I N TH E MATTE R O F AN ARB ITRAT ION

Transcription

1 I N TH E MATTE R O F AN ARB ITRAT ION BE TWE E N S E N E CA C O L L EG E ( t h e " C o l l e g e " ) A N D O N TARI O P U B L I C S E RV I C E E M P LOY E E S U N I O N ( t h e " U n i o n " ) R E : D I S M I S SA L G R I EVA N C E O F HA RV I A G RAY BOA R D O F A R B I T RAT I O N : M i c h e l G. P i c h e r - C h a i r J o h n P o d m o re - C o l l e g e N om i n e e S h e r r i l M u r ray - U n i o n N om i n e e A P P EA R A N C ES F O R T H E C O L L E G E : W i l l i am Le M a y B u s h ra Re h m a n K a v i ta C h h i b a F ra n M a n so n J a n e W i l so n A rt h u r B u r ke - C o u n s e l - C o u n se l - D i re cto r, H u m a n Reso u rce s Se rv i ce s - H u m a n Re so u rce s P a rt n e r - A ct i ng D i re cto r D i ve rs i ty Ce n t re - D i re cto r, Co u n se l l i n g, Hea r i n g Ce n t re s, D i s a b i l i t y & H e a l t h S e rv i c e s A P P EA R A N C E S F O R T H E U N I O N : E d H o lme s - C o u n s e l Rob i n G o rd o n - G r i e va n ce O ff i ce r L a u re n ce O l i vo - V i c e - P re s ide n t, L o c a l T he hea r i n g i n t h i s matte r wa s he l d i n M a r k ham, O n ta r io o n N ovembe r! 8, 20 08

2 1 P R E L I M I NA RY AWA R D T h i s i s a p re l im i na ry awa rd dea l i ng w i t h a re q ue s t fo r a djo u r nme n t m a de by t he U n io n. S ho u l d t h i s Bo a rd a djo u r n t he a r b i t ra t io n he a r i n g of t he d i s c ha rge of p ro ba t io n a ry emp loyee H a rv ia G ray pe nd i n g t he o u tcome of a com p la i n t, a l so a ga i n s t he r d i s c ha rge, w h i c h s he ha s fi le d w i t h t he H um a n R ig h t s T r ib u na l o f O n ta r io? T he U n io n s u bm i ts t h a t we s ho u l d adjo u r n i n t he c i rc u m sta n ce s w h i le t he Co l l e ge a rg ue s t h a t we s h o u l d n o t. T he pe rt i ne n t ba c k g ro u n d fa c ts ma y be b r iefl y st a te d. M s. G ra y re ce i ve d not i ce of he r ap po i n tme n t to t he fa c u l ty of t he Co l l e ge a s a co u n c i l lo r by a l e tte r f rom t he D i re ct o r of H u m a n Reso u rce s S e rv i ce s d a ted De cembe r 2 0, S h e t h e refo re e n te re d em p loyme n t a s a p ro ba t io na ry emp loyee. By wa y of a le tte r d ate d O ctobe r 1 6, , s he wa s ad v i se d t ha t he r emp loyme n t wa s be i ng te rm i na te d be fo re t he e xp iry o f he r p ro ba t io nary pe r io d a s, i n t he wo rd s of he r s u pe rv i so r : P ro b a t io n i s de s i g n ed to p ro v i de a cha n ce to loo k a t t he fi t be twee n t he p ro g ram s i n vo l v i ng need s a n d go a l s a nd m y pe r ce p t io n of yo u r a b i l i ty to h e l p mee t t h o se need s a nd o b ta i n t ho se goa l s. I ha ve, afte r m u c h a g o n i z i n g, de te rm i ne d t h a t t h i s i s not t he fit t ha t I am loo k i n g fo r. T h u s I h ave de c ide d to e xe rc i se t he r i g h t, d u r i ng t he p ro b a t io n a ry, ( s i c ) to g i ve yo u two week s ' not i ce of te rm i na t io n. T h e g r i e va n c e, d a ted O ct o b e r 3 1, , s t a t e s, i n p a rt :

