Canadian Pacific v. Dick,

JurisdictionNew Brunswick
JudgeRyan, Drapeau and Larlee, JJ.A.
Neutral Citation2000 NBCA 10
Citation(2000), 230 N.B.R.(2d) 39 (CA),2000 NBCA 10,230 NBR (2d) 39,[2000] NBJ No 373 (QL),100 ACWS (3d) 251,4 CCEL (3d) 6,230 NBR(2d) 39,230 N.B.R.(2d) 39,(2000), 230 NBR(2d) 39 (CA),[2000] N.B.J. No 373 (QL)
Date24 February 2000
CourtCourt of Appeal (New Brunswick)

Dick v. Cdn. Pacific Ltd. (2000), 230 N.B.R.(2d) 39 (CA);

    230 R.N.-B.(2e) 39; 593 A.P.R. 39

MLB headnote and full text

[French language version follows English language version]

[La version française vient à la suite de la version anglaise]

....................

Temp. Cite: [2000] N.B.R.(2d) TBEd. OC.010

Canadian Pacific Limited (defendant/appellant) v. Harold Dick (plaintiff/respondent)

(145/99/CA; 2000 NBCA 10)

Indexed As: Dick v. Canadian Pacific Ltd.

New Brunswick Court of Appeal

Ryan, Drapeau and Larlee, JJ.A.

September 27, 2000.

Summary:

The plaintiff resigned from his em­ploy­ment. He sued his former employer for damages, claiming that he had been con­structively dismissed.

The New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, in a decision reported 214 N.B.R. 341; 547 A.P.R. 341, allowed the plaintiff's action and assessed damages. The employer appealed. The plain­tiff cross-appealed.

The New Brunswick Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal and the cross-appeal.

Damages - Topic 1326

Exemplary or punitive damages - Wrong­ful dismissal - The plaintiff, a long time em­ployee, was the purchasing manager of CP's General Purchasing Department - CP informed him that it intended to cut his department's staff - The plaintiff resigned, claiming that he was constructively dis­missed - The plaintiff sued CP, seeking inter alia, punitive or exemplary damages - The New Brunswick Court of Appeal affirmed that the plaintiff was construc­tively dismissed - The court refused to interfere with the trial judge's decision not to award punitive or exemplary damages - See paragraphs 53 and 54.

Damages - Topic 6753

Contracts - Employment relationship or contract - For breach by employer - Miti­gation by employee - The plaintiff, a long time em­ployee, was the purchasing man­ager of CP's General Purchasing Depart­ment - CP informed him that it intended to cut his department's staff - The plaintiff resigned, claiming that he was construc­tively dis­missed - He obtained alternative employ­ment, but after 17 months chose not to seek further employment for personal reasons - The plaintiff sued CP, claiming that he was entitled to damages on the basis of a 42 month notice period - The New Brunswick Court of Appeal affirmed that the plaintiff was constructively dis­missed - The court held that the trial judge was entitled to limit the plaintiff's damages to a 17 month notice period based on the plaintiff's decision not to seek alternative employment - See paragraph 52.

Master and Servant - Topic 1151

Contract of hiring (employment contract) - Implied terms - General - The New Bruns­wick Court of Appeal stated that "[a] demotion may take place, with or without a downgrade in the employee's job title or remuneration. A substantial downward change in status may, in and of itself, constitute a breach by the employer of a fundamental or essential term of the con­tract of employment. ... Given the right set of circumstances, courts may imply a term in the employment contract denying the employer an untrammelled discretion to make substantially negative changes to the employee's job status" - See paragraph 37.

Master and Servant - Topic 1261

Contract of hiring (employment contract) - Variation - General - [See Master and Servant - Topic 1151 ].

Master and Servant - Topic 7502

Dismissal of employees - General prin­ciples - What constitutes dismissal or discharge - Constructive dismissal - The plaintiff, a long time employee, was the purchasing manager of CP's General Pur­chasing Department - CP informed him that it intended to cut his department's staff - The plaintiff resigned, claiming that he was constructively dismissed - The New Brunswick Court of Appeal held that the plaintiff was constructively dismissed - CP's decision to downsize the General Purchase Department entailed a loss of job status and prestige - It worsened the con­ditions under which the plaintiff was re­quired to work and would inevitably ag­gravate his health and work-related prob­lems - Therefore, the decision amounted to a fundamental change in the plaintiff's employment contract - See paragraphs 33 to 44.

Master and Servant - Topic 7502

Dismissal of employees - General prin­ciples - What constitutes dismissal or discharge - Constructive dismissal - [See Master and Servant - Topic 1151 ].

