International Women’s Day – Advancing Women’s and Workers’ Rights Then and Now

March 8th is International Women’s Day, a day that marks the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. Not just a celebration, International Women’s Day is a call to action for all the work that remains to be done. At a time when recent reports reveal that Canadian women earn only 72% of men’s wages for similar work, it is important to reflect on the labour roots of International... Read More

Remedy of Binding Arbitration Affirmed for Employer Breach of Duty to Bargain in Good Faith

The Federal Court of Appeal recently upheld the Canada Industrial Relations Board’s decision to order binding resolution of a disputed issue in first contract negotiations between the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the Listuguj Mi’gmaq First Nations Council (the employer) as a remedy for the employer’s breach of the duty to bargain in good faith. Paragraph 50(a) of the Canada Labour Code requires the parties to negotiate in... Read More

Office closure

Please note that our office will be closed on Friday, March 25, 2016 and Monday, March 28, 2016 in recognition of the Easter holiday. Read More

David Yazbeck Contributes to Development of Whistleblowing Guideline

As a member of a CSA Group Working Group, David Yazbeck contributed to the development of the Whistleblowing Guideline, which will be available for purchase on the CSA Group website on January 12, 2016. The Guideline sets out best practices for whistleblowing arrangements within an organization. This is aimed at the public and private sectors, as well as NGOs and voluntary organizations. David Yazbeck is one of the leading practitioners... Read More

Congratulations to Max Halparin and Samantha Dubord, the 2016 Raven, Cameron, Ballantyne & Yazbeck Human Rights/Social Justice Interns

The partners of Raven, Cameron, Ballantyne & Yazbeck are pleased to announce the selection of the successful 2016 Raven, Cameron, Ballantyne & Yazbeck Human Rights/Social Justice Internship candidates, Max Halparin and Samantha Dubord. Both Max and Samantha are in the second year of their studies at the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law. We congratulate Max and Samantha on their achievement and look forward to working with them this summer... Read More

2015 Labour and Employment Year in Review

Another year is drawing to a close, providing an opportunity to look back and consider the year’s victories and challenges in the labour and employment law context. 2015 was a momentous year for workers’ rights: there were several significant court judgments, as well as important legislative and political changes. Here is RavenLaw’s Year in Review, listing of the top five developments of the year: Right to strike: the Supreme Court... Read More

David Yazbeck Speaking on “Blowing a Whistle at Work: Legal Rights and Obligations”

On March 29, 2016, David Yazbeck will be speaking on “Blowing a Whistle at Work: Legal Rights and Obligations” at the Insight Information Workplace Rights & Accommodations Forum 2016. The Forum will provide a guideline for handling complicated workplace accommodations and rights issues through in-depth analysis into case law and best practices. David’s presentation will examine whistleblowing, including when an employee can blow the whistle, key elements of a whistleblower... 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