CERB replaced with modified EI and newly announced federal benefits

By Nichole Mirwaldt and Jeff Smorang

Since March 2020, many Canadian workers have been unable to work for reasons related to COVID-19. In response, the Canadian government implemented the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (“CERB”), which provided for $2,000 per month to employed and self-employed Canadians directly affected by the pandemic. This program has been in place since March 15, 2020 and ended on September 26, 2020. Information regarding the CERB program can be found on the Government of Canada CERB page.

The Canadian government recognizes the need to continue to support workers that are impacted by the pandemic. Accordingly, the government intends to transition from the CERB to increased Employment Insurance (“EI”) and new recovery benefits.

Modified Employment Insurance

On September 25, 2020, the Canadian Government announced changes to make the EI program more flexible. The entire news release can be found here. The transition from CERB to modified EI will begin on September 27, 2020. EI will now be available to more Canadians who would not have qualified in the past. Canadian workers receiving EI are eligible for a taxable benefit at a rate of at least $500 per week, or $300 per week for extended parental benefits. Canadian workers claiming EI for job loss would be eligible for at least 26 weeks.

Under the flexible EI program, claimants may be permitted to keep part of their EI benefits while continuing to receive earnings from work. This will be governed by the Government of Canada, Working While on Claim rules.

The news release states that the majority of Canadians still receiving the CERB through Service Canada who are eligible for EI will be automatically transitioned. Workers can expect to be contacted by Service Canada to confirm whether they need to apply or are being transitioned automatically. Alternatively, workers can also verify the status of their claim in their My Service Canada Account.

EI payments become available to workers at the end of the two weeks that they are out of work. This will continue even where workers were receiving CERB. Workers that are currently receiving CERB and are switching to EI effective September 27, 2020, will be eligible for their first EI payment as of October 11.

For workers who are not eligible for EI, they may be able to receive support under the three new temporary recovery benefits (outlined below) to support Canadians who are unable to work for reasons related to COVID-19. These benefits have been proposed under new legislation that has not yet been passed.

Temporary Recovery Benefits

Bill C-2, An Act relating to economic recovery in response to COVID-19, was introduced on September 24, 2020. Bill C-2 introduces three new benefits that are intended to support Canadians during the pandemic. Subject to this legislation receiving Royal Assent, the new Benefits will become be effective beginning on September 27, 2020 and end on September 25, 2021. Specifically, the legislation includes:

A Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)

The CRB will provide $500 per week for up to 26 weeks, to workers who are self-employed or are not eligible for EI and who still require income support. This is a taxable benefit that is provided in two-week periods beginning on September 27, 2020.

To be eligible for the CRB, applicants must attest to the following:

  • They are at least 15 years old at the time of first application and have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN);
  • They were resident and present in Canada during the period they have applied for;
  • They had income of at least $5,000 in 2019 (if applying for 2020) or in 2020 (if applying for 2021);
    • Income may come from employment income, self-employment, benefits paid under the Employment Insurance Act, allowances or money paid to a person under a provincial plan for pregnancy or child care.
  • That they were not employed or self-employed for reasons relating to COVID-19, or that they are working but their average weekly income has been reduced by at least 50% relative to their average weekly income in 2019, 2020, or the 12-month period preceding the day of making the application;
  • They are not eligible for EI;
  • They have not quit their job voluntarily, unless it was reasonable to do so;
  • They have not failed to return to their employment or self-employment when it was reasonable to do so and have not declined a reasonable offer to work for the application period;
  • They are not receiving the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit, Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit or allowances/money under a provincial plan because of pregnancy or child care, during the same period they are seeking to receive the CRB; and
  • That they have sought work during the application period and that they did not place undue restrictions on their availability for work whether as an employee or in self-employment.

Claimants must apply for CRB after every two-week period for which they are seeking income support and must attest that they continue to meet the above eligibility requirements. Applications must be made within 60 days of the two-week period to which the benefit relates. For example, if an employee is claiming for the period of October 1, 2020 – October 15, 2020, applications must be made within 60 days of October 15, 2020.

Claimants may be able to earn income from employment and/or self-employment while receiving the benefit, as long as they continue to meet the other requirements. However, claimants may be required to repay some, or all, of the amount they received under CRB. A claimant whose income is more than $38,000 for 2020 or 2021 is required to pay an amount equal to 50 cents for every dollar of income earned in that year above $38,000, up to and including the amount of CRB received by them in that year.

A Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)

The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) provides $500 per week (for a maximum of 2 weeks) to workers who are unable to work because they are sick or they must self-isolate due to Covid-19. This is a taxable benefit that is provided in one-week periods beginning on September 27, 2020. The benefit would be available to claimants who attest to the following:

  • They are at least 15 years of age and have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN);
  • Were resident and present in Canada for the time period they are applying for the CRSB;
  • They were employed or self-employed at the time of the application
  • They had income of at least $5,000 in 2019 (if applying for 2020) or in 2020 (if applying for 2021);
    • Income may come from employment income, self-employment, benefits paid under the Employment Insurance Act, allowances or money paid to a person under a provincial plan for pregnancy or child care.
  • They have been unable to work for at least 50% of the time they would have otherwise worked within the week, or they have as a self-employed person reduced the time devoted to their work by at least 50% of the time they would have otherwise worked in the week;
  • They are not receiving the CRB, Canada recovery caregiving benefit or allowances/money under a provincial plan because of pregnancy or child care, during the same period they are seeking to receive the CRSB; and
  • That they have not been granted paid leave or been paid under a sickness benefit plan for the period they are claiming the CRSB.

Applications must be made within 60 days of the end date of the week to which the application relates.

A medical certificate is not required to qualify for the benefit. The legislation is not clear on whether an employee/employer could elect to take CRSB instead of available banked sick leave. The only restriction is that workers cannot claim CRSB and collect other paid sick leave for the same benefit period. Arguably, an employee could apply for CRSB despite having available sick time. We will continue to monitor this issue as more information becomes available.

A Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB)

The CRCB is available to claimants of $500 per week for up to 26 weeks per household, for eligible Canadians unable to work because they must care for a child under the age of 12 or family member because schools, day-cares or care facilities are closed due to COVID-19 or because the child or family member is sick and/or required to quarantine.  This is a taxable benefit that is provided in one-week periods beginning on September 27, 2020. To be eligible, the claimant must attest to the following:

  • They are at least 15 years of age and have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN);
  • Were resident and present in Canada for the time period they are applying for the CRCB;
  • They had income of at least $5,000 in 2019 (if applying for 2020) or in 2020 (if applying for 2021);
    • Income may come from employment income, self-employment, benefits paid under the Employment Insurance Act, allowances or money paid to a person under a provincial plan for pregnancy or child care.
  • They have been unable to work for at least 50% of the time they would have otherwise worked within the week, or they have as a self-employed person reduced the time devoted to their work by at least 50% of the time they would have otherwise worked in the week because they cared for a child under 12 years of age (on the first day of the week for which the benefit is being claimed) or a family member who requires supervised care:
    • because the child or family member contracted or might have contracted COVID-19 or was in isolation for reasons related to COVID-19;
    • because their school or daycare, or their day program or care facility, is closed or operating under an alternative schedule for reasons related to COVID-19;
    • who cannot attend their school or daycare, or their day program or care facility, under the advice of a medical professional due to being at high risk if they contract COVID-19; or
    • because the caregiver who usually provides care is not available for reasons related to COVID-19;
  • That they are not receiving the CRB, CRSB or allowances/money under a provincial plan because of pregnancy or child care, during the same period they are seeking to receive the CRSB; and
  • That they have not been granted paid leave or been paid under a plan that provided for payment for the care or support of another person during the period they are claiming CRCB.

Applications must be submitted within 60 days after the end of each week to which the benefits relate. The benefit is available for a maximum of 26 weeks per household. If two or more persons reside in the same household, only one of them may be paid a Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit for any particular week.

Should you have any questions about your benefits, we recommend that you reach out to a member of our Employment and Labour Group.

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Manitoba Court Finds “Draconian” Wage Restraint Legislation Unconstitutional

This case involved a constitutional challenge to The Public Services Sustainability Act (“PSSA”), brought on behalf of a labour coalition comprised of the Manitoba Federation of Labour (“MFL”) and 28 plaintiff unions. The claim alleged that the PSSA violated the plaintiffs’ right to freedom of association under s. 2(d) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (the “Charter”)

The PSSA imposed a four-year “sustainability period” on more than 110,000 public sector workers, during which wages and additional remuneration increases were frozen for the first two years and capped at 0.75% and 1% in years three and four. Upon proclamation, the PSSA would take retroactive effect, invalidating previous collective agreements and clawing back wages beyond its limits.

