PSAC challenge to the Expenditure Restraint Act heard by Ontario Court of Appeal

The Ontario Court of Appeal recently heard the appeal brought by the Public Service Alliance of Canada challenging the constitutionality of the Expenditure Restraint Act. This legislation was introduced by the Federal Government in 2009 to cap wage increases in future collective agreements and roll-back increases previously agreed to by the parties in existing collective agreements. The appeal is one of three being heard across the country with respect to... Read More

David Yazbeck Moderating Lancaster House Conference on Independent Medical Examinations

On June 11, David Yazbeck will be moderating a Lancaster House Conference on “The ABCs of IMEs: When are they useful, when are the required?” The conference will discuss the ins and outs of employer requests for independent medical examinations (“IMEs”) to verify or obtain information about an employee’s medical condition. The panel will discuss the ground rules for employer requests for IMEs, whether such requests are becoming more common, whether... Read More

Breathing new life into Labour Day

This Monday, as occurs the first Monday of every September, Canadians will celebrate Labour Day. The occasion is usually marked across the country by barbecues, get-togethers and marches, uniting families and friends before the official end of summer and the back-to-school rush. The holiday joins Family Day, Victoria Day, and the Civic Holiday, as vaguely-defined holidays with little meaning to most Canadians other than a day off. In the case... Read More

Workplace Harassment: Rights and Responsibilities

[This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice, which cannot be given without consideration of your individual circumstances.] All employees have the right to work in a safe and healthy workplace, free of harassment and violence.  Harassment in the workplace often lead to a toxic working environment filled with stress and anxiety. In some cases, it may even lead to physical violence. All workplace parties,... Read More

Morgan Rowe Celebrating Toronto Book Launch

Morgan Rowe will be celebrating a Toronto launch for the paperback edition of her book, Exploring Disability Identity and Disability Rights through Narratives: Finding a Voice of Their Own, on September 9, 2015. The book explores the relationship between disability, human rights, and personal identity in the lives of Canadians with disabilities. The book launch is being hosted by Caversham Booksellers. More details about the event can be found here. Read More

David Yazbeck Moderating Lancaster House Conference on Employee Privacy

On July 21, David Yazbeck will be moderating a Lancaster House Conference on “Minding Your Own Business: Privacy rules on collecting, using, and disclosing employee information” The conference will discuss the potential conflict between employee privacy and employer concerns about the impact employees’ online activity can have on their reputations. The panel will discuss the law related to background checks, including “social media checks”, the latest cases on surveillance and... Read More

Kim Davis and competing Charter rights

The story of Kim Davis, a Kentucky county clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples on the basis of her Christian faith, has made headlines across the US and Canada in recent weeks. On September 3, 2015, United States District Judge David Bunning held Davis in contempt, sending the clerk to jail. The controversy continues after her release - court proceedings are ongoing, and Davis returned to... Read More

2015 Raven, Cameron, Ballantyne & Yazbeck LLP Prize in Human Rights Awarded

We are very proud to announce that Elyssa Yoo has been awarded this year’s Raven, Cameron, Ballantyne & Yazbeck LLP Prize for achieving the highest standing in the Human Rights Laws in Canada course at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, Common Law Section. Every year, our firm sponsors a prize for the student who achieves the highest standing in the “Human Rights Laws in Canada” course at the... Read More

RavenLaw Recognized as a University of Ottawa Philanthropic Leader

RavenLaw’s commitment to the University of Ottawa has been recognized through an invitation by the University to become a member of the Doric Pillar within the University’s philanthropic leaders association, known as the Tabaret Society. The Doric Pillar recognizes the crucial support offered by annual donors to the University. The Tabaret Society is named after Father Joseph-Henri Tabaret, who is widely considered to be the “builder” of the University of... Read More

Federal Court of Appeal Decision Brings Female Nav Canada Workers Closer to Pay Equity

In a recent decision, the Federal Court of Appeal revived a pay equity complaint made by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (“PSAC”) on behalf of workers in certain female-dominated groups at Nav Canada. PSAC filed the complaint in 2002, but the Canadian Human Right Commission dismissed the complaint without an investigation in 2012. In its decision of July 28, 2015, the Federal Court of Appeal ruled that the Commission’s... Read More