Federal Court of Appeal Decisions

Decision Information

Decision Content

Date: 20160406


Docket: A‑364‑15

Citation: 2016 FCA 104

[ENGLISH TRANSLATION]

CORAM:

SCOTT J.A.

BOIVIN J.A.

DE MONTIGNY J.A.

 

 

BETWEEN:

ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CANADA

Applicant

and

PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTE OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE OF CANADA

Respondent

Heard at Ottawa, Ontario, on April 6, 2016.

Judgment delivered at Ottawa, Ontario, on April 6, 2016.

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT BY:

SCOTT J.A.

 


Date: 20160406


Docket: A­364­15

Citation: 2016 FCA 104

CORAM:

SCOTT J.A.

BOIVIN J.A.

DE MONTIGNY J.A.

 

 

BETWEEN:

ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CANADA

Applicant

and

PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTE OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE OF CANADA

Respondent

REASONS FOR JUDGEMENT

(Judgement delivered from the bench at Ottawa, Ontario, on April 6, 2016.)

SCOTT J.A.

[1]  Despite the submissions provided by counsel for the applicant to the effect that the grievance adjudicator from the Public Service Labour Relations Board (PSLRB) made several errors in the decision rendered on July 22, 2015, we are not convinced that our intervention is warranted.

[2]  In our opinion, the arbitrator did not commit a reviewable error in concluding that article 22 of the collective agreement between the Canada Revenue Agency (the “Employer”) and the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada required the Employer to reimburse employees for professional liability insurance fees that they had to pay to maintain their membership in the Ordre des comptables professionnels agrées du Québec (CPA).

[3]  While considering the standard of reasonableness and according deference as required by the case law (Delios v. Canada (Attorney General), 2015 FCA 117), we all agree that the arbitrator’s decision falls within the range of possible, acceptable outcomes, because the underlying reasons are based on a reasonable interpretation of the language of article 22.01 of the collective agreement. The arbitrator may have well concluded that the mandatory requirement imposed on CPA members to pay professional liability insurance fees more specifically met the second of the three conditions imposed by clause 22.01a) of the collective agreement, i.e. that the membership fees constituted the “payment of annual membership fees in one (1) of either the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CA), the Society of Management Accountants (CMA), Canadian Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), or the Certified General Accountants Association (CGA), and to one (1) of their respective provincial organizations.”

[4]  Since we are unable to identify any error made by the arbitrator, the application for judicial review will be dismissed with costs fixed at $2,500.00, including taxes and disbursements.

“A.F. Scott”

J.A.

Certified true translation

Francois Brunet, Revisor


FEDERAL COURT OF APPEAL

NAMES OF COUNSEL AND SOLICITORS OF RECORD


Docket:

A‑364‑15

STYLE OF CAUSE:

ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CANADA v. PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTE OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE OF CANADA

 

 

PLACE OF HEARING:

Ottawa, Ontario

 

DATE OF HEARING:

April 6, 2016

 

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE COURT BY:

SCOTT J.A.

BOIVIN J.A.

DE MONTIGNY J.A.

 

DELIVERED FROM THE BENCH BY:

SCOTT J.A.

 

APPEARANCES:

Michel Girard

 

For the applicant

ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CANADA

 

Lise Leduc

 

For the respondent

PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTE OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE OF CANADA

 

SOLICITORS OF RECORD:

William F. Pentney

Deputy Attorney General of Canada

Ottawa, Ontario

 

For the applicant

ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CANADA

 

GOLDBLATT PARTNERS LLP

Ottawa, Ontario

 

For the respondent

PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTE OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE OF CANADA

 

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