New Vice-Chair

Lyle Kanee named as new Vice-Chair

...  Nationally-noted labour lawyer Lyle Kanee has been appointed a part-time vice-chair of the Alberta Labour Relations Board for a five-year term starting August 1st, announced Employment and Immigration Minister Hector Goudreau.

“Alberta workplaces will benefit from the labour relations experience, commitment to advocacy, and support for both teaching and learning which Mr. Kanee brings,” noted the minister.  Mark Asbell, Q.C., Chair of the Board is very pleased with Lyle's appointment. "Lyle brings a great deal of experience and credibility to the Board and will be an outstanding addition to an already strong group of adjudicators."

Mr. Kanee has worked in Toronto and Edmonton with union-side law firms.  He has been a sessional instructor in labour law at the University of Alberta and has presented at a number of conferences.  He has been involved in negotiating collective agreements, resolving workplace grievances, and presenting cases before the Board. His practice has included civil litigation, pension and benefit issues, disability insurance claims, class actions, and human rights matters, and he has represented clients' interests before human rights and professional tribunals, and all levels of the courts including the Supreme Court of Canada..

The Board is a quasi-judicial tribunal responsible for the day-to-day application and interpretation of Alberta’s labour laws.  The Board helps resolve disputes in workplaces by working with union and management parties, and also has inquiry and hearing powers to make binding rules when necessary.  The Board consists of a chair, two full-time vice-chairs, three part-time vice-chairs, and about 35 part-time members who represent both labour and management.  All are appointed through an open, competitive process.

New Policy Guidelines for ALRB

Guidelines for Consultation on Legislation

Mark Asbell, Q.C., Chair of the Alberta Labour Relations Board is pleased to announce the adoption of guidelines designed to reinforce the impartiality and independence of the Labour Relations Board. These guidelines have been adopted by the Board’s Chair and Vice-Chairs who, along with members representative of labour and management, make up Alberta’s Labour Relations Board.  The Board’s mandate includes the adjudication of disputes that arise under the Labour Relations Code and the Public Service Employee Relations Act. 

The new guidelines clarify circumstances when consultation might occur between officials of government and of the Labour Relations Board over legislative initiatives. They set out procedures to ensure both fairness and greater transparency in Labour Board processes when any such consultations take place.

These guidelines are timely and have been adopted now that the parties have resolved disputes that arose following the introduction of Bill 27; a bill that involved regionalization within the health care industry. The Board will be commending a similar approach for other Boards and Tribunals to the McCrank Task Force later this year.

Follow this link to view the Guidelines