Due to unprecedented delays at the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal resulting from a barrage of COVID-19-related complaints, the Tribunal has introduced a new directive placing an emergency pause on new applications to dismiss.

This emergency directive is a significant measure as an application to dismiss is an important part of the human rights process

Due to COVID-19, many employers have been thrown head-first into working-from-home (WFM) arrangements for some, if not all, of their workforce. It is important that employers ensure they are meeting their obligations in these circumstances, including occupational health & safety (OHS) responsibilities and business cost reimbursement, in order to avoid liability.

Health & Safety

In

The British Columbia Court of Appeal (the “BCCA”) recently issued an important decision about family status discrimination. In Envirocon Environmental Services, ULC v. Suen (“Envirocon”), a unanimous BCCA affirmed the existing legal test for adverse discrimination on the ground of family status under the BC Human Rights Code (the “Code”). For