Greenwood v. Syncrude Canada Ltd., (1998) 230 A.R. 304 (QB)

• Jurisdiction: Alberta
• Court: Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta (Canada)
• Judge: P.L.J. Smith, J.
• Citation: (1998), 230 A.R. 304 (QB)
• Date: 10 December 1998

Greenwood v. Syncrude Can. Ltd. (1998), 230 A.R. 304 (QB)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [1998] A.R. TBEd. DE.134

Robert K. Greenwood (plaintiff) v. Syncrude Canada Ltd. (defendant)

(Action No. 9603-03013)

Indexed As: Greenwood v. Syncrude Canada Ltd.

Alberta Court of Queen's Bench

Judicial District of Edmonton

P.L.J. Smith, J.

December 10, 1998.

Summary:

Greenwood, a former employee of Syn­crude Canada Ltd., was dismissed without cause after almost 21 years of employment. He sued for damages for wrongful dismissal.

The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench dismissed the action. Greenwood received appropriate notice.

Editor's Note: for other cases involving these parties see 214 A.R. 348 and 240 A.R. 130.

Master and Servant - Topic 8000

Dismissal without cause - Notice of dis­missal - What constitutes reasonable notice - Greenwood, 44, was dismissed without cause after almost 21 years of employment with Syncrude Canada Ltd. - He held a non-management position (mechanical technologist) - He earned $50,000/year plus benefits - He was a valued employee -He developed a respiratory sensitivity from his employment and had other health prob­lems not caused by his employment - He received 37 weeks working notice followed by 12 months' payment in lieu of notice - He sued for damages for wrongful dis­missal - He sought 36 months' notice given his health problems and an alleged misrep­resentation by Syncrude that he had a job at another site - The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench dismissed the action - Greenwood received appropriate notice.

Master and Servant - Topic 8003

Dismissal without cause - Notice of dis­missal - Reasonable notice - Considerations affecting - [See Master and Servant - Topic 8000 ].

Master and Servant - Topic 8003

Dismissal without cause - Notice of dis­missal - Reasonable notice - Considerations affecting - Greenwood was dismissed without cause - He sought the equivalent of 36 months' notice due to his failing health allegedly was caused by his employer - The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench stated that, while an employee's illness might be a factor that extended reasonable notice, it was the relationship of this illness to the four traditional factors (responsibility of the employment function, age, length of service and availability of equivalent alternative employment), and in Greenwood's case, his ability to find alter­nate employment, that was important - The subjective fact of the illness itself would not impact on the notice period without this link - This principle also applied when the illness was precipitated by the em­ployee's former working environment - Fur­ther, a proven requirement to retrain for health reasons would be considered in relation to the ability to find alternate employment - See paragraphs 65 to 76.

Master and Servant - Topic 8007

Dismissal without cause - Notice of dis­missal - Reasonable notice - Long service employees dismissed - [See Master and Ser­vant - Topic 8000 ].

Cases Noticed:

Snell v. Farrell, [1990] 2 S.C.R. 311; 110 N.R. 200; 107 N.B.R.(2d) 94; 267 A.P.R. 94; 72 D.L.R.(4th) 289; 4 C.C.L.T.(2d) 229, refd to. [para. 2].

Canadian Coloured Cotton Mills Co. v. Kervin (1899), 29 S.C.R. 478, refd to. [para. 2].

Athey v. Leonati et al., [1996] 3 S.C.R. 458; 203 N.R. 36; 81 B.C.A.C. 243; 132 W.A.C. 243; 140 D.L.R.(4th) 235, refd to. [para. 2].

Commonwealth Construction Co. v. Syncrude Canada Ltd. (1985), 64 A.R. 132; 40 Alta. L.R.(2d) 89 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 2].

Pocklington Foods Inc. v. Alberta (Provin­cial Treasurer) (1994), 159 A.R. 173; 21 Alta. L.R.(3d) 389 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 2].

Rocchio v. Willets et al., [1995] A.J. No. 7 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 2].

Fenton v. Thorley & Co., [1903] A.C. 443, refd to. [para. 2].

Clover et al. v. Hughes, [1910] A.C. 242 (H.L.), refd to. [para. 2].

Rhodes v. McKee Harvester (Alberta) Ltd. et al. (1981), 27 A.R. 121; 14 Alta. L.R.(2d) 352 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 2].

Doane v. Groenenboom (1985), 59 A.R. 277 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 2].

Greyhound Lines of Canada v. Workers' Compensation Board (Alta.) (1986), 71 A.R. 377 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 2].

Farrell et al. v. Workers' Compensation Board (B.C.) et al. (1962), 31 D.L.R.(2d) 177 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 2].

Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 963 v. New Brunswick Liquor Corp., [1979] 2 S.C.R. 227; 26 N.R. 341; 25 N.B.R.(2d) 237; 51 A.P.R. 237; 97 D.L.R.(3d) 417; 79 C.L.L.C. 14,209, refd to. [para. 2].

