The Ontario Bar Association's Labour and Employment Law Section: Overview and Welcome

  • October 31, 2019
  • Carissa Tanzola, Filion Wakely Thorup Angeletti LLP

The 2019/20 executive of the OBA’s Labour and Employment Section is starting its term with enthusiasm. Thanks to the efforts of the 2018/19 executive, chaired by Adrian Ishak, we were able to continue the Section’s momentum and since September 2019, have already scheduled new programming, social events and now, the first edition of this years’ newsletter.

By way of overview, the Section’s executive consists of 23 labour and employment lawyers, and one law student. With the direction and leadership of the staff at the OBA, our upcoming programs and events include:

  • October 29, 2019 – Ending the Employment Relationship 
  • November 7, 2019 – Social Thursday
  • November 19, 2019 – Overcoming Professionalism Challenges in Employment Law and Workplace Investigations 

We are also preparing for our Institute program, which will address employment in a “gig economy,” which is an ongoing challenge for employers and employees alike. We are currently brainstorming ideas and working with OBA staff to develop an increased number of regional programs.

Further, we continue to be involved in joint efforts with the Administrative Law and the Constitutional, Civil Liberties and Human Rights Law sections in efforts to better understand the current situation with the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal and Tribunals Ontario. We continue to monitor all issues regarding public affairs, government initiatives and proposed legislative amendments and work with OBA staff to participate in consultation processes, where appropriate.

We encourage our section membership to reach out to any one of the Labour and Employment Law Section executive members with suggestions and questions. The Section is always looking for additional opportunities to share experiences, learn from each other, stay up-to-date on important changes in labour and employment law and forge lasting relationships.  

Finally, as a member of the Section, if you would like to participate in the development of continuing professional development programs, authoring articles for the newsletter or by contributing to policy advocacy in the interests of our section and for the profession as a whole, please let Gordon Lau know and he can direct you to the leaders of the Section’s subcommittees.

I look forward to representing the OBA's Labour and Employment Section this year and hope to see you at some of our events.