3 2 M y g r ieva n ce i s t ha t I have be e n d i sm i s se d w i t ho u t j u st c a u s e. - fu rt he r, t h e d i s m i s s a l wa s i n b a d fa i t h. M s. G ray a l so fi le d a n ap p l i ca t io n u n de r se c t io n 34 of t he Human Righ ts Code see k i n g re l ief from t he H u ma n R i g hts T r ib u n a l of O n ta r io fo r w ha t s he a l le ge d wa s d i s c r i m i na t io n b a se d o n ra ce, co lo u r, se x a n d re p r i s a l o r t h rea t s of re p r i sa l. T he a p p l i c a t io n i nd i c a te s t h a t s h e n a me d t h e C o l le g e a n d h e r s u p e rv i s o r a s re s p o n d e n t s. T he C o l le ge d u l y fi le d a re sp o n se to t he a pp l i c a t io n. T he U n io n h a s not bee n named a s a re s po nde n t. T he U n io n ad v i se s, h oweve r, t ha t i t i s see k i n g i n te rve ne r s ta t u s i n t he h uma n r i g h ts p ro ce e d i n g s. I n a c co rd a n ce w i t h re ce n t c h a n ge s b ro u g h t to t he h uma n r i g h ts com p l a i n t sys tem i n O n ta r io, t he g r ie vo r ha s i n de pe n de n t a n d d i re ct ca rr i a ge of he r ow n com p la i n t be fo re t he H u ma n R ig h ts T r i b u na l of O n ta r io. To t hat e nd s he ha s re ta i ne d h e r pe rso n a l le ga l co u n se l. B y le tte r to he r U n io n, he r co u n se l h a s ad v i se d t hat M s. G ray w i s he s to see t h i s g r ieva n ce he ld i n a be ya n ce pe n d i n g t he co n c l u s io n of t he p ro cee d i n g s befo re t he H um a n R i g h ts T r i b u n a l. Co u n se l fo r t he U n i o n t he refo re ma ke s a p re l im i n a ry mo t io n fo r t he a djo u r nm e n t o f t h i s a rb i t ra t io n u n t i l s u c h t ime a s t he g r ie vo r ' s sepa ra te comp la i n t befo re t h e H u ma n R i g ht s T r i b u na l ha s b ee n d i s po se d of. Co u n se l fo r t he U n io n no te s t ha t t he g r ie va n ce befo re t h i s Boa rd of A r b i t ra t io n a l l e ge s ba d fa i t h a s we l l a s d i s c r im i na t io n co n tra ry to t he

4 3 On ta rio Human Righ ts Code i n t he d i s cha rge o f M s. G ray. He s u bm i t s t h a t i n t he c i rcum s t a n ce s t h i s Boa rd s h o u l d a djo u rn i t s p ro ceed i n g s pe nd i ng e i t he r a de c i s io n o n t he me r i t s from t he H uma n R i g h ts T r i b u na l o r, a lte r n a t ive l y, a de c i s io n by t he H u ma n R i g h t s T r i b u na l to de fe r to t h i s a r b i t ra t io n p ro ce s s. Acco rd i n g io co u n se l fo r t h e U n io n th e j u ris d i ct i o n of t h is B oa rd to d e a l with i s s ue s w h i c h a l so a r i se u nde r t he Human Righ ts Code i s a t be s t a co n c u r re n t j u r i s d i ct io n. H e st re s se s t ha t t h e S up reme Co u rt of C a n a d a h a s c ha ra cte r i ze d h u ma n r i g hts i s s ue s a s be i n g " q u a s i - co n st i t u t io na l " a nd t ha t t he new p ro ce d u re s go ve r n i n g h u ma n r i g h ts comp la i n t s i n O n ta r io efe ct i ve l y red u ce t he ro le of t he H uma n R i g hts Comm i s s i o n a nd g ive ca r r iage o f t he com p l a i n t to t he pe rso n w ho com p l a i n s. He s u b m i ts t hat t h e re i s rea s o n to e xpe c t t h a t t h e p ro ce s s w i l l b e m o re ex p e d i te d t h a n wa s p re v io u s l y so fo r h um a n r i g h t s com p la i n ts. Co u n se l fo r t he U n i o n no te s t h a t t he a l le g a t io n s i n re spe ct of t he h um a n r i g h ts com p l a i n t a re t h e s a m e a l leg a t i o n s a s re l a te to t h i s g r i e va n c e u n d e r t h e co l l e ct i ve a g reeme n t. I n t he re s u l t, he s ubm i t s, t he g r ie va n ce ca n not be re so l ve d w i t ho u t re so l v i n g t he i s s ue s w h i c h a re t h e s u bje ct of t he h u ma n r ig h t s com p l a i n t. I n t h a t c i rc u m s ta n ce he s ubm i ts t ha t fo r t h i s Bo a rd to ta ke j u ri sd ict io n to hea r t ho se i s s ue s wo u l d effe ct i ve l y u nd e rm i n e t h e g r i e vo r ' s sta t u t o ry r ig h t to h a v e ca r r i a g e of t h e com p la i n t befo re t he H uma n R i g h t s T r i b u na l.

