• infringes the core jurisdiction of the superior courts and breaches section 96 of the Constitution Act, 1867 by absolving itself from any liability and denying First Nations children in care the right to access the courts;

• denies First Nations children substantive equality and equal benefit of the law on the grounds of age, race, aboriginality-residence and family status, contrary to section 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms;

• denies First Nations the rights, benefits and opportunities promised to First Nations children in care by Canada pursuant to s. 91(24) of the Constitution Act, 1867 and has therefore passed law that is beyond the province’s constitutional authority; and

• violates the honour of the Crown and breaches its fiduciary duty owed to First Nations children in care.

April 28, 2021 marks the 30th National Day of Mourning in Canada. Community members are asked on this day to take some time to remember workers who have been killed, injured, or suffered illness due to workplace related hazards and occupational exposures.  

In the era of the Covid-19 pandemic, it has become especially apparent that some workers face greater risks when providing front line and essential services to the community. Many times, the workers who are placed in the most precarious positions are those that already face systemic barriers to equality.  Many are not able to work in the protection of their home, or access unpaid sick leave when providing care, food, transportation, and other vital services.  Frontline and essential workers have become ill, and some have even lost their lives due to work related exposures to the virus and other health hazards.

All Canadians should enjoy an equal right to workplaces that are safe, healthy, and respectful of every individual’s dignity. We encourage you to take some time today to reflect on the many sacrifices Canadian workers make when providing goods and services, and how you can demonstrate your support and commitment to the promotion of safe workplaces. 

David Yazbeck was recently invited to speak about whistleblower laws on the @Risk Podcast, with host Jodi Butts. David spoke about the risks inherent in whistleblowing and the proper response – or lack of response – from legislatures or other bodies. As part of the same episode, Ms. Butts interviewed Dr. John O’Connor, who is the first recipient of the Centre for Free Expression Whistleblower Initiative’s Peter Bryce Prize for whistleblowing.

David is a leading practitioner in the area of whistleblower law. He is also a member of the Centre for Free Expression Whistleblower Initiative’s Steering Committee, along with a number of high-profile whistleblower advocates.

The @Risk episode featuring David and Dr. O’Connor can be found here, as well as on Apple and Google podcasts.

On March 17, 2021, David Yazbeck will be moderating a webinar on “The Expansion of Whistleblower Rewards in Canada, the US and Globally”. The webinar, presented by the Whistleblowing Canada Research Society, will focus particularly on the Ontario Securities Commission Whistleblower Program, as well as other similar programs.

David will be joined by host Paloma Raggo, assistant professor at Carleton University and the Director of Whistleblowers Canada; Mary Inman, a partner at Constantine Cannon LLP and head of the firm’s international whistleblower practice; and Shaifali Joshi-Clark, a senior forensic accountant in the Office of the Whistleblower of the Ontario Securities Commission.

More details about the webinar can be found here. Attendance at the webinar is free.

On February 24, 2021, Morgan Rowe presented as part of a panel on pay equity issues in Canada, hosted by the University of Ottawa Association of Women and the Law and Employment Law Student’s Society. The panel discussed the ongoing work needed to address the gender pay gap, as well as the impacts of the recent federal Pay Equity Act and the Supreme Court of Canada’s 2018 decision striking down portions of Quebec’s pay equity legislation.

Andrew Raven, Andrew Astritis and Morgan had appeared before the Supreme Court on behalf for the intervener, the Public Service Alliance of Canada, to argue in support of a Charter challenge during the Quebec pay equity case.

On June 22, 2021, Sean McGee presented as part of a panel at l’Association des juristes d’expression francaise de l’Ontario’s annual congress. The panel addressed new developments in many areas of law, with Sean presenting specifically on ten key recent cases in the area of labour law.

RavenLaw is proud to sponsor an upcoming evening of music in support of Ottawa Blues for Youth, in connection with the Royal Ottawa Hospital. Ottawa Blues for Youth was created in the fall of 2020 by Anita Manley, with funds raised going to support Youth Mental Health at the Royal.

The event will be held on October 23, 2021, with ticket sales beginning in mid-August. For more information, click here.

On June 24, 2021, James Cameron and Karen Sisson presented as part of the Law Society of Ontario’s annual Six-Minute Employment Lawyer update. James and Karen presented on the interconnections between Long-Term Disability claims, the duty to accommodate disabilities in the workplace, and wrongful dismissal cases.

On August 30, 2021, Raphaëlle Laframboise-Carignan and Anna Lichty were called to the Bar in Nunavut and were sworn before Justice Cooper in Iqaluit, NU. Both Raphaëlle and Anna were presented by Alison McEwen who has been a member of the Law Society of Nunavut since 2015.

RavenLaw is proud to represent employees and unions in the northern territories of Canada, including in the Northwest Territories (Michael Fisher), the Yukon (Morgan Rowe), and Nunavut (Alison, Raphaëlle, and Anna).