Atlantic Employers’ Counsel – Spring 2014
The Editor’s Corner
Clarence Bennett
This edition focuses on employment and labour issues in Construction. From occupational health and safety legislation to what you need to know when the union organizer arrives at your workplace. We also cover off the general labour and employment differences between non-union and union construction sites in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Safety begins with you: what construction employers in Atlantic Canada need to know about occupational health and safety
Rebecca Saturley and Michelle McCann
Workplace injury and death is highest in the construction industry. In 2008, the Federal Government recorded an average of 24.5 injuries annually per 1,000 employees in the construction industry. Given these statistics, it is in a construction employer’s best interest to take all reasonable measures to ensure safety on construction worksites.
Recent construction industry safety violation discipline decisions: due diligence means enforcing rules
Clarence Bennett and Alison Strachan
Effective health and safety programs must meet provincial occupational health and safety standards and employers must always exercise due diligence in taking steps to meet those standards. Ongoing enforcement of a health and safety program is a must. If not, it is arguable that the employer is not meeting its due diligence requirements and may face unnecessary difficulty defending an occupational health and safety prosecution.
Unionization and its impact in the construction industry
Rick Dunlop, Sacha Morisset, Stephen Carpenter and Stephen Penney
Non-union employers in Atlantic Canada’s construction industry should be aware of the relative ease with which they can become unionized and the significant impact that unionization can have on the operation of their businesses.
Unionized and non-unionized management rights in the construction industry: the Newfoundland and Labrador snapshot
Ruth Trask
Has your Newfoundland-based construction company recently been certified by a union, or are you contemplating the use of a union subcontractor on your worksite? There are a number of unique features of the construction industry in Newfoundland and Labrador. This article will make you aware of just a few of them.
Archive
On April 21, 2015, the Nova Scotia government declared that the new Pension Benefits Act (passed in 2011) and new Pension Benefits Regulations will come into effect on June 1, 2015. The new Regulations follow the new Act and draft Regulations summarized in…
Read MoreAn uninsured driver strikes another vehicle, injuring its occupants. These injured persons obtain a settlement from their own motor vehicle insurer (pursuant to Section D of the standard policy), and they assign their action against…
Read MoreThe Editors’ Corner Michelle Black and Sean Kelly Hello! We are very pleased to be the new Atlantic Employers’ Counsel (AEC) editors. We look forward to bringing you what we hope you will find to be interesting…
Read MoreFollowing several Supreme Court of Canada decisions in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the law of constructive dismissal was well defined – or so many thought. The Court’s decision in Potter v. New Brunswick Legal…
Read MoreIn our May 20, 2014 client update, we reported on significant changes affecting automobile insurance in Prince Edward Island, including changes to no-fault benefits available under section B and changes to the damages cap for minor…
Read More2014 LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT ATLANTIC CANADA LEGISLATIVE UPDATE As we move forward in 2015, we know our region’s employers will want to be aware of new legislation that has passed or could soon pass that…
Read MoreOn January 28, 2015, the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance issued a bulletin in Nova Scotia. The 2015 minor injury cap has been set at $8,352, an increase of 1.7 per cent over 2014.…
Read MoreIn preparing for the 2015 proxy season, you should be aware of some regulatory changes that may impact disclosure to and interactions with your shareholders. This update highlights what is new in the 2015 proxy…
Read MoreDuring the Fall 2014 legislative sitting, the Province of Prince Edward Island passed legislation that results in significant changes to the Lands Protection Act. The amendments have just been proclaimed and were effective January 1, 2015.…
Read MoreThe Editor’s Corner Clarence Bennett This issue focuses on the family and the interaction between employment and family obligations. As 2014 comes to a close, I would like to extend Seasons Greetings to all of…
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