Queen’s Marque
600-1741 Lower Water Street
Halifax, N.S.
B3J 0J2
Language(s) spoken: English
Bar Admission(s): Nova Scotia, 2001
Legal Assistant(s): Hayden Marchand
Providing legal services through a professional corporation.
Rick works with clients such as construction companies, radio companies, government, food services companies, international organizations, trucking companies, finance companies and power companies. He has appeared before all levels of Court in the province and labour and employment related tribunals, as well as the Supreme Court of Canada. Some of the ways in which he has assisted his clients include:
- Successfully represented municipality in interest arbitration involving police union.
- Secured substantial monetary damages award for consulting business whose employees secretly competed while employed.
- Successfully represented private sector employers’ organization before Nova Scotia Court of Appeal in high profile medical marijuana benefits human rights appeal.
- Successfully represented employer in wrongful dismissal involving malingering employee that received national attention.
- Successfully represented employer in constitutional challenge to essential services legislation.
- Successfully represented an energy company in a complex construction industry labour relations matter before the Labour Board.
- Successfully represented an international organization in a wrongful dismissal suit before the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Canada.
- Successfully represented employers in upholding dismissal of employees for theft before arbitrators, the Labour Standards Tribunal and the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal.
- Successfully represented car dealerships before the Nova Scotia Labour Board.
- Successfully represented a securities company before the Nova Scotia Supreme Court in a wrongful dismissal suit.
Education & Career
Education
Dalhousie University, LLB, 2000
University of King’s College, BA (honours), 1996
Activities
Member, Canadian Bar Association
Practice group leader, Stewart McKelvey Labour and Employment group
Member, Dalhousie Alumni Association Board
Member, Laing House Board of Directors
Former part time faculty, Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University, Civil Trial Practice
Past chair, Constitutional and Human Rights Section, Canadian Bar Association
Associate member, Human Resources Association of Nova Scotia
Member, Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers
Recipient, Outstanding Volunteer Award, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia, April 2011
Former member, Board of Directors, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia
Accolades
Lexpert rating: Labour Relations, 2021
Best Lawyers: Labour and Employment Law, 2013 – 2025
Thought Leadership
Nova Scotia relaunches Paid Sick Leave Program
January 12, 2022
Supreme Court of Canada almost slams the door on unionized employees’ human rights complaints
November 09, 2021
Nova Scotia workers can now access paid COVID-19 sick days – “stay tuned for the details”
May 13, 2021
COVID-19: Keep calm and consider the issues!
March 06, 2020
Atlantic Canada Year in Review 2019 – Top 15 Takeaways for Employers
January 23, 2020
Proposed Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention Regulations under the Canada Labour Code
August 02, 2019
New Trade Union Act General Regulations addresses (in part) *snapshot* approach to construction industry unionization
May 02, 2019
Client Update: Nova Scotia gives first look at cannabis regulation
December 08, 2017
Client Update: Federal government desires feedback on proposed Cannabis Act regulations
November 28, 2017
Client Update: New Brunswick’s final cannabis report: government operated stores, guidance on growing at home
September 06, 2017
TTC’s Random Testing Decision: A Bright Light for Employers in the Haze of Marijuana Legalization
April 11, 2017
Unionization in the Construction Industry: Vacation Day + Snapshot Rule = Disenfranchisement
April 04, 2017
Federal Government’s Cannabis Report: What does it mean for employers?
