Morriseau v. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada

2017 ONCA 567 (CanLII)Court of Appeal for OntarioDecided Labour relations

Morriseau v. Sun Life: Jurisdiction over Collective Agreement Benefits

Summary

This is an appeal regarding the jurisdiction of the court to hear a dispute over long-term disability benefits for a unionized employee. The Court of Appeal held that disputes arising from the interpretation or administration of a collective agreement, including benefits, must be resolved through arbitration and are outside the court's jurisdiction.

Outcome

appeal dismissed

Key Factors

  • collective agreement
  • long-term disability benefits
  • jurisdiction
  • arbitration
  • unionized employee

Related Cases

Bourque/Chima v. Public Service Alliance Of Canada et al

2026 ONSC 4761 (CanLII) · 2026-08-17

This is an interlocutory proceeding addressing subject matter jurisdiction in a labour relations dispute. The court dismissed the action, finding that the Labour Board has exclusive jurisdiction over the union's internal disciplinary process and allegations of procedural unfairness under the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations Act.

Purolator Inc. v. Canadian Union of Postal Workers

2026 ONCA 515 (CanLII) · 2026-07-14

Labour Dispute Injunction: CUPW v. Purolator Appeal

This is an appeal concerning the jurisdiction of a court to issue an injunction against picketing by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers at Purolator Inc. The Court of Appeal allowed the appeal and set aside the injunction, ruling that the employer lacked jurisdiction because proper notice under s. 102 of the Courts of Justice Act was not provided, despite the picketing being connected to a labour dispute.

Remcan Projects LP v. Wallace

2026 ONSC 3571 (CanLII) · 2026-06-17

Labour Relations: Exclusive Jurisdiction & Stay of Action

This is a procedural ruling on a motion to stay a civil action and strike pleadings in a dispute concerning union organizing and certification. The court determined that the essential character of the dispute fell within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Ontario Labour Relations Board under the Labour Relations Act, 1995, applying the Weber two-part test. Consequently, the civil action was stayed to avoid duplication and inconsistent findings, and specific tort claims were struck as non-justiciable certification harms.

Dorceus v. Ontario

2026 ONCA 321 (CanLII) · 2026-05-06

Dorceus v. Ontario: Charter Claims Struck for Arbitration

This is an appeal from a motion to strike where the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal and struck the pleadings. The appellants, including unionized healthcare workers and privileged hospital staff, attempted to litigate vaccine policy disputes and privilege revocations in civil court. The court held that these matters fell under the exclusive jurisdiction of labour arbitration or statutory review bodies, striking the Charter and tort claims as an abuse of process.

Formenton v. Newport Sports Management Inc. et al.

2026 ONSC 1373 (CanLII) · 2026-03-06

Arbitration Award Set Aside: Labour Relations & Fairness

This is a procedural ruling on an application to set aside an arbitration award in a closed shop labour relations context. The court addressed issues of arbitrator jurisdiction, the validity of a six-month contractual limitation period, and procedural fairness regarding the arbitrator's consideration of NHLPA information.

This is legal information, not legal advice. Ontario Severance is an educational tool. If you are facing a serious employment law matter, consult with a qualified employment lawyer in Ontario.