5 4 H e a l so s u bm i ts t ha t t he fa i l u re to adjo u r n co u ld re s u l t i n co n fl i ct i ng fi n d i n g s, s ho u l d t h e H um a n R ig h ts T r i b u n a l a l so de c ide to p ro cee d, a n d po s s ib le co n f l i ct i ng reme d ie s re s u l t. W h i le co u n se l a c k now le dge s t ha t t he H u m a n R i g ht s T r i b u na l m i g ht de fe r s ho u l d we de c i de to p ro cee d, he s ubm its t hat t h i s Boa rd s ho u l d le t t he T r i b u na l m a ke t ha t de c i s io n befo re p r o cee d i n g a n y fu rt he r w i t h t h i s he a r i ng. I n s u p port of t he U n io n ' s po s i t io n co u n se l c ite s to t h i s Boa rd t he fo l low i n g awa rd of G r ieva n ce Sett leme n t Boa rd Vi ce- C ha i r M. Ly n k : RE The C rown i n r i g h t o f On ta r i o ( M i n i s t ry o f C o m m u n i ty S a fe ty a n d C o r re c t i o n a l S e rv i c e s ) a n d O n ta r i o P u b l i c Se rv i ce Em p l oyees U n io n ( The r r ie n ) ( ), L. A. C. (4 t h ) ( Ly n k ). I n t ha t case t h e g r ievo r ' s c o m p l a i n t u n d e r t h e Hum an Righ ts C ode wa s m a d e a g a i n s t t h e U n io n a n d i ts lo ca l p re s ide n t. U l t ima te l y V i ce - C ha i r Ly n k de c l i ned to a djo u r n, i n pa rt b e ca u se t he le ga l i s s ue s i n t he h u ma n r i g h ts a nd t he a r b i t ra t io n p ro ceed i n g s we re somew ha t sepa ra te. H owe ve r co u n se l po i n ts to t he fo l low i n g pa s sa g e from t he awa rd, a t p : H ad I be e n pe rs ua d e d t h a t t he e v i de n t ia ry a n d le ga l i s s ue s i n t he h u m a n r ig h t s com p la i n t wo u l d be s i g n i fi ca n t ly i n f l u e n t i a l i n t h e de te rm i n a t io n of a l l, o r m o s t of, t h e g r ie va n ce s, I wo u l d ha ve g ra n te d t he a djo u r nme n t req ue s t, n o tw i t h s t a n d i n g t he o t he r fa cts w h i ch favo u red t he Em p loye r ' s a rg u me n t. I f t he o u t come o f t he g r ieva n ce s wa s s e q ue n t ia l ly d e pe nd e n t o n t he dete rm i na t io n o f t he h u ma n r i g hts comp la i n t, t he n t he U n io n wo u l d ha ve b ee n i n a n i m p o s s i b l e, o r c l o s e to i m p o s s i b l e, re p re se n ta t i o n a l p o s i t io n, a nd a n adjo u r n me n t wo u l d have bee n t he fa i re st p ro ce d u ra l opt io n. T ha t, howe ve r, i s not t he fa c t u a l ca se he re.

6 5 Co u n se l fo r t he Co l le ge s u bm i ts t h a t to adjo u r n t he se p ro cee d i n g s wo u l d ve rge o n a n ab u se of p ro ce s s. F i rs t ly, he s t re s se s t he i s s ue s to be re so l ve d i n t h i s a r b i t ra t io n a re b road e r t h a n t ho se to be dea l t w i t h i n t he h u ma n r i g h t s comp l a i n t. I n a c co rda n ce w i t h t he j u r i sp r ude n ce, he rem i nd s t h i s Boa rd t ha t t he i s s ue s i n re s p e ct of t he te rm i na t io n of a p ro b a t io n a ry em p lo yee a re w he t he r t he de c i s io n of t he em p loye r wa s a r b i t rary, d i s c r im i n a t o ry o r i n ba d fa i t h. T he i s s ue s of a rb i t ra r i ne s s a n d ba d fa i t h a re no t ma tte rs w h i c h w i l! be dea l t w i t h by t he H uma n R ig h t s T r ib u na l. I n t he re s u l t, s ho u l d t he g r ie vo r be u n s u c ce s sfu l i n he r a l le g a t io n of d i s c r im i n a t io n befo re t ha t T r ib u na l, s he co u l d neve rt he le s s see k t o re t u r n fo r a se co nd hea r i ng befo re t h i s Boa rd o n t he a l te r na t ive g ro u nd s of ba d fa i t h, a n d po s s i b l y a rb i t ra r i n e s s. T h a t, he s u bm i ts, i s ta n tamou n t to a l l ow i n g t h e g r ievo r t o l i t i g a te h e r d i s c h a rg e tw i c e, o b v i o u s l y a t g re ate r co s t a n d res u l t i ng p rej u d i ce to t he Co l lege. C i t i n g t h e de c i s io n of t he S u p reme Co u rt of Ca n a da i n D is t r ic t o f Pa r ry So u n d S oc ia l Se rv ices Adm i n is t ra t io n Bo a rd v. On ta r i o P u b l i c S e rv i c e Em p l o yees ' U n i o n, Lo c a l 3 24, ( ), D. L. R. (4 t h ) 2 5 7, co u n s e l s t a te s t h a t t he re i s no q ue s t io n b u t t ha t t h i s Boa rd ha s t he fu l le st j u r i s d i ct io n to i n te rp re t a n d a p p l y t he p rov i s i o n s of t he Human Righ ts Code a n d to p ro v i de t he reme d ie s co n tem p la te d w i t h i n t he Code. He s u bm i ts t h a t t he j u r i sp r u de n ce i s c lea r t ha t we h a ve co n c u r re n t j u r i s d i ct i o n. Ad d i t io na l l y, co u n se l po i n t s to t he r u le s o f p ro ce d u re of t he H uma n R i g hts T r ib u na l o f O n t a r io, s t re s s i ng t he p ro v i s io n s o f r u le w h i c h re a d s :