Master and Servant - Topic 7712

Dismissal of employees - Damages for wrongful dismissal - Punitive or vindictive damages - [See Damages - Topic 1326 ].

Master and Servant - Topic 8000

Dismissal without cause - Notice of dis­missal - What constitutes reasonable notice - [See Damages - Topic 6753 ].

Master and Servant - Topic 8064

Dismissal without cause - Damages - Mitigation - [See Damages - Topic 6753 ].

Master and Servant - Topic 8152

Resignation - When resignation takes effect - [See Master and Servant - Topic 8704 ].

Master and Servant - Topic 8704

Dismissal - Practice - Limitation periods - The plaintiff, a long time employee, was the purchasing manager of CP's General Purchasing Department - In mid-Decem­ber 1988, CP informed the plaintiff that it intended to cut his department's staff - On December 28, 1988, the plaintiff told a superior that he "would be resigning" - The superior told him to send in the nec­essary forms - The plaintiff sent in his resignation on January 4, 1989 - CP ac­cepted his resignation on January 6, 1989 - The plaintiff commenced a con­structive dismissal action on December 30, 1994 - CP argued that the action was barred by the six year limitation period (Limitation of Actions Act, s. 9) - The New Brunswick Court of Appeal affirmed that the plain­tiff's action was not statute barred - The plaintiff's resignation was not a fait ac­compli on December 28, 1988 - His cause of action only arose in early January 1989 - See paragraphs 46 to 50.

Cases Noticed:

Wallace v. United Grain Growers Ltd., [1997] 3 S.C.R. 701; 219 N.R. 161; 123 Man.R.(2d) 1; 159 W.A.C. 1, refd to. [para. 2].

Farber v. Compagnie Trust Royal, [1997] 1 S.C.R. 846; 210 N.R. 161, refd to. [para. 33].

Farber v. Royal Trust Co. - see Farber v. Compagnie Trust Royal.

Smith v. Viking Helicopter Ltd. (1989), 31 O.A.C. 368; 24 C.C.E.L. 113 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 35].

Saint John Shipbuilding Ltd. v. Snyders (1989), 100 N.B.R.(2d) 14; 252 A.P.R. 14 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 35].

Brennan v. Henley Publishing Ltd. (1997), 188 N.B.R.(2d) 338; 480 A.P.R. 338 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 35].

Dickinson v. Connell Chrysler Ltd., [2000] N.B.R.(2d) (Supp). No. 49 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 36].

Lynch v. Carter (Mac) Ltd. (1995), 169 N.B.R.(2d) 202; 434 A.P.R. 202 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 36].

Perkins v. Saint John Shipbuilding Ltd. (1989), 92 N.B.R.(2d) 344; 236 A.P.R. 344 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 36].

Johnson v. Moncton Chrysler Dodge (1980) Ltd. (1990), 104 N.B.R.(2d) 315; 261 A.P.R. 315 (T.D.), varied (1991), 114 N.B.R.(2d) 192; 289 A.P.R. 192 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 36].

Duplessis v. Irving Pulp & Paper Ltd., Irving (J.D.) Ltd. and Irving (1983), 47 N.B.R.(2d) 11; 124 A.P.R. 11 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 36].

Sherrard v. Moncton Chrysler Dodge (1980) Ltd. (1990), 104 N.B.R.(2d) 334; 261 A.P.R. 334 (T.D.), affd. (1990), 113 N.B.R.(2d) 355; 285 A.P.R. 355 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 36].

Orth v. MacDonald Dettwiler & Associates Ltd. (1986), 8 B.C.L.R.(2d) 1 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 37].

Elliott v. Southam Inc. (1988), 88 A.R. 329; 59 Alta. L.R.(2d) 376 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 37].

Shah v. Xerox Canada Ltd. (1998), 77 O.T.C. 171 (Gen. Div.), affd. (2000), 131 O.A.C. 44 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 40].

Whiting v. Winnipeg River Brokenhead Community Futures Development Corp. (1997), 116 Man.R.(2d) 89 (Q.B.), affd. (1998), 126 Man.R.(2d) 176; 167 W.A.C. 176; 159 D.L.R.(4th) 18 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 41].

Bramble et al. v. Medis Health and Phar­maceutical Services Inc. (1999), 214 N.B.R.(2d) 111; 547 A.P.R. 111 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 51].

Bishop v. Carleton Co-operative Ltd. (1996), 176 N.B.R.(2d) 206; 447 A.P.R. 206 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 51].