On June 11, 2020, Madam Justice McKelvey issued her decision, concluding that the PSSA has significantly impacted the associational rights and protections of public sector employees and that such infringement could not be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.

As such, the parties will appear before Justice McKelvey again, at a future date, for specific remedies and damages to be determined.

The Status of the PSSA

The PSSA became law in June 2017 but has never been proclaimed into force.

As such, the Government argued that the legislation was not ripe for a constitutionality review, and that all collective bargaining that had taken place since the enactment of the PSSA had simply been undertaken in accordance with Government mandates and policies and not as a consequence of the PSSA.

Justice McKelvey rejected the Government’s argument, as she was satisfied, based on the plaintiffs’ significant evidence regarding collective bargaining, that the Government and other public sector employers funded by government had proceeded as if the PSSA had been proclaimed and was in effect, and that the PSSA had played a significant and substantial role in labour relations in Manitoba. She stated: “It is disingenuous to suggest that Government’s negotiating mandates and policies are simply that and not the PSSA sword of Damocles hanging over the unions with respect to wage restraint and the retroactivity claw back provisions” (para. 276).

The Duty to Pre-Legislative Consultation / Pre-Legislative Collective Bargaining

One of the issues in the case was whether a consultative process that took place between the Government, the MFL, and 10 of the plaintiff unions in the 2 months before the PSSA was introduced in the Legislature was meaningful and done in good faith, and also whether a pre-legislative consultation process can even be a constitutionally adequate substitute for a bargaining process between unions and employers. The plaintiffs argued that the consultation process was not done in good faith and is not a substitute for the Charter protected bargaining process in any event.

Justice McKelvey found that while Government said that it wished to consult with unions before legislation was enacted, it was never prepared to consider any options other than wage restraint legislation. Nor was even a varied content of that legislation likely possible. Instead, as early as 6 months before the “consultation” process began, Government was pursuing a public service sustainability model similar to unproclaimed legislation in Nova Scotia. The consultation was accordingly not meaningful. Further, she found that the government had no duty to consult or engage in collective bargaining prior to enacting the legislation.

The Constitutionality of the PSSA

Justice McKelvey was satisfied that the PSSA, even in its unproclaimed state, substantially interfered with the freedom of association and violated s. 2(d) of the Charter, based upon a contextual and fact-driven analysis of the extensive trial evidence submitted by the plaintiffs, including their labour relations expert, Dr. Hebdon.

First, Justice McKelvey found that the PSSA prevents meaningful collective bargaining on monetary terms or benefits – an area central to the freedom of association and the capacity of unions to achieve a very significant common goal.

Next, Justice McKelvey determined that the overall impact of the PSSA on the process of meaningful, good faith collective bargaining rose to the level of substantial interference. She held that “[t]he PSSA operates as a draconian measure that has inhibited and dramatically reduced the unions’ bargaining power” (para. 426). In particular, the legislation removes monetary issues from the bargaining table, and thereby inhibits the unions’ ability to trade-off monetary terms and benefits for non-monetary enhancements, such as job security. In this way, the right to meaningfully associate in pursuit of important workplace goals was denied.

Justice McKelvey found that the collective agreements that had been concluded since the passage of the PSSA reflected only minor improvements, which demonstrated a minor degree of bargaining power. While the results of collective bargaining are not determinative in a s. 2(d) analysis, Justice McKelvey accepted that these outcomes illustrated the impact on associational activity caused by the PSSA. Moreover, she accepted that most of these agreements were achieved under duress and the threat of the PSSA’s claw back provisions, and had been conditionally ratified, subject to the PSSA’s constitutional status (an unusual process).

Justice McKelvey found the Government’s utilization of wage restraint legislation particularly troubling in light of the evidence of bargaining history in the Manitoba public sector, which demonstrated that wage freezes had been collectively bargained with substantially the entire public service in the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis, albeit with trade-offs, such as layoff protection. Justice McKelvey found that it was precisely these trade-offs that Government wished to avoid through the PSSA, by taking a “strident, inflexible and rigid approach to labour negotiations” (para. 334).