7 6 T he T r ib u na l m ay d e fe r co n s i de ra t io n of a n A p p l i ca t io n, o n s u c h te rm s a s i t m a y d ete rm i n e, o n i t s own i n i t i a t i ve, a t t h e req ue s t o f a n A p p l i ca n t u n d e r R u l e 7, o r a t t h e re q u e s t of a n y p a rty. Co u n se l emp ha s i ze s t h a t w h i le i t i s s t i l l e a r l y i n t he d a y fo r t he new T r i b u na l re g ime i n O n t a r io, t he re i s e ve ry i n d i ca t io n t ha t t he H um a n R i g h ts T r i b u na l of O n ta r io w i l l, a s a no rma l r u le, defe r comp la i n t s i n c i rc u m s ta n ce s w he re t he i s s ue s ra i se d ca n be a r b i tra ted u n de r t he te rm s of a co l le ct i ve a g ree m e n t. I n co n fi rma t io n of t ha t po s i t io n he c i te s to t h i s Bo a rd ' s a tte n t io n t h ree de c i s io n s of t he new ly co n s t i t u te d T r i b u n a l : Au b i n v. Reg iona l M u n i c i pa l i ty o f Wa te r l oo ( ), C H RR Doc , H RTO ; C ray v. Ro u ge Va l ley H ea l th Sys tem ( ), C H RR Doc , H RTO 1 20 a nd Ken c h v. A u to m o d u la r Assem b l ies I nc. ( 20 08) C H RR Do c , H RTO I n a l l t h ree of t he c i ted de c i s ie n s t he T r i b u n a l, by i n te r im de c i s io n, h a s de fe rre d to t h e g r ie va n ce a n d a rb i t ra t io n p ro ce d u re s u nde r s ub s i s t i ng co l le ct i ve a g reeme n t s. T he em e rg i ng ge ne ra l po l i cy of t he T r i b u n a l ap pea rs to be re f le cte d i n pa rag ra p h 4 of t he R e g i o n a l M u n i c i p a l i ty Wa te r l o o d e c i s i o n w h i c h re a d s a s fo l l ows : 4. T he T r i b u n a l w i l l ge ne ra l l y de fe r a n a p p l i cat io n w he re t h e re i s a n o n go i n g g r ie va n ce u n de r a co l le ct i ve a g reeme n t ba sed o n t h e s ame fa ct s a n d i s s u e s. H owe ve r, t h e T r i b u n a l

8 7 m u s t a l so co n s ide r, i n l i g h t o f pa rt i cu la r c i rc u m s t a n ce s o f ea c h ca se, w he t he r defe rra l i s t he mo s t fa i r, j u s t a nd e xpe d i t io u s way o f p ro ce ed i n g w i t h t he a pp l i ca t io n. I n t h i s ca se, t he p art ie s ha ve n ot i de n t ifie d a ny c i rc u m s t a n ce s t ha t wo u l d ca u s e t he T r i b u na l to de p a rt from i ts no rma l a ) p roa ch. 5. I n t h e se c i rc ums ta n ce s d e fe r ra l i s a p p ro p r i a te. T h e T r i b u n a l o rd e rs t h e d e fe r ra l of t h i s A p p l i c a t i o n p e n d i n g t h e co n c l u s io n of bot h g r ie va n ce s. T he T r i b u na l d i re cts t he pa rt i e s ' a tte n t i o n to R u l e s a n d w h i c h o u t l i n e t h e p ro ce s s by w h i c h t he A p p l i ca t io n may be b ro u g ht ba ck o n afte r t h e g r i eva n ce s h a ve b e e n co n c l u d e d. I t m i g h t a l s o b e n o ted t h a t i n t he Ro u g e Va l l e y H e a l t h S ys tem c a s e t h e c ompl a i n i n g emp loyee o p po se d defe rra l to a r b i t ra t io n w h i le t he re s po n de n t em p lo ye r fa vo u re d i t. I n t h a t c i rc u m s ta n ce, a t pa ra g rap h 6 of i ts de c i s io n, t he T r i b u n a l sta te d, i n p a rt : "T he T r ib u na l w i l l ge ne ra l ly defe r a n a pp l i ca t io n w he re t he re i s a n o n go i n g g r ie va n ce u nde r a co l le c t i ve ag reeme n t b a sed o n t he same fa ct s a n d i s s ue s.... T he a p p l i ca n t d i d n ot i de n t i fy a ny pa rt i c u la r c i rc u m s t a n ce w h i ch wo u ld ca u se t he T r i b u n a l to de p a rt from i ts n o rma l ap p ro a c h. " C o u n se l fo r t he Co l le ge s u bm i t s t ha t t he i n defi n i te a djo u r n me n t of t h i s a r b i t ra t io n, w i t h t he po s s i b i l i t y o f a le n g t h y de l ay a nd t he re s u l t i ng d o u b l i n g of p ro cee d i n g s wo u ld u n n e ce s s a r i ly a n d u nd u l y p rej u d i ce t he emp loye r. T ha t i s part i c u l a r l y so, he s u bm i t s, g i ve n t hat a ye a r ha s e lap sed s i n ce t he g r ievo r ' s d i s c ha rg e, a nd t ha t a ny fu rt he r de lay co u l d i n vo l ve g rea te r o ngo i n g l i a b i l i ty i n t he fo rm o f com pe n s a t io n fo r wa ge s a n d be nefi t s lo s t, s ho u l d t h i s ma tte r be de l aye d f u rt he r. T h i s i s, co u n se l s u bm i t s, a c le a r c a se of la b o u r re la t io ns de l aye d be i ng labo u r re la t io n s de n ie d.

