Governing Legislation and Resources for Employment Law (9:II)

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A. Employment and Wrongful Dismissal Legislation

1. Federal Legislation

  • Canada Labour Code, RSC l985, c L-2, sets out minimum employment standards for federal employees including standards governing collective bargaining and occupational health and safety. There are three general parts to the Act: Part I: Industrial Relations, Part II: Occupational Health and Safety, and Part III: Standard Hours, Wages, Vacations and Holidays. Website: http://www.laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/L-2/index.html
  • Canadian Human Rights Act, RSC 1985, c H-6, covers discrimination in the workplace and the procedure for adjudication before the Canadian Human Rights Commission. Website: http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/H-6
  • Employment Equity Act, RSC 1995, c 44, helps achieve equality in the workplace with particular attention to inequalities that exist for women, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities, and visible minorities. Website: http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/e-5.401
  • Employment Insurance Act, RSC 1996, c 23, outlines the requirements and qualifications for Employment Insurance. Website: http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/E-5.6/49004.html
  • Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, RSC 2000, c 5, protects personal information collected and distributed electronically for employees in federal jurisdiction. Website: http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/p-8.6

2. Provincial Legislation – Employees

3. Provincial Legislation – Contractors

B. Resources

1. Books

  • Howard A Levitt. The Law of Dismissal in Canada, (Aurora, Ont: Canada Law Book, 2003). This textbook is used by Employment Standards Branch staff.
  • Malcolm Mackillop. Damage Control: An Employer’s Guide to Just Cause Termination, (Aurora, Ont: Canada Law Book, 1997).
  • Ellen E Mole. The Wrongful Dismissal Handbook, Second Edition (Scarborough: Butterworths, 2005).

2. Other Resources

  • The Continuing Legal Education Society of BC holds an Employment Law conference each year. Papers are published on topics of current interest, and can be found at most law libraries, or online for those with a subscription at: http://online.cle.bc.ca/
  • The Employment Standards Branch publishes the Employment Standards Act Interpretation Guidelines Manual. The Manual sets out the ESB`s interpretation of the Act and Regulations. The manual is published online at: http://www.labour.gov.bc.ca/esb/igm/welcome.htm
  • LexisNexis Quicklaw publishes Canada Wrongful Dismissal Quantums. Canada Wrongful Dismissal Quantums summarizes wrongful dismissal awards organized according to occupation and duration of employment. The Quantums are available online to those with a subscription at www.lexisnexis.com/ca/legal
  • Carswell hosts an online Wrongful Dismissal Database. The database calculates average notice period awards from precedential cases. Reports can be purchased individually or by subscription. The database is accessible online at: www.wrongfuldismissaldatabase.com
  • Lawyer Greg Gowe publishes the Canadian Workplace Law WebSource which tracks developments and cases in Canadian labour and employment law. Mr. Gowe updates the blog regularly. The WebSource is published online at: www.greggowe.com

C. Referrals

Employment Standards Branch (Employees in Provincial Jurisdiction)

Online Website
Address Lower Mainland Regional Office
250 – 4600 Jacombs Road
Richmond, B.C. V6V 3B1
Phone (604) 660-4946
Fax: (604) 713-0450


The other Branch in the Lower Mainland is located in Langley

Employment Standards General Inquiry Line

Online Website
Phone (Prince George): (250) 612-4100
(Rest of B.C.): 1-800-663-3316
Fax: (250) 612-4121


Labour Relations Board

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Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Labour Program

Address Labour Standards
125 East 10th Avenue
Vancouver, B.C. V5T 1Z3
Phone (604) 872-4384
Toll Free: 1-800-641-4049
Emergency: 1-800-641-4049
Fax: (604) 666-3166


Canada Industrial Relations Board

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Employment Standards Tribunal of British Columbia

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B.C. Human Rights Tribunal

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Workers’ Compensation Board of B.C. (WorkSafeBC - Head Office)

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Canadian Human Rights Commission – British Columbia and Yukon

Online Website
Phone Toll-free: 1-888-214-1090


West Coast Domestic Workers’ Association

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