Ontario Labour Relations Board

Ministry

Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development

URL

www.olrb.gov.on.ca

Address

505 University Avenue, 2nd Floor
Toronto
M5G2P1

Phone

416-326-7500/ 1-877-339-3335

Fax

416-326-7531

Background

Labour Relations Act, S.O. 1995, C. 1, SCHEDULE A, S. 110 (opens a new window)

Function

The Board is an independent adjudicative tribunal which plays a fundamental role in the labour relations regime within Ontario. It has a mandate to provide excellence in administrative justice through the effective resolution of a wide range of labour relations and employment disputes. The Board adjudicates and mediates disputes under the Labour Relations Act, Employment Standards Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act and numerous other labour and employment-related statutes. Matters before the Board include certification and termination of bargaining rights, unfair labour practice complaints, unlawful strikes and lockouts, jurisdictional disputes in the construction and non-construction industries, accreditations in the construction industry, construction industry grievances, sale of a business and related employer applications in the construction and non-construction industries, interim order applications, Ministerial References, School Boards Collective Bargaining Act applications, essential services agreements, Crown Employee Collective Bargaining Act disputes, first collective agreement applications, Hospital Labour Disputes Arbitration Act, Ontario College of Trades and Apprenticeship Act appeals, Colleges Collective Bargaining Act applications, Public Sector Labour Relations Transition Act cases, a large variety of reprisal cases and numerous others under a large variety of statutes.

Membership

The Board is composed of a Chair one or more Vice-Chairs and an equal number of members representing employers and unions, respectively. The Lieutenant Governor in Council designates one of the vice-chairs to be alternate chair.

Qualifications

•    Able to hear, mediate and decide cases under more than 24 statutes, in particular, high-profile and precedent setting cases, and provide oral or written reasons which are often lengthy and are subject to judicial review.  Able to act as a neutral adjudicator.
•    Ability to formulate impartial and fair decisions using sound judgment and to communicate them orally and in writing in a timely manner.
•    Thorough understanding of the administrative justice system and its legal principles.
•    Knowledge of the legislation and jurisprudence under the Board’s jurisdiction and related laws and legal processes and rules of evidence or the ability to acquire such knowledge.
•    Understanding of the Board's rules of practice and supporting procedures.
•    Superior dispute resolution and analytical skills to resolve complex matters involving multiple interests, under public scrutiny.
•    Excellent communication skills and relationships in the labour relations community.
•    In-depth understanding of the professional, institutional, policy and community context in which the agency operates, or the ability to acquire such understanding.
•    Knowledge of the continuum of dispute resolution practices to design new, or change existing, processes.
•    Commitment to the protection of the public interest within the mandate of the agency.

Term

There is no limitation in legislation, however, the Agencies & Appointments Directive limits the term of appointment to a maximum of ten years in total for regulatory and adjudicative agencies. Re-appointment to a further term beyond the maximum of ten years in total may be made only in exceptional circumstances in the public interest. If a member of the Board resigns or his or her appointment expires, the Chair of the Board may authorize the member to complete his or her duties or responsibilities in a particular file.

Meetings

Hearings are held daily in Toronto at the Tribunal's Head Office, as well as across the Province. The Board regularly meets internally as called by the Chair.

Remuneration

Appointees are remunerated according to Schedule B of the Agencies and Appointments Directive

Advertised Positions

Appointments & Vacancies