9 8 I n fu rt he r s u p po rt of i t s po s i t io n t h a t we s h o u ld not a djo u r n, t he Co l le ge c i te s t he de c i s io n o f t he Nova S co t ia Co u rt of Ap pea l i n Ha l i fax Reg i o n a l M u n i c i p a l i ty v. N ova S co t i a H u ma n R i g h ts C om m iss i o n ( 2008 ), L. A. C. (4t h ) 1 a s we l l a s a de c i s io n o f t h e A l b e rt a C o u rt o f Ap p e a l i n C a l g a ry H e a l th R e g i o n v. A l b e rt a ( H u m a n R i g h ts a n d C i t ize n s h i p C omm i ss i o n ) ( ), D. L. R. (4th ) How, t h e n, s h o u l d a boa rd of a r b i t ra t io n dea l w i t h a p re l im i na ry mo t i o n to a djo u r n i t s p ro ce e d i n g s p e n d i ng t h e he a r i n g a n d re s o l u t i o n of a p a ra l l e l com p l a i n t b e fo re a h um a n r ig h ts tr i b u na l? F i rs t ly, i t i s i n c u m be n t u po n a boa rd of a rb i t ra t io n to re co g n i ze t ha t i t h a s t he j u r i s d i ct io n to i n te r p re t a nd app l y em p lo yme n t re l a te d s ta t ue s, i n c l ud i ng h um a n r ig h ts co de s, a s t h o u g h t he y we re pa rt a n d pa rce l o f t he co l le ct i ve a g reeme n t, a s wa s co n f i rme d by t he S u p reme Co u rt o f Ca n ada i n Pa r ry S o u n d, Se co n d ly, boa rd s of a r b i t rat i o n m u st a pp re c i a te t ha t ta k i n g j u r i s d i ct io n s ho u l d no t be a u toma t i c, a n d t ha t w he re t he re i s a req ue s t to defe r pe n d i n g t he o u t come of p ro ce e d i n g s befo re a sta t u tory t r i b u na l, re g a rd m u s t be h a d to a l l o f t he fa cts a n d i s s ue s a t p la y. I f, fo r exam p le, t h e re i s somet h i n g i n he re n t i n t he i s s ue s o r t he po s i t io n s o f va r io u s part ie s w h i c h wo u l d i nd i ca te t h a t t he s t a t u to ry t r i b u na l i s be tte r s u i te d to de a l w i t h t he e leme n ts o f t he g r i e va n ce w h i c h a re w i t h i n i ts s p e c i a l i ze d j u r i sd i c t io n, t h e re m a y we l l b e re a so n to d e fe r. C a re fu l re ga rd m u s t be h a d to t h o se k i n d s of e leme n t s to d e te rm i ne, o n a n ove ra l l ba la n c i ng of i n te re s t s, w ha t i s t he m o s t a pp ro p r ia te p ro c ed u ra l o u tcom e, a n d t he o u t come w h i ch w i l l p ro d u ce t he lea s t p rej ud i ce to a n y p a rty. Ad d i t io n a l l y, to t he e xte n t

10 9 po s s i b le, re g a rd s ho u ld be h ad to t he r u le s a n d po l i c ie s of t he s ta t u to ry t r i b u na l i tse l f. I f t he re i s s u b s ta n t ia l rea so n to be l ieve t ha t i t wo u l d be d i s po se d to defe r to a boa rd of a r b i tra t io n, a rb i t ra to rs s ho u ld avo i d fo rc i n g t he pa rt ie s i n to a po s i t io n of d i l a tory renvoi t ha t m ay s im p l y a dd co s t a n d de la y to t he o ve ra l l p ro ce s s. I n o u r v iew g u i d a n ce ca n a l so be ga i ned from t he de c i s io n s, o f t he A l berta Co u rt of A p pe a l i n t he C a l ga ry Hea l th Re g i o n d e c i s io n a s we l l a s t he Nova S co t i a Co u rt of A p p ea l i n t h e H a l i fax Re g i o n a l M u n i c i pa l i ty c a s e. T h e C a l g a ry c a se i s c l o s e to b e i n g a t a l l fo u rs w i t h t he g r ieva n ce be fo re u s. T he re a n u rse ' s em p lo yme n t w a s te rm i n a te d d u r i ng he r p ro bat io na ry pe r io d. H e r u n io n g r ie ve d a n d s he sep a ra te l y comp l a i ne d to t he H um a n R i g h ts a n d C i t i ze n s h i p Comm i s s io n a l leg i ng a d i s c r i m i n a to ry d i s c ha rge b y re a s o n m e d i ca l d i s a b i l i t ies. W h e n t h e m atte r c ame b e fo re t h e b o a rd of a r b i t ra t i o n t h e po s i t io n o f t he emp loye r was t h a t t he a r b i t ra t io n boa rd ha s e xc l u s i ve j u r i s d i ct io n ove r t he h uma n r i g hts i s s ue s a n d s ho u l d p ro ce e d. T he u n io n a rg ue d t ha t t h e a r b i t ra t io n boa rd ' s j u r i sd i ct io n w a s co n c u r re n t w i t h t ha t of t he C om m i s s io n b u t t ha t t he b oa rd of a r b i t ra t i o n s h o u ld d e fe r t h e h e a r i n g of t h e g r ieva n ce p e n d i n g t h e o u tc ome of t h e com p la i n t be fo re t he Com m i s s io n. At pp t he Co u rt of A p pe a l rea so ne d a s fo l l ow s : ( i i ) T h e N a t u re o f th e D i s p u te [ 36] T he c h am be rs j u d ge cha ra cte r i ze d t he d i s p u te i n t h i s ca se a s a c ha l le n ge to t he va l i d i ty o f t he te rm i na t io n of em p lo yme n t, notw i t h s ta n d i ng t h a t t h e b a s i s o f t he c h a l le n ge i s d i s c r i m i n a t i o n o n p ro h i b i te d g ro u n d s. S he h e l d t h a t t h e