Section 1

Justice McKelvey accepted the plaintiffs’ argument that the Government did not meet even the first component of the Oakes test under s. 1 of the Charter, in that the statutory objectives of deficit reduction and fiscal stability were insufficient to establish a free-standing pressing and substantial objective. Applying case law that indicates that budgetary considerations alone, in the absence of a fiscal emergency, will be insufficient to justify an infringement of a Charter right, Justice McKelvey noted that neither of the financial experts who gave evidence in this case opined that Manitoba was in a situation of financial crisis. Manitoba’s state of affairs was very different than the global economic recession that provided the backdrop to the Expenditure Restraint Act cases (which she distinguished).

Justice McKelvey accepted that the Government is entitled to make policy choices, but noted that those choices, including reducing income taxes and lowering the PST, served to substantially reduce the amount of revenue available to service the Manitoba deficit.

With respect to minimal impairment, Justice McKelvey accepted the unions’ submission that the Government did not meaningfully consider any alternatives other than legislation. Before “consultation” with unions commenced, the Government had already drafted legislation, which included the two-year wage freeze. Additionally, the Government was not forthcoming with information sought by unions during the purported consultation process, which negated the unions’ ability to participate in meaningful consultation, even of the proposed legislation. Justice McKelvey concluded that Government, at no time, considered a “blank slate” of options with respect to public sector cost control, and, in particular, would not consider free collective bargaining, despite that wages freezes had been negotiated in the past. All of the evidence denoted early acceptance and pursuit of a Nova Scotia-like legislative wage restraint model: the “die was cast” (para. 404).

At the final “balancing” stage of the Oakes analysis, Justice McKelvey accepted that the evidence established that the PSSA affected the relationships between the unions and their members, as well as between the unions and employers. She held that the Government’s actions will have a long-term effect and potentially create a chilling of relationships in future rounds of collective bargaining. Justice McKelvey concluded: “The Government is facilitating popular tax revenue reduction measures on the backs of public sector workers. Proportionality does not exist.”

Conclusion

This powerful decision is a credit to the MFL and the Manitoba unions who united to defend the right to meaningful collective bargaining on behalf of their members and makes a significant contribution to the increasing recognition of workers’ rights and the importance of those rights in Charter jurisprudence.

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Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench Strikes Down The Public Services Sustainability Act

The Myers LLP Labour Department is pleased to announce that the Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench has declared The Public Services Sustainability Act unconstitutional. In the court ruling, Queen’s Bench Justice Joan McKelvey wrote, “I have concluded that the (bill) operates as a draconian measure that has inhibited and dramatically reduced the unions’ bargaining power and violates (charter) associational rights.”
 
Congratulations to the Manitoba Federation of Labour and our 28 public-sector union clients, and thanks for letting us represent you!
View the full ruling here.
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Union Constitutions and COVID-19

Union constitutions and bylaws are the central documents in the governance of internal union affairs and the relationship between unions and their members.

Unions faced with the unprecedented circumstances resulting from COVID-19, the declaration of a province-wide state of emergency under The Emergency Measures Act by the Manitoba government, and related orders issued by the chief provincial public health officer under The Public Health Act, including the limitation on gatherings to 10 or fewer people, may be grappling with how to comply with mandatory requirements in their constitution and bylaws. For example, any of the following constitutional requirements may be directly impacted:

  • Membership meetings;
  • Executive, council, and committee meetings;
  • Elections;
  • Specific time limits, and
  • Conducting important business, such as approving budgets

Most union constitutions do not contain provisions authorizing alternative means for satisfying the above kinds of requirements in circumstances in which they cannot be carried out safely, since the constitutional draftspersons never anticipated that a scenario like the one presented by COVID-19 might arise.

Our Labour Department has already been assisting unions with navigating their legal obligations under their constitution and bylaws in these challenging times and can do so for your union if you find yourself in difficulty in this regard. We can also provide advice and recommendations regarding possible amendments to these governance documents in order to better position unions to address similar situations in the future.

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How the March 30, 2020 Public Health Order Impacts Unions and Associations (Updated April 11, 2020)

By Shannon Carson

This is to advise of the newest Public Health Order issued March 30, 2020, that will now require the temporary closure of union and association offices, further to social distancing efforts required by COVID-19.