December 15, 2016
Publications
Drafted the Canadian Association of Counsel to Employer (“CACE”) submission to the Nova Scotia Labour Board regarding its policy on casual employees
January 31, 2018
“Employers: What should you think about in preparation for the legalization of marijuana?”, Now! Nova Scotia
January 22, 2018
“Do’s and don’ts when facing a union-organizing drive”, Canadian HR Reporter, December 2015
“Community of Interest Considerations are Important in a Construction Industry Certification”, HR Law blog, March 2015
“Privacy Issues and Disclosure of Personal Information to Unions”, Atlantic Employers’ Counsel, Fall 2010
“Unionization and Its Impact in the Construction Industry”, Atlantic Employers’ Counsel, Spring 2014
“Wal-Mart Wins on Narrow Ground in Quebec Store Closure Case”, Labour and Employment Law Perspective – The Canadian Bar Association National Labour and Employment Law Section Newsletter, January 2010
“Nova Scotia Fights Workplace Violence with New Regulations”, Canadian HR Reporter
December 17, 2007
“Ontario Expands Arbitrators Jurisdiction to Award Punitive Damages”, Atlantic Employers’ Counsel, Spring 2005
“S.C.C. Expands Meaning of Family and Marital Status Discrimination”, Atlantic Employers’ Counsel, Winter 2003
“Defending Against Discriminatory Complaints in Nova Scotia”, Atlantic Employers’ Counsel, Winter 2002
“Nova Scotia Labour Relations Board (Construction Industry Panel) Examines Jurisdictional Dispute”, Atlantic Employers’ Counsel, Winter 2002
“What you Need to Know about the Federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act ”, Atlantic Employers’ Counsel, Summer 2002
Nova Scotia Labour Relations Board (Construction Industry Panel) issues Policy Statement on what is considered “Construction Work” vs. “Maintenance Work”, Atlantic Employers’ Counsel, Fall 2001
“Privacy Law Update: Surveillance Video Tape of Suspected Malingerer Not Admissible Under Federal Privacy Section Legislation”, Atlantic Employers’ Counsel
Mandatory Pre-Employment Testing Violates Human Rights Legislation in Alberta”, Atlantic Employers’ Counsel
Presentations
Co-presenter, “Trending Topics”, Stewart McKelvey Labour and Employment webinar
November 23, 2021
Speaker, “Human rights and mental health accommodation”, Practical insights for employers navigating an uncertain workplace environment – Canadian Lawyer Employment Law masterclass
April 27, 2021
Featured speaker, Employment Agreements – Navigating Your Obligations in a Uncertain Environment webinar
July 14, 2020
Presenter, Urban Development Institute, “Top 10 Things Employers Need to Know about Cannabis in the Workplace”
October 24, 2018
Presenter, AMANS Conference, “A Burning Issue: Marijuana in the Workplace”
October 17, 2018
Presenter, Stewart McKelvey Webinar, “10 Things Employers Should Know about Cannabis”
May 23, 2018
Presenter, InformedHR, “Managing Cannabis in the Workplace – the role of HR”
April 26, 2018
Presenter, CPHR Nova Scotia, “Marijuana in the Workplace”
April 24, 2018
Presenter, Cannabis Safety Charter Presentation, “10 Things Every CEO Should Know about Cannabis”
March 01, 2018
Presenter, Cannabis Safety Charter Presentation, “10 Things Every CEO Should Know about Cannabis”
January 10, 2018
Presenter, Stewart McKelvey Labour and Employment Fall Seminar, “Marijuana (a.k.a. “Cannabis”) – Top 5 Employer Concerns”
November 02, 2017
Presenter, Stewart McKelvey Labour and Employment Fall Seminar, “Drug and Alcohol Testing – The Latest Law”
November 02, 2017
Presenter, CACE Webinar, “Hot Topics in Workplace Human Rights – Defending Human Rights Complaints”
October 03, 2017
Presenter, Canadian Pension & Benefits Institute Seminar, “Marijuana in the Workplace”
April 12, 2017
Presenter, CPHR NS, “Terminations from Start to Finish”
March 23, 2017
Presenter, Construction Law Seminar
October 06, 2016
Presenter, HRANS Presentation: Law Seminar (New Glasgow), “Medical Marijuana Occupational Health and Safety”
October 05, 2016
Presenter, HRANS Presentation, “Constructive Dismissal”
September 20, 2016
Co-presenter, FAN – The Start Ups Guide to Avoiding Human Resources Hell, “Lesson 1 – Employment Agreement”
June 14, 2016
Presenter, HRANS Presentation: Law Seminar (Wolfville), “Medical Marijuana Occupational Health and Safety”
April 18, 2016
Presenter, UCC, 2015
Presenter, HRANS Presentation, “Accommodating Family Status”
February 20, 2015
Presenter, HRANS Presentation: Law Seminar, “Terminating the Poor Performer Substances in the Workplace”
November 04, 2014
Presenter, HRANS Presentation – Annual Law Seminar
March 20, 2014
Presenter, Atlantic Canada Construction Labour Relations, Hot Topics in Employment, May 2012
Co-chair, HRANS Law Day, 2012
Presenter, HRANS Association of Nova Scotia “Hot Topics in Employment Law”
May 29, 2012
Presenter, “Electronic Surveillance in the Workplace”, Canadian Bar Association Labour and Employment Section and Privacy Section, 2011
Facilitator, HRANS Law Day, 2011
October 31, 2011