Canadian employment law is predicated on the notion that the relationship between an employee and an employer is contractual in nature. “At will” employment does not exist in Canada.
The employment contract usually takes one of three forms (written, implied or collective) and, in some cases, there may be some overlap. The contract is governed by legislative minimums that underpin common law principles; in Quebec, the Civil Code of Quebec, in addition to legistated minimum standards, applies.
The chapter on Employment and Labour Law in our guide to Doing business in Canada provides in depth information on the Canadian employment relationship, termination of employment and special considerations in acquisition transactions.
For more on Doing business in Canada, in which we provide a general overview of the principal corporate, tax and other legal considerations for foreign businesses wishing to establish or acquire a business in Canada, we invite you to visit our website.