A copy of the Order may be found at https://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/proactive/2019_2020/orders-soe-03302020.pdf

As per Order #3, businesses (other than exempt businesses), are now required to close their place of business/offices between 12:01 a.m. on April 1, 2020, and 12:01 a.m. on April 14, 2020.

The Order provides a Schedule which lists certain essential businesses that are exempt from the Order, and are not required to close their operations.

Although Unions are not specifically mentioned in the Schedule, they have been deemed exempt from the closure Order if they deliver services/support to a Government (Provincial or Federal), to a municipality, or to an exempt business.

A Union would, therefore, be exempt from the closure Order if it represents members who are still actively working for a government, a municipality or one of the exempt businesses. While the qualifying Union may keep staffing its offices and operations, it will still be required to keep those offices closed to its members and the general public, and must use remote means (e.g. online, telephone, etc.…) to deliver those services.”

For all other unions, the Order to close the place of business means that your union or association office must close, and all work done to run your union or association must now be done remotely (i.e. from staff homes), without staff attending the union or association office. During the period of closure, temporary access to the union/association office is permitted for the following limited purposes only:

  • Performing work at the place of business in order to comply with any applicable law;
  • Allowing for inspections, maintenance, and repairs at the place of business;
  • Allowing for security services to be provided at the place of business;
  • Attending the office to deal with critical matters related to the closure of the business if that cannot be done remotely, or accessing goods, materials, and supplies needed to operate remotely.

A business that provides staffing services, including temporary help, is an essential service that may remain open during this two-week period (see s. 68 of the Schedule.) Unions that run a hiring hall that dispatches workers to contractors can continue to operate under this section. However, in order to comply with the spirit of this Order, a hiring hall union office should only be open for dispatch purposes, with other functions and services being provided remotely.

Please check our website for any updates as they become available.

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COVID-19 & The Workplace: Benefit Programs, Employment Insurance and Work-Sharing

By Jeff Smorang

The Government of Canada has consolidated its previously announced benefit programs (Emergency Care Benefit and the Emergency Support Benefit) into one program called the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit. This benefit is designed to help workers who have lost their employment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)

This program will provide taxable income support payments of about $2000 per month to Canadians who have lost their job, are sick, quarantined, or taking care of someone who is sick with COVID-19, as well as working parents who must stay home without pay to care for children who are sick or at home because of school and daycare closures. CERB will run for 4 months, backdated to March 15, 2020.

This program applies to all Canadians who have ceased working due to COVID-19, whether they are EI-eligible or not. It would also apply to those who are still employed but are not receiving income because of disruptions to their work situation due to COVID-19.

To qualify, applicants must have had $5,000 in employment income, self-employment income, or maternity or parental leave benefits for 2019 or in the 12-month period preceding the day they make the application.

Those who are already receiving EI Benefits will continue to receive them. Those who have applied for EI Benefits, but who have yet to be processed, will not need to re-apply as they will automatically be shifted to CERB.

Applications to CERB will be available in early April 2020.

EI Benefits After CERB

If workers are still unemployed after the 4-month CERB period eligible workers will be switched-over to standard EI if they are still out of work.

The Government of Canada has also relaxed eligibility for EI Sickness Benefits. Those forced to quarantine or self-isolate after the CERB coverage period would be eligible for EI Sickness Benefits.

The Government has streamlined the process for those affected by COVID-19 by giving their claims priority, by setting up a dedicated hotline, by allowing backdating, by waiving the one week waiting period and by not requiring any medical certificate requirements.

Lay-offs

Under CERB, the Employer does not need to lay-off employees as workers can be still employed and collect payments under CERB (as long as they are not receiving an income). If there is still a shortage of work after the CERB period, Employers may want to begin laying-off employees.

An employer can lay-off employees for a lack of work as long as they are likely to return to work once demand is back. Normally, a lay-off becomes a termination where the layoff is longer than 8 weeks in a 16-week period. However, in response to the economic impact of COVID-19, The Government of Manitoba has temporarily relaxed this rule. Any lay-off that occurred after March 1, 2020 will not count towards the normal 8 weeks maximum for lay-offs. While this temporary amendment is in effect, employers can lay-off workers indefinitely.

Laid-off employees can collect EI insurance benefits. An employer may also use a Supplemental Unemployment Benefit (SUB) plan to increase their employees’ weekly earnings when they are unemployed due to a temporary stoppage of work, training, illness, injury or quarantine. This can be used to “top up” regular EI benefits.

Payments from SUB plans that are registered with Service Canada are not considered as earnings and are not deducted from EI benefits.

Work Share Program

The Federal Work Sharing Program was originally designed for a downturn in business for the forestry, steel and aluminum industries. As part of the Government’s response to COVID-19, they have temporarily allowed access to this program for employers who are directly or indirectly experiencing a downturn in business of at least 10% due to COVID-19.

The program provides EI benefits to supplement the wages of eligible employees who agree to reduce their normal working hours and share the available work while their employer recovers. Any income earned from the Work Share Program is not deducted from the employee’s EI benefits.

All employees in each Work Share Unit must agree to reduce their hours of work by the same percentage. A Work Share Unit is a group of employees with similar job duties who agree to reduce their hours of work over a specific period of time. The unit generally includes all employees in a single job description or all employees who perform similar work. A Work-Sharing agreement may include more than one Work Share Unit.

Individual employees in the same job description cannot volunteer to participate in Work-Sharing while others decline to participate and continue to work normal hours. Members with the same job description may decline to participate in the Work Sharing Agreement and can be laid-off to collect regular EI benefits.

The Work Share Agreements are available in a unionized workplace, but the Union must also sign off on the agreement. There must be an equal reduction of hours and sharing of all available work among members of a Work-Sharing unit regardless of any seniority clauses in a collective agreement.

The reduction of hours can vary from week to week, as long as the average reduction over the course of the agreement is from 10% (one half day) up to 60% (three days). The goal of the program is for all participating employees to return to normal working hours by the end of the agreement.

If the employer’s company does not recover as expected and workers are laid off during, or at the end of a Work-Sharing agreement, they can apply to transfer to regular EI benefits.

Due to COVID-19, temporary measures have extended the eligibility of such agreements from 38 week to 76 weeks, eased eligibility requirements, and streamlined the application process.

To be an eligible employer the business must be a year-round business that has operated for at least a year in Canada, it must be a private business, a publicly held company or a not-for-profit organization and they must have at least 2 employees in the Work Share Unit.

To be an eligible employee, one must be a year-round, permanent, full-time or part-time employee who is needed to carry out the day-to-day functions of the business and you must be eligible to receive EI benefits.

The Canada Child Benefit

The Government has increased the Canadian Child Benefits for 2019 and 2020. The increase provides an extra $300 per child through the Canada Child Benefit for 2019-20.

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COVID-19 and the Right to Refuse Dangerous Work

By Jeff Smorang

I am worried I could be exposed to COVID-19 at my workplace. Can I refuse to report to work?

If your workplace remains open during the pandemic, and working from home is not a feasible option, you are expected to go to work. However, as an employee, you can expect a safe work environment. Under Manitoba’s The Workplace Safety and Health Act, an Employer has a duty to provide and maintain a safe workplace for employees. On top of this obligation, Employers of more than 20 regularly employed workers are also obligated to establish a Workplace Safety and Health Committee. Under the Act, the Committee is to actively identify potential health and safety risks and is responsible for implementing reasonable measures to mitigate those risks.

At minimum, reasonable mitigation steps for preventing exposure of COVID-19 could include increased sterilization of common workplace surfaces, promoting regular hand washing or providing hand sanitizer stations and ensuring social distancing of 1-2 meters between co-workers and customers. Enhanced mitigation steps may be required in other circumstances.

If a worker has a safety concern, the Committee is also responsible for receiving, considering and disposing of safety and health complaints.
Under section 43 of the Act, a worker may refuse to work, or to do particular work duties, if he or she believes on reasonable grounds that the work constitutes a danger to his or her safety.

There are general exceptions to the right to refuse dangerous work that would be taken into consideration. A worker cannot refuse work where the refusal places the life, health or safety of another person in danger or where the danger is inherent to the employee’s work.

The standard process for refusing dangerous work has 3 steps:

Step 1
The worker must report the work refusal to their supervisor and explain why they believe the work is dangerous. The supervisor and worker will work together to assess the risk and resolve the concern. Until the dangerous condition is remedied, or it is determined that there is no risk to safety, the worker who reported it may continue to refuse to work.

