John Taylor

Ruedel Farms Inc. appealed a decision by the Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers (OPVG) denying it a licence to grow carrots for processing in 2006.

Ruedel had hired Kejay, a company previously prohibited by the Tribunal from producing and marketing carrots for processing in 2006, to do custom work.

The Tribunal found that the arrangement effectively allowed Kejay to produce and market the carrots, violating the prior order.

The appeal was dismissed and the licence denial was upheld.

The Ontario Labour Relations Board addressed preliminary matters in a Ministerial reference regarding the appointment of a conciliation officer and a related unfair labour practice application alleging a breach of the duty of fair representation.

The Board consolidated the matters on consent, directed the applicants to serve a proper Notice of Constitutional Question, and deferred a ruling on an intervenor's standing.

To expedite the proceedings, the Board directed the parties to provide legal argument and identify proposed evidence on whether a trade union may unilaterally abandon its bargaining rights and the implications of such abandonment.