroupement des artistes en arts visuels du Québec (RAAV) pro bono before the Canadian Artists and Producers Professional Relations Tribunal.   CARFAC and RAAV, which represent visual artists in Canada and Québec, have filed a complaint of bad faith bargaining [...]


  • December 1, 2010 - 2010 Raven, Cameron, Ballantyne & Yazbeck Human Rights/Social Justice Intern Selected

    The partners at Raven, Cameron, Ballantyne & Yazbeck are pleased to announce the selection of the successful candidate for the firm’s 2010 Human Rights/Social Justice Internship.   Raphaëlle Laframboise Carignan is a second-year law student in the Programme de droit canadien (LL.B. and LL.L.) at the University of Ottawa. Raphaëlle has had a varied interest in social [...]


  • November 12, 2010 - RCBY Represents Donna Mowat before the Supreme Court of Canada

    Raven, Cameron, Ballantyne and Yazbeck is representing Donna Mowat before the Supreme Court of Canada, challenging the Federal Court of Appeal’s decision which held that successful complainants are not entitled to compensation for legal costs under the Canadian Human Rights Act.   Ms Mowat, who had substantiated a claim of sexual harassment before the Canadian Human [...]


  • August 20, 2010 - Ravenlaw Sponsors Jim Bryson and The Weakerthans Band at the Ottawa Folk Festival

    Raven, Cameron, Ballantyne & Yazbeck was a proud sponsor of the Ottawa Folk Festival again this year. In particular, we were delighted to support Jim Bryson and The Weakerthans, who performed as part of an exciting Saturday night line-up on the Main Stage and participated in several workshops during the festival.   Acclaimed Ottawa singer-songwriter [...]


  • August 16, 2010 - Canadian Human Rights Tribunal Renders Groundbreaking Decision On Family Status

    The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal recently released its groundbreaking decision in Johnstone v. Canada Border Services Agency. In its ruling, the Tribunal held that Fiona Johnstone’s employer failed to accommodate her family status obligations and, in particular, her need to provide child care for her children. Fiona Johnstone, a Border Service Officer with the Canada Border Services [...]


  • August 3, 2010 - 2010 Raven, Cameron, Ballantyne & Yazbeck LLP Prize in Human Rights Awarded

    We are very proud to announce that Michelle Gordon has been awarded this year’s Raven, Cameron, Ballantyne & Yazbeck LLP Prize in Human Rights at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, Common Law Section.   Every year, our firm sponsors a prize for the student who achieves the highest standing in the “Human Rights [...]


  • April 28, 2010 - RCBY Recognizes National Day of Mourning

    On April 28, people across the globe pause to pay respects to their brothers and sisters who have died or been injured at work.   Just over twenty years ago, the Canadian Labour Congress declared the date a Day of Mourning; a date that is now observed in over 100 countries.   In Canada, in [...]


  • March 1, 2010 - James Cameron to Speak at OBA Conference on Harassment Investigations

    James Cameron will be speaking at an Ontario Bar Association program entitled Harassment Investigations: Pitfalls, Best Practices and New Approaches on Thursday, March 25, 2010.   James will be speaking from the perspective of an employee representative in harassment investigations, and will address issues including: How do harassment policies fit with related legislation and regulations? [...]


  • February 11, 2010 - 2011 Raven, Cameron, Ballantyne & Yazbeck Human Rights/Social Justice Internship

    Our firm is renewing its partnership with the University of Ottawa and continues its commitment and funding to the Raven, Cameron, Ballantyne & Yazbeck LLP/s.r.l. Human Rights/Social Justice Internship which provides a student with an opportunity to work full time over the summer as an intern in the areas of social justice and human rights. [...]