Full Transparency: Answering Questions From Employers and Employees About BC’s Pay Transparency Act

The recent enactment of British Columbia’s Pay Transparency Act (the “Act”) has piqued widespread interest from both employers and employees throughout British Columbia. The Act, which took effect on May 11, 2023, endeavors to address the documented gender-wage gap in B.C. by imposing certain restrictions and obligations on BC employers. Under the Act, employers are…

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A Sense of Urgency: The New Test for Want of Prosecution

Written by: Kelty McKerracher with contributions by Shannon Faleiro As a lawyer, maybe you have had that case hanging off the side of your desk – and weighing on your client’s mind – that just won’t go away. It’s the one where the plaintiff has done nothing for years and your client is apprehensive to…

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Secret Recordings: Legal Implications Explored

Introduction The recent Court of Appeal decision in Shalagin v. Mercer Celgar Limited Partnership, 2023 BCCA 373  (“Mercer”) cautions employees about making surreptitious/secret recordings in the workplace. While an employee may record situations that are necessary to expose an injustice such as workplace bullying, the courts discourage the practice because it can foster distrust in…

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Canada’s Highest Court Upholds Indigenous Jurisdiction

Written by: Nick Smith, Iain Thomas, and Kelty McKerracher. On February 9, 2024, the Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC” or the “Court”) released its decision Reference re An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families, 2024 SCC 5, ruling on the constitutionality of An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis…

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Employers, Take Caution with Just Cause

In the recent BC Supreme Court judgment of Lefebvre v. Gisborne Holdings Ltd., 2023 BCSC 2231 (“Lefebvre”), the Court reaffirmed the need for employers to exercise caution when considering just cause termination, once again highlighting its severity as a remedy for employee misconduct. Background In Lefebvre, the employee, Ms. Lefebvre, was hired by employer, Gisborne…

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Congratulations to MT+Co.’s New Principals

We are excited to announce the appointment of Dan Fogarty and Erin Reimer as principal lawyers. We are particularly proud that Dan and Erin both began their careers as articling students at MT+Co. Dan leads our Corporate Group and is a member of our Business Law Group. With over a decade of experience in tax…

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New Opportunity to Fund UNDRIP Implementation Projects

Written by: Jordan Ardanaz, Michaela Pomponio, and Kelty McKerracher Indigenous Partnership Fund Indigenous organizations still have a last-minute opportunity to fund initiatives that support work toward implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (“UNDRIP”). Until January 30, 2024, Canada is accepting proposals under the Indigenous Partnership Fund program (the “Fund”) for…

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West Coast Kids Cancer Foundation: Port Shirt Program

In September, we had the pleasure of featuring one of our community partners, the West Coast Kids Cancer Foundation (WCK), and all the incredible work they are doing. You can find the full update on our website. One of WCK’s innovative initiatives is the Port Shirt Program, which was conceived by Cameron, a young boy…

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A New Initiative for First Nation Equity Ownership

The Canadian Infrastructure Bank (CIB) has introduced the Indigenous Equity Initiative (IEI), a lending program designed to enable First Nations to become equity owners of infrastructure assets situated on their traditional territories.  Filling a Crucial Gap  This initiative provides First Nations with the essential upfront capital required to purchase equity stakes in major infrastructure projects.…

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