National Day of Mourning in Canada

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.... Read More

Sean McGee Presents on Key Recent Labour Cases

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. Read More

RavenLaw Supports Ottawa Blues for Youth

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. Read More

James Cameron and Karen Sisson Present on LTD Issues in Employment Law Cases

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. Read More

Is Your Non-Competition Clause Enforceable? New Insights from the Ontario Superior Court

When presented with a contract related to work, whether as an independent contractor, dependant contractor, or employee, it is vital that you closely examine the terms of the proposed agreement. Proposed contracts may contain non-competition clauses that limit your capacity to participate in rival business ventures, sometimes long after the contractual relationship has ended.  In most industries, an overly burdensome non-competition clause will severely limit the employee/contractor’s ability to perform... Read More

Callow v Zollinger and Good Faith Obligations in Employment Law

In a recent contract case, Callow v Zollinger, 2020 SCC 45, the Supreme Court confirmed that damages can flow from a contractual breach of good faith when one party knowingly misleads the other. Good faith between parties is an unwritten obligation found in contracts. The exact nature of that obligation may vary some, depending on the type of contract.  Now, the Court has clarified the legal obligation to perform a... Read More

How to Submit a Long-Term Disability Claim

A long-term disability (LTD) claim is essential for those unable to work due to a debilitating medical condition or injury. If you cannot work because of a medical condition or injury, it may be possible to secure LTD benefits. Today, let’s examine how to submit a long-term disability claim in more detail. In addition, we’ll cover what happens if you are denied including next steps. Make the Most of the... Read More

Andrew Astritis Speaks at University of Ottawa

On December 3, 2020, Andrew Astritis gave a guest lecture on Workers’ Rights and the Charter in the University of Ottawa’s English Common Law Program. Speaking to upper year labour law students, Andrew outlined recent developments in the law on these issues, including the 2015 Labour Law Trilogy in which the Supreme Court of Canada recognized the existence of a constitutional right to strike. Read More

Federal Court of Appeal Quashes Classification Decision for Third Time

In a recent court decision, the Federal Court of Appeal overturned the decision of the Canada Border Service Agency to reject the classification grievances of over 45 management employees. The Court found that CBSA’s decision was unreasonable because it refused to reclassify the managers’ position on the basis that it did not perform certain decision-making responsibilities, when this was not actually a requirement of the classification rules or guidelines. Furthermore, the... Read More

The Basics of Severance Packages in Ontario

When Ontarians think about pay packages upon the termination of their job, they often use the term “severance packages”. That term can include a number of different types of pay, including statutory termination, notice outlined in an employment contract, and notice at common law. However, despite the similar naming convention, the three are unique.  What are Severance Packages? Severance packages in Ontario consist of the amount legally owed to you... Read More