Bagby v. Gustavson International Drilling Co. et al. (1980), 24 A.R. 181 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 2].

Wallace v. United Grain Growers Ltd. (1997), 219 N.R. 161; 123 Man.R.(2d) 1; 159 W.A.C. 1; 152 D.L.R.(4th) 1, refd to. [para. 2].

Barker v. Starline Cedar Mills, [1983] B.C.J. No. 468 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 2].

Parish v. Alberta (1987), 81 A.R. 306 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 2].

Kalaman v. Singer Valve Co. et al. (1997), 93 B.C.A.C. 93; 151 W.A.C. 93; 31 C.C.E.L.(2d) 1 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 2].

Yeager v. Hastings (R.J.) Agencies Ltd., [1985] 1 W.W.R. 218 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [para. 2].

Park v. Parsons Brown & Co. (1989), 62 D.L.R.(4th) 108 (B.C.C.A.), refd to. [para. 2].

Campbell v. Merrill Lynch Canada Inc. (1992), 47 C.C.E.L. 248 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [para. 2].

Ahmad v. Procter & Gamble Inc. (1991), 44 O.A.C. 338; 77 D.L.R.(4th) 515 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 2].

Christianson v. North Hill News Inc. (1993), 145 A.R. 58; 55 W.A.C. 58 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 2].

Bardal v. Globe & Mail Ltd., [1960] O.W.N. 253; 24 D.L.R.(2d) 140 (H.C.), refd to. [para. 2].

Girling v. Finning Ltd. (1996), 191 A.R. 388 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 2].

Bullen v. Proctor & Redfern Ltd. (1996), 47 C.P.C.(3d) 280 (Ont. Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 2].

Allen v. Con-Force Structures Ltd. (1992), 104 Sask.R. 123 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 2].

Danyluk v. Simpson Timber Co. (Saskatchewan) Ltd. (1989), 74 Sask.R. 37; 27 C.C.E.L. 132 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 2].

Filipchuk v. Cargill Ltd. (1996), 191 A.R. 30; 44 Alta. L.R.(3d) 132 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 2].

White v. Woolworth (F.W.) Co. (1996), 139 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 324; 433 A.P.R. 324; 22 C.C.E.L.(2d) 110 (Nfld. C.A.), refd to. [para. 3].

Rivard v. Hitachi (HSC) Canada Inc. (1990), 63 Man.R.(2d) 218; 30 C.C.E.L. 15 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 3].

Bradley v. Normark Ltd. (1986), 39 A.C.W.S.(2d) 167 (Ont. Dist. Ct.), refd to. [para. 3].

Collins v. St. John's Publishing Co. (1980), 27 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 45; 74 A.P.R. 45 (Nfld. S.C.), refd to. [para. 3].

Dixon v. Merland Explorations Ltd. and Turbo Resources Ltd. (1984), 50 A.R. 353; 30 Alta. L.R.(2d) 310 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 3].

Wood v. Oshawa Holdings Ltd., [1989] O.J. No. 525 (H.C.), refd to. [para. 3].

Brown v. Domglas Atlantic Ltd. (1983), 47 N.B.R.(2d) 442; 124 A.P.R. 442 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 3].

Bohemier v. Storwal International Inc. (1982), 40 O.R.(2d) 264 (H.C.), refd to. [para. 3].

Salmi v. Greyfriar Developments Ltd., [1983] 6 W.W.R 409 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 3].

Parks v. Atlantic Provinces Special Educa­tion Authority Resource Centre for the Visually Impaired (1991), 102 N.S.R.(2d) 330; 279 A.P.R. 330; 36 C.C.E.L. 282 (N.S.S.C.), refd to. [para. 3].

Landry v. Canadian Forest Products Ltd. (1991), 34 C.C.E.L. 37 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [para. 3].

Smith v. Pacific National Exhibition (1991), 34 C.C.E.L. 64 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [para. 3].

Smith v. Tamblyn (Alberta) Ltd., Liggett Drug Ltd. and G. Tamblyn Ltd. (1979), 23 A.R. 53; 9 Alta. L.R.(2d) 274 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 69].

Ansari v. British Columbia Hydro & Power Authority (1986), 13 C.C.E.L. 238 (B.C.C.A.), refd to. [para. 74].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Levitt, Howard A., The Law of Dismissal in Canada (2nd Ed. 1992), pp. 231 to 244 [para. 1].

Sopinka, John, Lederman, Sydney N., and Bryant, Alan W., The Law of Evidence in Canada (1992), generally [para. 2].

Counsel:

J.H. Odishaw (Odishaw & Odishaw), for the plaintiff;

D.J. Wilson (Lucas Bowker & White), for the defendant.

This action was heard before P.L.J. Smith, J., of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, Judicial District of Edmonton, who delivered the following judgment on December 10, 1998.