Office Closure for Canada Day

Our office will be closed on Friday, July 1st for Canada Day. Read More

RavenLaw Proud to Support the Employment & Labour Law Students’ Society

On January 7, 2016, RavenLaw was proud to support the University of Ottawa Employment & Labour Law Students’ Society in hosting a social event bringing together students interested in labour and employment law and lawyers practicing in the field. Andrew Astritis and Amanda Montague-Reinholdt were pleased to attend on behalf of RavenLaw and have the opportunity to meet students interested in our area of practice. Read More

Human Rights Tribunal Accepts that Medical Conditions that are not Permanent are Protected under the Human Rights Code

In a decision rendered on March 14, 2016, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario rejected an employer’s request to have a Human Rights Code complaint dismissed on the basis that the employee had failed to establish the existence of a disability. The adjudicator found that there was no requirement that medical conditions be permanent or persistent in order to qualify as disabilities within the meaning of the Code, specifically declining... Read More

RavenLaw Involved in 3 of the “Top Cases of 2015”

In its annual list of the top cases from the preceding year, Law Times News named Mounted Police Association of Ontario v Canada (Attorney General), Meredith v Canada (Attorney General), Saskatchewan Federation of Labour v Saskatchewan as three of 2015’s big cases. RavenLaw appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada in all three of these cases, representing the Public Service Alliance of Canada as an intervener in the cases. Read More

CHRT upholds complaint of discrimination against First Nations children

In a landmark ruling, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal has found that the federal government discriminates against First Nations children by chronically underfunding child and family services on reserve. The First Nations Child and Family Caring Society decision has significant implications, both for First Nations children and communities, and for broader human rights principles. Background The First Nations Child and Family Services Program is intended to provide culturally appropriate child... Read More

James Cameron Speaking on the Implications of Off-Duty Conduct and Employee Privacy

On February 2, 2016, James Cameron will be speaking at the Ontario Bar Association’s INSTITUTE conference on Privacy and the Workplace: The Scope and Limitations of Employee Privacy on the topic of “To what degree are employees entitled to privacy outside of business hours?”. The conference will explore where privacy fits in the employment relationship today, examining the implications of technology advancements on employee privacy and whether and how employers... Read More

Ontario Court of Appeal confirms no cap on reasonable notice

Employment lawyers are frequently asked to predict the length of reasonable notice that a court would award to an employee who has been terminated without cause. There is no set formula that applies to all cases, but lawyers have historically relied on the fact that, barring exceptional circumstances, courts generally don’t award more than 24 months’ notice. However, in Keenan v Canac Kitchens Ltd, the Ontario Court of Appeal recently... Read More

Federal Court of Appeal affirms robust approach to protection against workplace violence

On November 30, 2015, in Attorney General of Canada v PSAC, 2015 FCA 273, the Federal Court of Appeal dismissed the Government’s appeal of the decision of the Federal Court rendered last year. The case dealt with Part XX of the Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, which imposes a host of obligations on employers to prevent and respond to workplace violence. The Court’s decision affirmed the broad definition of... Read More

Kim Patenaude to Present an Advanced Seminar on the Duty to Accommodate at Health Canada

On March 10, 2016, Kim Patenaude will be presenting a bilingual advanced seminar on the Duty to Accommodate at Health Canada on behalf of 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 and its mission to improve the quality of life for citizens with disabilities.   Read More

RavenLaw Proud to Support Event on the PSAC Struggle for Pay Equity

RavenLaw is proud to sponsor an event on the Public Service Alliance of Canada’s struggle for pay equity, co-hosted by PSAC, the Workers’ History Museum, and the University of Ottawa Human Rights Research and Education Centre. The event will take place on December 10, 2015 at the University of Ottawa Alumni Hall, beginning at 5:30 pm for the English event and 7:30 pm for the French event. The event will... Read More