Corbin v. Standard Life Assurance Co. et al. (1995), 167 N.B.R.(2d) 355; 427 A.P.R. 355 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 52].

Vorvis v. Insurance Corp. of British Col­umbia, [1989] 1 S.C.R. 1085; 94 N.R. 321, refd to. [para. 53].

Gauthier v. Canada (Attorney General) (2000), 225 N.B.R.(2d) 211; 578 A.P.R. 211; 185 D.L.R.(4th) 660 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 53].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Bruce, B.D., Work, Unemployment and Justice (1994), p. 129 [para. 34].

England, Geoffrey, Christie, Innis, and Christie, Merran, Employment Law in Canada (3rd Ed. 1998), vol. 2, paras. 13.24 [para. 49]; 13.36 to 13.49 [para. 37].

Mole, Ellen E., Wrongful Dismissal Prac­tice Manual (Looseleaf), c. 3, paras. 3.48, 3.53.1 [para. 37].

Sherstobitoff, Nicholas W., Constructive Dismissal in Bruce, B.D., Work, Unem­ployment and Justice (1994), p. 129 [para. 34].

Counsel:

Wayne R. Chapman, Q.C., and Jeffrey R. Parker, for the appellant;

Thomas G. O'Neil, Q.C., and J. Michael Wirvin, for the respondent.

This appeal and cross-appeal were heard on February 24, 2000, by Ryan, Drapeau and Larlee, JJ.A., of the New Brunswick Court of Appeal. On September 27, 2000, Drapeau, J.A., delivered the following decision for the court.

