The appellant was laid off due to a strike by another local of his union at his place of employment.
He applied for unemployment insurance benefits but was denied on the basis that he was 'financing' the strike under s. 44(2)(a) of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1971, because a portion of his mandatory union dues was diverted to the International Union's strike fund.
The Supreme Court of Canada allowed the appeal, holding that 'financing' requires active and voluntary involvement by the claimant.
The mandatory payment of union dues did not constitute financing the labour dispute, and the appellant was therefore entitled to benefits.