11 1 0 a rb i t rat i o n b oa rd i s t h e fo r u m w i t h t h e " b e s t f i t" to h a n d le t h e m a t te r, a n d a c c o rd i n g ly co n c l u d e d t h a t t h e a rb i t ra t i o n b o a rd ha s exc l u s ive j u r i s d i ct io n to hea r a nd dete rm i ne t he d i s p u te. [ 3 7 ] W it h re s p e c t, we d o n ot a g re e t h a t a n a n a l ys i s o f " b e s t f i t " ca n le ad to a fi n d i n g of ex c l u s ive j u r i s d i ct io n i n t h i s case. T he i n te n t to g ra n t ex c l u s ive j u r i sd i c t io n m u s t be fo u nd i n t he l eg i s la t io n. T he i n te rp l a y o f t he two le g i s la t i ve s c heme s a t i s s u e h e re i n d i c a t e s t h a t ne i t he r b o d y wa s i n te n d e d to h a ve exc l u s ive j u r i sd i ct io n ove r a l l h uma n r i g h t s i s s ue s t ha t a r i se i n a u n io n ize d wo r k p l a ce e n v i ro n me n t. A s wa s co n fi rme d i n Mo rin, t h e re i s n o p re s um pt i o n of a rb i t ra l e x c l u s i v i ty i n t h e a bse n ce of a c lea r i n d i ca t io n f rom t he leg i s la t u re. T he g r ie va n ce a n d t he h uma n r ig h t s com p la i n t a re w i t h i n t he re spe ct i ve ma n da te s of t he a rb it ra t i o n bo a rd a n d t h e Comm i ss io n. T he re i s no t h i n g i n t he n at u re of t h i s d i s p u te t ha t wo u l d remove i t from t he j u r i sd i ct io n o f o ne of t ho se tr i b u na l s a n d p la ce i t e x c l u s i ve ly w i t h i n t he j u r i sd i ct io n o f t he ot he r. T h i s i s a ca se of co n cu rre n t j u r i sd i ct io n. [ 38 ] Neve rt he le s s, we a g ree w i t h t he c ham be rs j u d ge's co n c l u s io n t h a t t he a r b i t ra t io n boa rd s ho u l d p ro ceed to e xe rc i se i t s j u r i s d i ct io n a n d co n t i n ue to p ro ce s s t he g r ie va n ce s, i n c l u d i ng t he h u ma n r i g h ts i s s ue s i t ra i se s. Bot h t he g r ieva n ce a n d t he h u m a n r i g h ts com p la i n t fo c u s o n wo r k p la ce e ve n ts c u lm i na t i ng i n t he a l le ge d l y d i s c r im i na to ry d e c i s io n to te rm i na te t he emp loyee' s e m p lo yme n t. A lt ho u g h t he p ro v i s io n s of t he Labour Rela tions Code t ha t e s ta b l i s h t he g r ieva n ce p ro ce d u re do no t c le a rl y g ra n t t h e a rb i t ra t io n boa rd j u r i sd i ct io n to t he exc l u s io n of t he C om m i s s io n, t hey d o i n d i ca te a le g i s la t ive p re fe re n ce to ha ve a rb i t ra to rs hea r emp loye r- u n io n d i s p u te s i n t he i n te re st of e xped i t io u s re so l u t i o n o f wo r k p l a ce d iffe re n c e s. P e rm i tt i n g t h e a r b i t ra t i o n boa rd to a dd re s s a l l i s s ue s a r i s i n g from t he te rm i n a t io n of em p lo ym e n t a d va n ce s t he p u r po se s of la bo u r re la t io n s le g i s la t io n, i n c l u d i ng p romo t i ng t he p romp t, fi n a l a n d b i n d i n g re so l u t io n of d i sp u te s w it h m i n ima l d i s r up t io n to t he emp lo ye r- e m p lo yee re la t io n s h i p : Pa rry Sound a t pa ra s [39] I n t h i s c a se, t he a l le ga t io n s of d i sc r i m i n a t io n t ha t ha ve b ee n ra i sed i n t he h uma n r ig h t s com p la i n t a re s q u a re l y