To continue reading

Request your trial
74 practice notes
  • Table of Cases
    • Canada
    • Irwin Books Individual Employment Law. Second Edition
    • 16 Junio 2008
    ........................................................................................... 62 Dick v. Canadian Pacif‌ic Ltd. (2000), 230 N.B.R. (2d) 39, 4 C.C.E.L. (3d) 6, 2000 NBCA 10 ................................................................................. 360 Dickason v. University......
  • Saltsov et al. v. Rolnick, (2010) 262 O.A.C. 299 (DC)
    • Canada
    • Ontario Superior Court of Justice of Ontario (Canada)
    • 13 Octubre 2009
    ...Cases Noticed: Farber v. Compagnie Trust Royal, [1997] 1 S.C.R. 846; 210 N.R. 161, consd. [para. 24]. Dick v. Canadian Pacific Ltd. (2000), 230 N.B.R.(2d) 39; 593 A.P.R. 39; 100 A.C.W.S.(3d) 251; 2000 NBCA 10, consd. [para. Oseen v. Chinook's Edge School Division No. 73 (2006), 397 A.R. 278......
  • Termination of Employment
    • Canada
    • Irwin Books Individual Employment Law. Second Edition
    • 16 Junio 2008
    ...stated that the decision to terminate must be made “promptly” following the employer’s breach. 384 Dick v. Canadian Pacif‌ic Ltd. (2000), 4 C.C.E.L. (3d) 6 at 19 (N.B.C.A.). 385 Examples: Belanger v. Hospital Dietary Service Ltd ., [1983] O.J. No. 2051 (Dist. Ct.), where a hospital director......
  • Cameron et al. v. Louden et al., [2000] O.T.C. 137 (SupCt)
    • Canada
    • Ontario Superior Court of Justice of Ontario (Canada)
    • 10 Marzo 2000
    ...women of reproductive age. In Europe, annual incidence rates range from 1 to 3 per 100,000 for women younger than 35 years, and rise to 10 per 100,000 for those older than 35 years. The risk of having an ischaemic stroke or any type of stroke associated with OC use should be considered not ......
  • Request a trial to view additional results
33 cases
  • Saltsov et al. v. Rolnick, (2010) 262 O.A.C. 299 (DC)
    • Canada
    • Ontario Superior Court of Justice of Ontario (Canada)
    • 13 Octubre 2009
    ...Cases Noticed: Farber v. Compagnie Trust Royal, [1997] 1 S.C.R. 846; 210 N.R. 161, consd. [para. 24]. Dick v. Canadian Pacific Ltd. (2000), 230 N.B.R.(2d) 39; 593 A.P.R. 39; 100 A.C.W.S.(3d) 251; 2000 NBCA 10, consd. [para. Oseen v. Chinook's Edge School Division No. 73 (2006), 397 A.R. 278......
  • Cameron et al. v. Louden et al., [2000] O.T.C. 137 (SupCt)
    • Canada
    • Ontario Superior Court of Justice of Ontario (Canada)
    • 10 Marzo 2000
    ...women of reproductive age. In Europe, annual incidence rates range from 1 to 3 per 100,000 for women younger than 35 years, and rise to 10 per 100,000 for those older than 35 years. The risk of having an ischaemic stroke or any type of stroke associated with OC use should be considered not ......
  • Eli Lilly Canada Inc. et al. v. Novopharm Ltd., (2011) 399 F.T.R. 221 (FC)
    • Canada
    • Canada (Federal) Federal Court (Canada)
    • 10 Noviembre 2011
    ...in this area was shared by the other experts. He stated that "the dose is the dose, and I am not sure that it matters whether you need 10 or 100 milligrams of something (Transcript, Vol 10-A, p 62, lines 4-6). Dr. Young agreed, noting that, while olanzapine would likely be dosed at a lower ......
  • Ilkay v. Acadia Motors Ltd., [2004] N.B.R.(2d) Uned. 151
    • Canada
    • Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick (Canada)
    • 3 Diciembre 2004
    ...reduction in an employee's income by an employer amounts to constructive dismissal." [36] Also in Dick v. Canadian Pacific Ltd. [2000] 230 N.B.R.(2d) 39 , the Court of Appeal of New Brunswick had this to say at paragraphs 35 and 36: "35 It is commonplace that whether an employee has been co......
  • Request a trial to view additional results
20 firm's commentaries
  • Ontario's COVID-19 Response: The Latest Developments
    • Canada
    • Mondaq Canada
    • 22 Diciembre 2021
    ...applies where the weekly incidence rate is 40 per 100,000 or greater, with test positivity at 2.5% or higher and R0 at 1.2 or above; ...
  • Ontario's COVID-19 Response: The Latest Developments
    • Canada
    • Mondaq Canada
    • 2 Noviembre 2021
    ...framework levels The New Framework defines the five levels using numerical criteria: "Prevent" applies where the weekly incidence rate is (10 per 100,000, test positivity is (0.5% R0 is (1 ("R0" essentially represents the rate at which the disease is spreading); "Protect" is in effect where......
  • An Update On COVID-19'Related Protocols In Ontario, Québec, And British Columbia
    • Canada
    • Mondaq Canada
    • 11 Diciembre 2020
    ...Organized public events and gatherings are restricted to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors; the weekly incidence rate is less than 10 per 100,000; and the test rate is less than 0.5 percent. Protect (Yellow) Workplaces that are open to the public must develop COVID-19 safety plans a......
  • Ontario's COVID-19 Response: The Latest Developments
    • Canada
    • Mondaq Canada
    • 3 Septiembre 2021
    ...applies where the weekly incidence rate is 40 per 100,000 or greater, with test positivity at 2.5% or higher and R0 at 1.2 or above; ...
  • Request a trial to view additional results
21 books & journal articles
  • Table of Cases
    • Canada
    • Irwin Books Individual Employment Law. Second Edition
    • 16 Junio 2008
    ........................................................................................... 62 Dick v. Canadian Pacif‌ic Ltd. (2000), 230 N.B.R. (2d) 39, 4 C.C.E.L. (3d) 6, 2000 NBCA 10 ................................................................................. 360 Dickason v. University......
  • Termination of Employment
    • Canada
    • Irwin Books Individual Employment Law. Second Edition
    • 16 Junio 2008
    ...stated that the decision to terminate must be made “promptly” following the employer’s breach. 384 Dick v. Canadian Pacif‌ic Ltd. (2000), 4 C.C.E.L. (3d) 6 at 19 (N.B.C.A.). 385 Examples: Belanger v. Hospital Dietary Service Ltd ., [1983] O.J. No. 2051 (Dist. Ct.), where a hospital director......
  • Trends in the imprisonment of women in Canada.
    • Canada
    • Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice Vol. 51 No. 2, April - April 2009
    • 1 Abril 2009
    ...women are dramatically different. For example, we estimate that the overall rate of imprisonment (counts) for women in 2004/2005 was about 10 per 100,000 women; for men it was about 190 per 100,000 men. As we demonstrated in Figure 3 using a graph, placing men and women on the same imprison......
  • Modernisation de quelques dispositions constitutionnelles desuetes portant sur le Senat.
    • Canada
    • Revue parlementaire canadienne Vol. 32 No. 1, March 2009
    • 22 Marzo 2009
    ...de la Chambre des communes et, par conséquent, de mieux servir l'intérêt public. Au cours des dernières années, le Sénat a amendé moins de 10 p. 100 des projets de loi de l'autre endroit. Les sénateurs peuvent faire mieux. Ils possèdent de bonnes idées et ils devraient proposer d'autres pos......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT