The Mitigation Myth Is Dead
The Ontario Court of Appeal in *Williamson v. Brandt Tractor Inc.* (2026) rejected the long‑standing “inferior‑job” mitigation myth, confirming that any earnings during the reasonable‑notice period must be deducted from wrongful‑dismissal damages, even if the new job pays less. The court also clarified that employers bear a heavy burden to prove that comparable work was actually available before alleging a failure to mitigate. The decision overturns prior trial rulings that had ignored lower‑paying income and sets a new, predictable standard for mitigation arguments in Ontario employment law. Both plaintiffs and defendants must now reassess damage calculations and evidentiary strategies.
Hundreds of Migrant Workers Win Class Action Against Mac's Convenience, Immigration Consultants
The British Columbia Supreme Court ruled that Mac’s Convenience Stores breached its duty of honest performance to roughly 880 temporary foreign workers recruited under Canada’s Temporary Foreign Workers Program. The court found the chain offered signed contracts for jobs it...
Alberta Court Tosses Worker's Appeal of Wrongful Dismissal Case
Alberta’s Court of King's Bench dismissed former Syncrude employee Abimbola Ojekanmi’s appeal to revive a wrongful‑dismissal claim filed 9.5 years after his 2013 termination. The court affirmed that pay in lieu of notice signifies a termination without cause and that...
Collective Agreement: Foothills Steel Foundry
Foothills Steel Foundry and its union have signed a two‑year collective agreement effective June 15 2026 through June 14 2028. The contract adds 12 paid holidays, tiered vacation accrual up to five weeks, and 1.5× overtime pay. Employees receive comprehensive benefits—including life, health, dental,...
‘The Real Risk Is a Leader Who Arrives without Legitimacy and Handles that Deficit Badly’
Lululemon announced former Nike executive Heidi O’Neill as its next CEO, but a four‑month non‑compete delay means she won’t assume the role until September. The market reacted sharply, wiping out nearly $2 billion in market value and sending the stock down...
P.E.I. Tories Defeat Sick Note Bill
Prince Edward Island's Progressive Conservative government voted 10‑7 along party lines to reject a Green Party private‑member bill that would have barred employers from demanding sick‑note documentation. The province’s current Employment Standards Act still allows medical proof after three days...
Now Open for Nominations: Employers of Choice 2026
Canadian HR Reporter has opened nominations for its sixth annual Employers of Choice 2026, inviting organizations to showcase their people‑centric strategies. The program, backed by Black HR Professionals Canada and LINX HR Canada, highlights culture, leadership, engagement and professional development...
Tim Hortons Launches Campaign to Hire 10,000 Workers
Tim Hortons launched a nationwide campaign to hire 10,000 local workers this summer, aiming to replace the declining use of temporary foreign workers, which now account for just 3.6% of its 110,000‑person workforce. The push supports natural turnover and the...
Tim Hortons Investing $400 Million to Build, Renovate 480 Restaurants
Tim Hortons announced a $400 million national rollout in 2026, adding 80 new restaurants and renovating 400 existing locations across Canada. Franchise owners will fund $270 million, while corporate contributes $130 million, with Ontario receiving the largest share of projects. The upgrades focus...
No Cannabis for Cabin Crew - on or Off Duty
A Quebec labour arbitrator upheld Air Transat’s zero‑tolerance cannabis rule for cabin crew, deeming the blanket prohibition reasonable despite encroaching on privacy. The decision relied on safety‑sensitive classifications under Canadian Aviation Regulations and cited recent operational data, including 46 in‑flight...
Burnout and AI: New Tech without Supports Risky for Employers
A recent Robert Half Canada survey shows Canadian worker burnout has jumped to 62%, with 37% attributing heightened pressure to AI tools. Employment lawyers warn that employers are setting unrealistic productivity expectations, as AI augments speed but still requires human...
Off-Duty Misconduct: Toronto Cop Arrests in Spain Raise Questions
Three Toronto Police Service officers were arrested in Spain after a May 13 incident in a Barcelona taxi, with two charged with sexual assault and a third with assaulting an "agent of authority." The officers were off‑duty, returned to Canada and...
Despite 36 Years at Hospital, Surgeon Considered Contractor – Not Employee
A pioneering cardiac surgeon at Calgary’s Foothills Medical Centre, Teresa Prieur, spent 36 years wearing an Alberta Health Services (AHS) badge and using its resources, yet the Human Rights Tribunal of Alberta ruled she was a contractor, not an employee....
Honda 'Indefinitely' Suspends $15-Billion EV Plant in Ontario
Honda Canada announced an indefinite suspension of its $15 billion CAD (≈$11 billion USD) electric‑vehicle supply‑chain project in Ontario, citing revised strategic objectives and shifting market demand. The plan, unveiled in April 2024, would have added a battery plant, cathode and separator...
Roundtable: Beyond the Hype: What AI Really Means for HR
HR leaders from CBC/Radio Canada and BC Hydro convened to discuss the practical implications of AI in human resources. They examined current experimentation, focusing on ROI, productivity gains, and the need for robust upskilling programs. The roundtable highlighted the importance...