12 1 1 befo re t he a r b i t ra t io n boa rd a s pa rt o f t he te rm i na t io n g r ieva n ce. T he re i s no co n ce r n t ha t t he em p loyee m i g h t be l eft w i t h o u t a fo r um i n w h i c h t o a i r h e r a l l e g a t i o n s of d i s c r im i na t io n, co n t ra ry to t he c lea r i n te n t io n of t he le g i s la t u re t h a t a l l pe rso n s be a b le to a c ce s s h uma n r i g hts le g i s la t io n. T he S u p reme Co u rt o f Ca na da h a s he l d t ha t l a bo u r a rb i t ra to rs a re capa b le o f a dd re s s i n g h u ma n r i g h ts v io la t io n s : Pa rry Sound at pa ra s Ha v i ng t he d i sc r im i na t io n c la i m s p ro ceed i n t ha t fo r u m wo u ld no t re s u l t i n t he lo s s of t he e m p l o yee ' s r ig h t to h a ve h e r co m p l a i n t h e a rd. T h e a r b i t ra t io n b o a rd i s a n a p p ro p r iate fo r um to i n te r p re t t he co l le ct i ve a g reeme n t a n d ap p l y i ts p ro v i s io n s, i n c l ud i ng t h e d i s c r im i n a t i o n c l a u s e co n ta i ne d t h e re i n. C o n c l us i o n [40 ] Fo r t he se rea s o n s, t he ap pea l i s a l lowed to t he e xte n t t h a t t h e a rb i t ra t io n b o a rd a n d t h e C om m i s s i o n a re d e c l a re d to h ave co n c u rre n t j u r i sd i ct io n ove r t he d i s p u te. T he a r b it ra t io n bo a rd i s a n a pp ro p r ia te fo r u m to ad d re s s a l l i s s ue s r a i s e d i n t h e d i s p u te, a nd a l l i s s u e s a re re m i t te d to t h a t boa rd fo r d ete rm i n a t i o n. [4 1 ] A s t h e le g i s la t io n go ve r n i n g t he Com m i s s io n d i cta te s t ha t i t a l so reta i n s j u r i sd i ct io n o ve r t he h u m a n r i g ht s i s s ue s ra i s e d b y t he emp lo yee, i t i s no t ap p ro p r ia te a t t h i s po i n t to p ro h i b i t t he Comm i s s io n from co n t i n u i n g to p ro ce s s t h a t c omp l a i n t. I f a l l m a tte rs a re d e te rm i n e d b y t h e a r b i t ra t io n boa rd, t he n i s s ue s of res judica ta a n d issue es toppe ls may a r i se a n d ca n b e a d d re s s e d b y t h e p a rt i e s a t a n a p p ro p r i a te t i m e. T he d e c i s io n of t he N ova S cot ia Co u rt of A p pea l i n t he Ha l i fax R eg i on a l M u n ic i pa l i ty ca se p ro v id e s a lea d i n g exam p le of t he a na lys i s to be fo l lowe d i n de te rm i n i n g t he l i ne s o f j u r i s d i ct io n a s be twee n t he two sta t u tory t r i b u n a l s, i n t ha t ca se a boa rd of a rb i t ra t io n u nd e r t he Trade Un ion Act o f N o va S co t ia, R. S. N. S , c. 475,

13 1 2 a nd t he Nova S co t ia H u ma n R i g ht s Com m i s s io n u n de r t he Nova Sco tia Human Righ ts A c t, R. S. N. S , c , ha v i n g co n s i de re d t he ap p roa c h t a ke n by t he S up reme Co u rt of Ca n a da i n Que b e c ( Co mm iss i o n d es d ro i ts de l a pe rso n ne e t d es d ro i ts de l a j e u n esse) v. Que b ec (A tto rney G en e ra l ), [ ] 2 S. C. R , 240 D, L. R. (4t h ) 5 77, L. A. C. (4t h ) 1 ( " Mo r i n " ) a nd Webe r v. O n ta r i o Hyd ro, [1 9 95] 2 S. C. R. 929, 1 25 D.. R. (4 t h ) W h i le t he awa rd i n t he H a l i fax R eg i o n a l M u n ic i p a l i ty ca se d oe s n ot, a s i n t h e C a l g a ry c a s e, d ea l w i t h t h e i s s ue of w h e t he r a b o a rd of a r b i t ra t i o n s h o u l d o r s h o u ld no t defe r to a h uma n r i g hts t r i b u n a l, i t co n fi rm s t he v iew t ha t t he j u r i sd i ct io n of bo a rd s of a r b i t ra t io n i n s u ch ca se s i s co n cu rre n t, a nd not e x c l u s i ve, j u s t a s t he j u r i s d i ct io n of t he h u ma n r i g hts com m i s s io n i s co n c u r re n t a n d not exc l u s ive. H ow, t he n, do t he p r i n c i p le s re v iewe d a bo ve come to bea r i n t he c a se a t ha n d? Whe n a l l of t he fa cto rs, a re co n s i d e re d we fee! compe l le d to t he co n c l u s io n t h at t h i s i s a ca se w he re i t i s ap p ro p r i a te fo r t h i s Bo a rd of A r b i tr a t io n to p ro cee d ra t he r t h a n to a djo u r n b y re a so n of t he fa ct t ha t a comp la i n t ha s bee n fi l e d w i t h t he H u ma n R i g ht s T r i b u na l of O n ta r io. We come to t ha t co n c l u s io n o n a n u m be r of g ro u n d s. F i rs t l y, t h i s Bo a rd does ha ve co n c u r re n t j u r i sd i ct io n to dea l fu l l y W i t h t he a l le g at io n s o f d i s c r im i n a t io n o n a l l of t he g ro u nd s c i t e d i n t he h um a n r i g h ts c om p la i n t. We a re l i kew i se em powe re d to a u t ho r i ze a l l o f t he reme d ie s a va i l a b le to t he H uma n R i g h t s T r i b u n a l.

