Cape Breton (Regional Municipality) v. Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 933, (2005) 232 N.S.R.(2d) 270 (SC)

• Judge: LeBlanc, J.
• Court: Supreme Court of Nova Scotia (Canada)
• Case Date: November 04, 2004
• Jurisdiction: Nova Scotia
• Citations: (2005), 232 N.S.R.(2d) 270 (SC);2005 NSSC 99

Cape Breton v. CUPE (2005), 232 N.S.R.(2d) 270 (SC);

 737 A.P.R. 270

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2005] N.S.R.(2d) TBEd. MY.010

Cape Breton Regional Municipality (applicant) v. Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 933 (respondent)

(S.N. 220888; 2005 NSSC 99)

Indexed As: Cape Breton (Regional Municipality) v. Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 933

Nova Scotia Supreme Court

LeBlanc, J.

May 3, 2005.

Summary:

A union sought reclassification of and an increase in wages for an employee unit on the basis that there had been a substantial increase in their duties and responsibilities. The employer denied the demands. The union filed a grievance. An arbitrator allowed the grievance. The employer sought judicial review.

The Nova Scotia Supreme Court allowed the application.

Labour Law - Topic 9353

Public service labour relations - Judicial review - Decisions of adjudicators, arbitrators or grievance appeal boards - Scope of review (incl. standard) - A union sought reclassification of and an increase in wages for an employee unit on the basis that there had been a substantial increase in their duties and responsibilities - The employer denied the demands and a grievance was filed - An arbitrator, appointed pursuant to the collective agreement and the Trade Union Act, allowed the grievance - The employer sought judicial review - The Nova Scotia Supreme Court held that the standard of review was reasonableness - The court held that the arbitrator acted unreasonably in considering increases in duties and responsibilities that occurred before the date of the collective agreement.

Labour Law - Topic 9605

Public service labour relations - Collective agreement - Job classifications - Reclassification - [See Labour Law - Topic 9353 ].

Cases Noticed:

National Gypsum (Canada) Ltd. and International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 721 and Local 721B, Re (1999), 80 L.A.C.(4th) 115, refd to. [para. 16].

Goodyear Canada Inc. v. United Rubber Workers, Local 22 (1980), 28 L.A.C.(2d) 196 (Ont.), refd to. [para. 17].

Selkirk General Hospital v. Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 1601, [1993] M.G.A.D. No. 9; 30 C.L.A.S. 10, refd to. [para. 18].

Ryan v. Law Society of New Brunswick, [2003] 1 S.C.R. 247; 302 N.R. 1; 257 N.B.R.(2d) 207; 674 A.P.R. 207, refd to. [para. 27].

Dr. Q. v. College of Physicians and Surgeons (B.C.) - see Dr. Q., Re.

Dr. Q., Re, [2003] 1 S.C.R. 226; 302 N.R. 34; 179 B.C.A.C. 170; 295 W.A.C. 170; 2003 SCC 19, refd to. [para. 27].

Voice Construction Ltd. v. Construction & General Workers' Union, Local 92, [2004] 1 S.C.R. 609; 318 N.R. 332; 346 A.R. 201; 320 W.A.C. 201; 2004 SCC 23, refd to. [para. 27].

Pushpanathan v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [1998] 1 S.C.R. 982, addendum, [1998] 1 S.C.R. 1222; 226 N.R. 201, refd to. [para. 27].

Creager v. Provincial Dental Board (N.S.) (2005), 230 N.S.R.(2d) 48; 729 A.P.R. 48; 2005 NSCA 9, refd to. [para. 30].

Halifax Employers Association v. International Longshoremen's Association, Local 269 (2004), 226 N.S.R.(2d) 159; 714 A.P.R. 159; 2004 NSCA 101, refd to. [para. 31].

Alberta Union of Provincial Employees et al. v. Lethbridge Community College, [2004] 1 S.C.R. 727; 319 N.R. 201; 348 A.R. 1; 321 W.A.C. 1, refd to. [para. 43].

Seven Oaks General Hospital v. International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 827, [1993] M.G.A.D. No. 113, refd to. [para. 53].

Oland Breweries Ltd. v. United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (Brewery and Soft Drink Workers, Local 361) (Vacation Pay Grievance), [2001] N.S.L.A.A. No. 14, refd to. [para. 53].

Halifax Shipyard Ltd. v. Marine, Office and Technical Employees Union, Local 28 (1996), 155 N.S.R.(2d) 357; 457 A.P.R. 357 (S.C.), not folld. [para. 54].

Boeing Canada Technology Ltd., Re, [2001] M.G.A.D. No. 61, refd to. [para. 59].

United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, Local 579 v. Bradco Construction Ltd., [1993] 2 S.C.R. 316; 153 N.R. 81; 106 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 140; 334 A.P.R. 140, refd to. [para. 76].

Sisters of St. Joseph v. Service Employees Union, Local 210 (1997), 102 O.A.C. 192; 35 O.R.(3d) 91 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 76].

Nova Scotia Government Employees Union v. Nova Scotia (Minister of Human Resources) et al. (1996), 148 N.S.R.(2d) 368; 429 A.P.R. 368 (S.C.), affd. (1996), 155 N.S.R.(2d) 12; 457 A.P.R. 12 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 77].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Brown, Donald J.M., and Beatty, David M., Canadian Labour Arbitration (3rd Ed. 1988) (Looseleaf), p. 4-59 [para. 58]; para. 2:3128 [para. 20].

Cowan, Jeff G., The Standard of Review: The Common Sense Evolution? (2003), pp. 6, 7 [para. 28].

Jones, David Phillip, Notes on Dr. Q and Ryan: Two More Decisions by the Supreme Court of Canada on the Standard of Review in Administrative Law (2003), paras. 17 [para. 65]; 18 [para. 66]; 21 [para. 65].

Counsel:

Eric Durnford, Q.C., and Rebecca L. Pitts, for the applicant;

Lionel G. Clarke, for the respondent.

This application was heard on November 4, 2004, in Sydney, N.S., by LeBlanc, J., of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court, who delivered the following decision on May 3, 2005.