SGM has a thriving human rights and equity law practice, representing trade unions and individuals before many different boards and tribunals.
SGM’s labour lawyers regularly litigate human rights issues in grievance arbitrations. We also assist our trade union clients in drafting collective agreement language that promotes equality and human rights and in reviewing employer policies for compliance with human rights legislation.
SGM’s human rights lawyers represent individuals in proceedings before human rights commissions and tribunals in a broad range of issues beyond the workplace, such as access to health services, education and other public services.
In addition to representing individuals and organizations before human rights commissions and tribunals, SGM has also acted for human rights commissions and tribunals themselves, including in judicial review and appeal proceedings.
SGM frequently intervenes on behalf of clients in court cases raising human rights issues, pushing for progressive interpretations of legislation to afford the broadest possible protection to vulnerable groups. For example, SGM acted for intervenors in Heintz v. Christian Horizons, Canada (House of Commons) v. Vaid, Nixon v. Vancouver Rape Relief and Jazairi v. Ontario (Human Rights Commission). SGM also acted for the Canadian Labour Congress, which intervened in Renaud v. Central Okanagan School District, No. 23, a case involving the respective obligations of employers and unions in the accommodation process.
SGM has an extensive pay equity practice, assisting clients in the negotiation of pay equity plans, ensuring that pay equity gains are maintained, and litigating pay equity disputes in both the provincial and federal jurisdictions. SGM also has expertise in employment equity, providing our federally regulated clients with advice regarding the Employment Equity Act and the Federal Contractors Program. We also advise our provincially regulated clients on the development of special programs to remedy disadvantage consistent with the requirements of the Ontario Human Rights Code.
SGM frequently conducts workshops and education seminars on for trade unions and other organizations on human rights and harassment issues. In addition, SGM has provided training for investigators, intake officers and mediators who work for human rights commissions, and SGM lawyers have investigated discrimination and harassment complaints for non-unionized employers and human rights commissions.