14 1 3 Se co n d ly, s i g n i fi c a n t we i g ht m us t be g i ve n to t he ge ne ra l po l i cy o f t he O n t a r io H um a n R i g h ts T r i b u na l i t se l f, a s refle cte d i n t he de c i s io n s c i te d a bove. I n t he T r i b u na l ' s ow n wo rd s i t s " no rm a l " a p p ro a c h i s to defe r to boa rd s of a r b i t ra t io n w he re t he fa cts comp la i ne d of a re be i ng p ro ce s se d t h ro u g h t he g r ieva n ce a n d a r b i t ra t io n p ro ce d u re s p ro v ided u n de r a co l le ct i ve a g reeme n t. As t he T r i b u n a l ha s no te d, t he re may be co n s i de rat io n s w h i c h m ig h t ca u se a dep a rt u re from t ha t ge ne ra l r u le. I n t he ca se be fo re u s, howeve r, no com pe l l i n g co n s i de ra t io n s fo r e xcep t io n h ave bee n b ro ug h t to o u r a tte n t io n. I n o t he r wo rd s, we a re no t awa re of a n y i s s ue s o r a rg u m e n t s w h i ch g i ve t h i s B o a rd rea so n t o b e l i e v e t ha t t h e n o rm a l p o l i cy of t h e T r i b u n a l, n a m e ly to d e fe r t o t h e g r i e va n ce a nd a r b i t rat io n p ro ce s s, wo u ld n o t b e fo l l owe d i n t h e c a s e a t ha n d. T h i rd l y, t he e q u i t ie s a n d ba l a n c i n g of i n te re s ts s t ro n g l y s u g ge st, to bo r row t h e wo rd s u s e d i n t h e C a l g a ry cas e, t h a t a r b i t ra t i o n i s a " b e tte r f i t " i n a l l of t h e c i rc um sta n ce s of t he ca se at h a n d. Be ca u se t he g r ie ve r i s a p ro ba t io na ry em p loyee, t h e s co pe of t h i s a rb i t ra t io n w i l l be b roade r t h a n t he s co pe of t he com p la i n t w h i c h co u l d be he a rd by t he T r i b u na l. O u r j u r i s d i ct io n e xte n d s no t o n l y to t he i s s ue of d i s c r im i n a t io n, b u t a l so to t h e se pa ra te hea d s of w he t he r t he g r ie ve r ' s te rm i na t io n wa s a r b i t ra ry o r i n ba d fa i t h, e ve n ab se n t a n y fi n d i ng o f d i s c r im i na t io n. To t ha t e xte n t we a re be tte r s i t ua ted to p ro v ide a s i n g le fo r u m so l u t io n to t he re so l u t io n o f a l l t h ree i s s ue s i n a way t ha t t he T r ib u n a l i s n ot. To adjo u r n t he se p ro cee d i ng s pe nd i n g t he de c i s io n of t he T r i b u n a l co u l d, i n t he se c i rc um s ta n ce s, re s u l t i n u n ne ce s sa r i l y b i fu rca te d p ro cee d i n g s, pa rt i c u la r l y i f t he g r ie vo r s h o u l d not be s u c ce s sfu l be fo re t he T r i b u na l. T h a t o u t come wo u l d ob v io u s l y o c c a s io n a s u b s ta n t ia l l y g rea te r expe nd i t u re of t ime a nd re so u r ce s.

15 1 4 F i na l ly, a s note d a bo ve, t h i s Boa rd ha s bee n ma d e awa re o f no fa cts o r i s s ue s w h i c h, by t he i r n a t u re, wo u ld s ug ge s t t ha t t he re a re i n fa ct com pe l l i n g rea so n s to a djo u r n t he se p ro ce e d i n g s o r t ha t t he O n t a r i o H u ma n R i g h ts T r i b u n a l i s be tte r po s i t io ne d to dea l w i t h t h i s ma tte r. W h i le we m u st be o pe n to co n s i de r a nd we i g h a ny s u c h fa cto rs, no ne h a ve bee n p re se n ted to u s beyo nd t he ba re fa ct o f t he g r ie ve r ' s pe rso na l p re fe re n Ce. W h i le t ha t i s not i n s i g n i fi c a n t i t doe s no t, i n o u r v iew, o u twe i g h t he p rej ud i ce w h i c h m i g ht o t h e rw i se be v i s i te d u po n t he Co l le ge s h o u l d we adjo u r n t he se p ro c eed i n g s. Fo r a l l of t he se re a so n s t he Boa rd co n c l u de s t ha t i t i s n o t a pp ro p r ia te to adjo u r n t h i s a r b i t ra t io n by rea so n of t he fa ct t ha t t he g r ie ve r ha s made a sepa ra te com p l a i n t befo re t he O n t a r io H u m a n R i g h t s T r i b u na l. T he U n io n ' s req ue s t fo r a djo u r n me n t i s t h e refo re d e n i e d. D a te d a t O t tawa t h i s 1 9 t h d ay o f D e cem b e r,

16 1 5 M i c h e l G. P i c h e r C h a i r " 1 co n c u r " J o h n P o d m o re Nom i nee fo r t he C o l le ge ' 1 d i s s e n t " S h e r r i l M u r ra y N o m i nee fo r t h e U n io n