Labour & Employment
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February 18, 2025
Why Canada should not be 51st state but join the EU: Now that’s tempting | Hodine Williams
Let me get right to it: the idea of Canada becoming the 51st state of the United States is a fantasy better suited to remain in the realm of late-night TV debates and Internet memes. Sure, Canada and the United States share the world’s longest undefended border, a love of hockey (okay, mostly Canada), and a language (again, mostly), but that’s pretty much where the similarities end. Canada is a proud, independent nation with its own identity, values, and systems — none of which align with the idea of becoming part of the United States. But what if there’s a better, bolder alternative? Hear me out! What if Canada joined the European Union? Yes, the EU. Before you dismiss this as absurd, let’s dive into the facts, the hurdles and why this idea might not be as crazy as it sounds.
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February 18, 2025
Another clause bites the dust | Stuart Rudner
Another Ontario court has ruled against the enforceability of a termination clause, marking another victory for employees. In Baker v. Van Dolder’s Home Team Inc., 2025 ONSC 952, Justice John Sproat considered both the “with cause” provision under Waksdale v. Swegon North America Inc., 2020 ONCA 391, and the “without cause” provision under Dufault v. The Corporation of the Township of Ignace, 2024 ONSC 1029.
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February 14, 2025
Unifor members win ‘historic’ $15 million arbitration award in severance pay dispute
Unifor has announced it has won what it calls a “historic arbitration award” of about $15 million for 200 of its union members who worked at Wingham, Ont.-based automotive exhaust manufacturer Wescast Industries. The union and the company were involved in a nearly two-year dispute regarding severance and termination pay.
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February 14, 2025
Alberta Court of Appeal upholds decision limiting profit sharing damages for wrongful dismissal
The Alberta Court of Appeal has upheld an order requiring an employer to pay a terminated employee payments under a shareholder profit sharing program (SHPS) until the former employee was required to sell the shares back to the company.
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February 14, 2025
Feds launch 2025 pre-budget consultations amid tariff uncertainty
The federal government has launched pre-budget consultations amid the looming threat of the U.S. potentially imposing tariffs on Canadian imports.
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February 14, 2025
Navigating the complexity of workplace romances
Workplace romances are not uncommon. In fact, studies show that approximately one-third of Canadians have been romantically involved with a colleague at some point in their careers. These relationships can sometimes bring positive outcomes, such as increased employee engagement and improved morale, but they also present a variety of challenges for employers.
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February 13, 2025
CBA urges new funding as Federal Court’s massive budget shortfall threatens drastic service cuts
The Liberal government’s underfunding of the Federal Court could “drastically” reduce service to litigants, its chief justice warns, spurring the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) to call for urgent “off-cycle” federal funding to address the national trial court’s chronic multi-million-dollar budgetary shortfalls.
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February 13, 2025
CFIB says small businesses facing cancelled, delayed orders amid Canada-U.S. tariff threat
According to new data from the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFIB), almost one in five small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are facing delayed or cancelled orders caused by ongoing uncertainty over a potential Canada-U.S. trade war.
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February 13, 2025
Europe’s revenge: They may hit back harder | Hodine Williams
The imposition of tariffs by the United States on European Union goods has long been a crossroads in transatlantic trade relations. Historically, the U.S. has used tariffs to protect domestic industries, often citing national security or unfair trade practices as justification — yawn. The most notable recent example was the Trump administration’s 2018, decision to impose a 25 per cent tariff on steel and a 10 per cent tariff on aluminium imports from the EU under s. 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which allows tariffs for national security reasons. The EU responded swiftly with retaliatory tariffs on iconic American products like alcohol, motorcycles and jeans. But as tensions grow, the question remains: how will the EU respond to U.S. tariffs, and what tools does it have at its disposal?
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February 13, 2025
Reflections on a setback | David Peters
Some soul searching was in order. I was clearly not excelling in my career, but I didn’t know why. I had the education and background to succeed, but things weren’t clicking. I knew the reason may be linked to viewing my job only as a means to an end — saving enough to retire — instead of as a vocation, an end in itself, as a meaningful part of life to be enjoyed not hurried through. In short, something to be passionate about. As I reflected upon the role I played in my dilemma, I knew I must change. I like to read and learn, so I sought answers in books. Maybe, after all, I would find something useful. I did.