Several tenured professors at McMaster University sought judicial review of a university tribunal decision that found them liable for workplace harassment and contributing to a poisoned work environment.
The tribunal had imposed severe penalties, including three-year unpaid suspensions for three professors.
The Divisional Court dismissed the applicants' procedural fairness and jurisdictional arguments, finding they had consented to the tribunal's procedures and failed to raise timely objections.
However, the Court found the lengthy unpaid suspensions were disproportionate and unreasonable, effectively destroying the employment relationship.
The Court reduced the three-year suspensions to one year, reduced a one-year suspension to one academic term, and ordered compensation in lieu of reinstatement for the affected professors.
