William Howard

The appellants appealed their convictions for operating a broadcasting undertaking contrary to the Radio Act and the Broadcasting Act.

The Supreme Court of Canada dismissed the appeal from the bench, adopting the reasons of the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal.

The applicant trade union referred several grievances to the Ontario Labour Relations Board under section 124 of the Labour Relations Act, alleging that the respondent employers violated the collective agreement by assigning certain work to composite crews of millwrights and ironworkers.

The intervener ironworkers' union argued that the grievances were essentially jurisdictional disputes and should be deferred or dismissed.

The Board held that it had jurisdiction to hear the section 124 referrals but, in accordance with its usual practice, decided to first entertain the jurisdictional dispute complaint filed under section 91 before proceeding with the grievances.