by Stephen Acker and Leanne Fioravanti

More exotic modes of transport may need to be explored as Ottawa, Canada’s capital city, struggles with relentless snow storms and a highly controversial bus strike. Unfortunately there is no end in sight as the OC Transpo transit strike enters its second month in mid-January. This transit strike demonstrates:

1. the distinction between provincially and federally regulated industries in Canada; and
2. that union militancy is alive and well in certain parts of the frozen north.

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by Karen Sargeant

The United States is not the only country being hit by increasing unemployment rates — Canada is being hit, too. Although not as high as unemployment figures in the US, Canadian figures put unemployment at 6.6%. So where is Canada being hit the most? The following statistics from the Labour Force Survey show where.

• A net 34,000 jobs were lost in December, the result of a large drop in full-time work. A gain of 36,000 part-time jobs offset the loss of 71,000 full-time jobs. Understandably, most of the losses were in the private sector.  In fact, the public sector gained jobs.
• December’s job losses arose largely from a drop in construction. That industry experienced one of the largest monthly losses in over 30 years — 44,000 jobs lost in December. Given that housing starts in November were at their lowest level in seven years, this is not surprising.
• Other industries hit hard were: business, culture, recreational services, agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, oil and gas, trade, and manufacturing.
• Alberta was the hardest hit province, accounting for 16,000 of the lost jobs. This is particularly surprising given that only a year ago employers were giving huge signing bonuses just to get employees to come work for them. But it’s not surprising given the decline in oil and gas.
• Second behind Alberta in December was Quebec. But year over year, unemployment in Quebec was unchanged.
• Young people aged 15 to 24 and men aged 25 to 54 were the hardest hit by the declines in December.
• Those over 55 actually saw an employment increase. Perhaps these older workers are prepared to accept flexible work schedules and fewer benefits. But despite the employment increase, unemployment rose for these older workers, the result of an increase in the number of people over 55 looking for work.

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by Derek Knoechel

In 1990, a 21-year-old woman was caught shoplifting. She then pleaded guilty to a charge of theft, receiving a conditional discharge. Some five years later, she applied for a position with the Montreal police force. So began a 13-year legal odyssey culminating in a Supreme Court of Canada decision (Montréal (City) v. Quebec (Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse, 2008 SCC 48) released in August of 2008.

As part of the background screening process, the Montreal police force became aware of the past guilty plea. It rejected her application on the basis that the guilty plea showed she did not possess the necessary “good moral character” required of police officers. The “good moral character” test was legitimate – it was a statutory requirement. The police force believed this test supported its rejection of the woman’s application.

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by Dominique Launay

Five weeks ago, we told you about an unfair labor practice complaint against Wal-Mart in Saskatchewan, arising out of its closure of a store in Jonquiere, Quebec. Well, it seems that Saskatchewan isn’t the only province in which Wal-Mart is being dealt blows. The Quebec Labor Relations Board  has also recently ruled against Wal-Mart.

In 2005, Wal-Mart received two applications for certification from the United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 486. One was for the main store in Gatineau, Quebec. The other was for the auto center next door. These didn’t end up being normal applications for certification and ended up with considerable debate before the Quebec Labor Relations Board.

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