Step 2
If the employer and the worker are unable to agree on a resolution, a worker representative from your Committee, or another worker, can be brought in to help assess the situation and attempt to resolve the issue.

Step 3
If the Employer does not remedy the situation, the worker may continue the refusal and report the situation to Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health where a Safety and Health Officer is assigned immediately. Where necessary, the Officer will attend the workplace and make a final decision on whether the situation constitutes a danger or not.

Under the Act, the worker is entitled to be paid during the entire investigation process and cannot be subject to discriminatory treatment for having made a legitimate work refusal.

In the case of COVID-19, an Employer or Safety and Health Officer will have to determine, on a case by case basis, whether the risk of exposure is reasonably high enough to constitute a dangerous workplace. What is reasonable for exposure to COVID-19 will be influenced by our evolving scientific understanding of the virus and our Federal/Provincial Health Care directives. As of March 26, 2020, Manitoba has four public health orders in place. These orders limit public gatherings of more than 50 people and require businesses to ensure social distancing. The 50-person limit applies to theaters and hospitality businesses such as restaurants, however it does not apply to retail or manufacturing businesses.

At the moment, it is unlikely that a generalized fear of exposure to COVID-19 will be seen as reasonable grounds for refusing to work. That being said, if a worker is able to point to additional reasons as to why they are at a higher risk of exposure than the general public, either because of their personal circumstances or the circumstances of the workplace, a refusal to work may be reasonable. Some additional reasons may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • the age and health of the worker refusing to work;
  • if there had been any suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 relating to the workplace;
  • if any co-workers have recently traveled internationally in past 14 days;
  • if the work requires you to travel, depending on the destination;
    the Employer’s pandemic policies and measures in effect, for example increased sterilization of workplace surfaces or social distancing; and
    the type of work performed and the relative risk of exposure (for example, whether the work requires face to face contact with customers, clients or patients).

Workers who are concerned about their health and safety at work during the COVID-19 pandemic should bring these concerns to their supervisor or to their Workplace Safety and Health Committee.

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Mel Myers 2020 Labour Conference Rescheduled to November 9 & 10

Mel Myers 2020 Labour Conference Rescheduled

Due to health concerns arising from the recent spread of the COVID-19 virus, which continue to evolve on a daily basis, the lawyers at Myers LLP have decided today to reschedule the Labour Conference which was to be held next week on March 19 and 20 to November 9 and 10, 2020, at the Victoria Inn Hotel and Convention Centre.

We apologize for this inconvenience but, in all the circumstances, we feel that it is prudent and in everyone’s best interests that we follow the expert advice we are all receiving to limit or eliminate group gatherings over the next short while, in an attempt to slow the spread of this virus in our province.

We will be in touch with you again as further information becomes available. Registrants who are unable to attend at the rescheduled Conference will be entitled to a full refund.  If you have any questions please contact Elena Gagliardi at elena@plannersplus.ca or by phone at 204-255-7006.

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Garth Smorang, Q.C. has been inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers

Myers LLP is pleased to announce that Garth Smorang, Q.C. has been inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in North America, at its 2020 Spring Meeting in Tucson, Arizona.

Founded in 1950, the College is composed of the best of the trial bar from the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Fellowship in the College is extended by invitation only and only after careful investigation, to those experienced trial lawyers of diverse backgrounds, who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality.

Membership in the College cannot exceed one percent of the total lawyer population of any state or province. Currently, 12 Manitoba lawyers are Fellows of the College, one of whom is our own Hymie Weinstein, Q.C.

The College maintains and seeks to improve the standards of trial practice, professionalism, ethics, and the administration of justice through education and public statements on independence of the judiciary, trial by jury, respect for the rule of law, access to justice, and fair and just representation of all parties to legal proceedings. The College is thus able to speak with a balanced voice on important issues affecting the legal profession and the administration of justice.

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19th Annual Mel Myers Labour Conference

Mel Myers 19th Annual Labour Conference

The 19th Annual Mel Myers Labour Conference will be held on March 19 & 20, 2020. This is an event not to be missed! In the past, the Mel Myers Labour Conference has attracted over 350 union leaders, activists, and labour lawyers. Registration for this event is now open. Please make sure you or your organization register for this highly anticipated conference.

Register Here.

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