Category Archives: News

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

News Resources No Comments

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 associations representing current and former members of the Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, our firm maintained that employees had an equitable right to the significant portions of the surplus that were directly attributable to contributions by workers and that this right had not been extinguished by legislation passed in 2000. This is the first case to be heard by the Supreme Court with respect to the rights workers have to a surplus in a statutory pension plan.

PSAC and the above-noted associations were represented by Andrew Raven, James Cameron and Andrew Astritis of RCBY. The Court reserved judgment on the matter.

2010 Raven, Cameron, Ballantyne & Yazbeck Human Rights/Social Justice Intern Selected

News Resources No Comments

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 justice or human rights initiatives, particularly through her work with the University of Ottawa Community Legal Clinic and with the Organization of American States (as an intern in their Cultural Program Department program with an MME). Among other things, Raphaëlle worked with the OAS to promote Latin American arts and also participated as an international electoral observer during the 2007 electoral process in Guatemala. Congratulations Raphaëlle!

Each year, our firm provides funding for a student from the Faculty of Law at the University of Ottawa to work full time over the summer as an intern in the areas of social justice and human rights. This is a program that we are very proud of, as it gives students excellent experience in these areas but also provides legal support to organizations that often are unable to afford this. This year, the host organizations which will benefit from the internship are the Canadian Artists’ Representation/le Front des artistes canadiens (CARFAC) and l’Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens (AEFO).

If your organization works in the areas of social justice and human rights, and you are interested in having an intern in the future, please contact David Yazbeck at 613-567-2901.

Ravenlaw-sponsored Folk Festival a Great Success!

News Resources No Comments

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 event, including workshops with many of the artists. We hope that everyone who attended had a great time!

For pictures and more: www.digitallounge.ca/event/folkfest-2012/

RCBY Represents CARFAC and RAAV before the CAPPRT

News Resources No Comments

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 against the National Gallery of Canada (NGC). The complaint was filed after the NGC refused to discuss minimum exhibition and reproduction fees for visual artists, following five years of ongoing negotiations.  CARFAC and RAAV are seeking to ensure that Canadian visual artists receive minimum fees for the exhibition and reproduction of their works by the NGC.

The Complaint was heard initially on October 26-27, 2010, and the hearing is scheduled to resume at 8:30 on December 2-3, 2010 at the Competition Tribunal hearing room.  David Yazbeck and Erin O’Hara are counsel.  Argument is expected to start Friday morning.