Canada: Health & Safety

When a serious or fatal workplace accident occurs, investigations extend beyond regulatory violations to examine whether organizational failures constitute criminal negligence. This analysis explores how accumulated safety deficiencies, knowledge of significant dangers, and tolerance of manifestly dangerous practices can transform an occupational health and safety matter into a criminal investigation with profound consequences for both organizations and individuals.

Ontario commercial truck drivers with less than two years of heavy-truck experience must now pass a practical road test administered by Quebec's SAAQ before transferring their licence to operate heavy vehicles in the province. This new requirement follows fatal collisions and an Ontario Auditor General audit that exposed significant gaps in training standards and provider oversight. Carriers operating across the border need to factor these requirements into workforce planning, recruitment timelines, and dis

Ontario truck drivers with less than two years of commercial heavy vehicle experience must now pass a practical road test administered by Quebec's SAAQ before exchanging their license to drive commercial heavy vehicles in the province. This new requirement follows a series of collisions involving heavy trucks in Quebec and a May 2026 audit revealing significant gaps in Ontario's training standards and oversight of providers. Carriers operating across the Ontario-Quebec border must now factor these requireme

The British Columbia Supreme Court decision in Hedrick v Johnston Meier Insurance Agencies Ltd. examines when an employment contract can be terminated due to frustration, particularly after an employee develops permanent psychological injuries from workplace stalking. The case clarifies employer obligations under workplace health and safety laws and addresses when WorkSafeBC benefits may be deducted from wrongful dismissal damages.

A CBC news investigation criticized the Canadian trucking industry for its employment practices, reporting that some trucking companies purposefully misclassify workers as independent contractors to save money on payroll taxes and avoid labour standards obligations.

Workplace investigator Rupa Karyampudi discusses how universal design principles can transform workplace investigations into more accessible processes for participants with disabilities and neurodivergence. The conversation explores practical techniques for adjusting interview methods in real-time, understanding how disability affects communication and demeanor, and why investigators must move beyond one-size-fits-all approaches to credibility assessment.

When does a workplace harassment investigation meet the legal standard of being "appropriate in the circumstances"? A recent Ontario Labour Relations Board decision provides crucial guidance for employers on investigation scope, interviewer selection, and procedural fairness requirements under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Jeff Davis, Chief Legal and Corporate Affairs Officer at Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, discusses his unconventional leadership approach centered on vulnerability and psychological safety. From his 2019 award acceptance speech addressing mental health challenges in the legal profession to building an 80-person global team, Davis shares how embracing uncertainty and authentic self-expression has shaped both his 22-year career trajectory and his philosophy on managing complex risks in today's rapidly changin

Le Tribunal administratif du travail (le « TAT ») a rendu, en tout début d’année, une décision marquante à l’intersection du harcèlement psychologique, de la violence à caractère sexuel et de la réclamation pour lésion professionnelle. Elle rappelle que les obligations de prévention de l’employeur ne s’arrêtent pas nécessairement à la porte de l’établissement, ni même à la fin officielle d’une activité sociale.