The defendant employer brought a motion challenging the court’s jurisdiction over an employee’s claim for long‑term disability benefits.
The employee had been covered by a collective agreement incorporating a health benefits program administered by a third‑party administrator.
The court held that the essential character of the dispute concerned the interpretation and application of the collective agreement and its incorporated disability benefits plan.
Applying the exclusive arbitral jurisdiction doctrine under s. 48(1) of the Labour Relations Act, 1995 and the framework from Weber v Ontario Hydro, the court concluded that the matter must be resolved through the labour arbitration process.
The expiry of the collective agreement and the plant closure did not extinguish rights arising under the agreement.
The action against the employer was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.
