200 legal aid lawyers on strike, demand equal pay with Crown attorneys
200 legal aid lawyers on strike, demand equal pay with Crown attorneys
There are no legal aid lawyers at work in Montreal, Laval, the Laurentians, Lanaudière, Bas-Saint-Laurent and Gaspésie Tuesday morning.
The lawyers, who are part of unions affiliated with the Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN), are on a half-day strike.
They are expected to return to work at 1:30 p.m.
The unions represent about half of the 400 legal aid lawyers across the province.
They have set up picket lines in front of legal aid offices in their regions and, by lunchtime, are expected to converge on local courthouses to demonstrate.
The lawyers have been without a working contract since Dec. 31, 2019, and are protesting against the Treasury Board's refusal to maintain pay parity with Crown attorneys.
The previous collective agreement had agreed to this equality, so the lawyers say they don't understand this about-face by their employer.
An independent committee recommends salary conditions for Crown prosecutors, who obtained an increase of 10 per cent over four years.
Quebec has offered legal aid lawyers the same increase as public services -- six per cent over three years.
President of the Montreal and Laval legal aid lawyers' union, Justine Lambert-Boulianne, points out her members take on many cases the government considers high priority, such as youth rights, conjugal claims and sexual violence.
Lambert-Boulianne believes that the time has come for Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette to intervene as Treasury Board President Sonia LeBel has yet to be moved.
She argues legal aid lawyers plead "the same cases before the same courts and the same judges as Crown prosecutors."
The union argues LeBel and Jolin-Barrette, both lawyers, have already spoken out in favour of salary parity between legal aid lawyers and Crown attorneys in the past.
CSN union members voted unanimously in favour of a three-day strike mandate.
Since they are not subject to the Essential Services Act, cases that were scheduled to proceed Tuesday morning were suspended and postponed, for the most part, to the afternoon.
-- This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on May 24, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian airlines, airports top global list of delays over the weekend
Canadian airlines and airports claimed top spots in flight delays over the July long weekend, notching more than nearly any other around the world. Air Canada ranked No. 1 in delays on Saturday and Sunday, according to tracking service FlightAware.
Bank of Canada surveys suggest business and consumer inflation expectations up
A pair of new reports from the Bank of Canada point to rising inflation expectations by Canadian businesses and consumers. In its business outlook survey released Monday, the central bank said businesses' expectations for near-term inflation have increased, and firms expect inflation to be high for longer than they did in the previous survey.
'He was a hero': Family says Ottawa man killed in fatal collision sacrificed himself
The family of an Ottawa man killed in a Canada Day crash in the west end says Tom Bergeron died exactly as he lived: selflessly thinking of others before himself.
U.S. Capitol riot: More people turn up with evidence against Donald Trump
More witnesses are coming forward with new details on the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot following former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson's devastating testimony last week against former U.S. President Donald Trump, says a member of a U.S. House committee investigating the insurrection.
Dog left with lost baggage at Toronto Pearson Airport for about 21 hours
A Toronto woman says a dog she rescued from the Dominican Republic has been traumatized after being left in a corner of Toronto Pearson International Airport with baggage for about 21 hours.
'Hell on earth': Ukrainian soldiers describe life on eastern front
Torched forests and cities burned to the ground. Colleagues with severed limbs. Bombardments so relentless the only option is to lie in a trench, wait and pray. Ukrainian soldiers returning from the front lines in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region, where Russia is waging a fierce offensive, describe life during what has turned into a gruelling war of attrition as apocalyptic.
Video shows police in Ohio kill Black man in hail of gunfire
A Black man was unarmed when Akron police chased him on foot and killed him in a hail of gunfire, but officers believed he had shot at them earlier from a vehicle and feared he was preparing to fire again, authorities said Sunday at a news conference.
People seen surfing on Toronto subway train in 'incredibly' dangerous stunt
An 'incredibly ill-advised stunt' is being investigated by the Toronto Transit Commission after video emerged of two masked men carrying Canadian flags while surfing on top of a train.
Chinese-Canadian tycoon due to stand trial in China, embassy says
Chinese-Canadian billionaire Xiao Jianhua, who went missing in Hong Kong five years ago, was due to go on trial in China on Monday, the Canadian embassy in Beijing said.
Toronto
-
People seen surfing on Toronto subway train in 'incredibly' dangerous stunt
An 'incredibly ill-advised stunt' is being investigated by the Toronto Transit Commission after video emerged of two masked men carrying Canadian flags while surfing on top of a train.
-
Dog left with lost baggage at Toronto Pearson Airport for about 21 hours
A Toronto woman says a dog she rescued from the Dominican Republic has been traumatized after being left in a corner of Toronto Pearson International Airport with baggage for about 21 hours.
-
Blue Jays mourn death of first base coach Mark Budzinski's daughter
First base coach Mark Budzinski is taking a leave of absence from the Toronto Blue Jays following the death of his daughter.
Atlantic
-
One dead, one hospitalized after fire at Cape Breton seniors’ complex
One person has died and another person was taken to hospital after a weekend fire in Cape Breton.
-
N.S. woman calls for private fireworks regulation after her dog dies 'scared and alone'
Canada Day weekend fireworks have sparked more calls to either regulate or ban backyard fireworks displays in Nova Scotia.
-
'There should have been one': N.S. mother drives son to ER after waiting nearly an hour for ambulance
A Nova Scotia mother says she had to drive her son to hospital herself on Canada Day when no ambulance showed up after more than 40 minutes.
London
-
Apartment fire in London, Ont.
London firefighters were called to an apartment fire south of the Hyde Park area.
-
Vacant south London DQ goes up in flames, again
London police have been called in to investigate a fire at the vacant Dairy Queen on Wharncliffe Road in London.
-
Hot humid temperatures continue through the London region
Warm temperatures continue through the London area this week with the chance of some relief from the dryness on Tuesday
Northern Ontario
-
OPP charge two people after June shooting on Manitoulin Island.
Ontario Provincial Police have arrested and charged two people in connection with a June 24th shooting where one person died.
-
Dog left with lost baggage at Toronto Pearson Airport for about 21 hours
A Toronto woman says a dog she rescued from the Dominican Republic has been traumatized after being left in a corner of Toronto Pearson International Airport with baggage for about 21 hours.
-
Man still looking for his bags at Toronto Pearson airport 16 days after arriving in the city
As unclaimed luggage continue to pile up at Pearson International Airport, one local resident has been looking for his bags for 16 days after arriving in Toronto.
Calgary
-
WEATHER
WEATHER | Another rainy day in Calgary, warming through the week
Warming, yet unsettled weather in Calgary this week.
-
Canadian airlines, airports top global list of delays over the weekend
Canadian airlines and airports claimed top spots in flight delays over the July long weekend, notching more than nearly any other around the world. Air Canada ranked No. 1 in delays on Saturday and Sunday, according to tracking service FlightAware.
-
Police investigating after body discovered in alleyway Sunday morning
Calgary police are investigating after a body was discovered Sunday morning in Upper Mount Royal by someone out walking their dog.
Kitchener
-
Gun call prompts police response at Kitchener encampment
Police were called to a Kitchener encampment on Saturday after they received a report of a disturbance involving a gun.
-
Driveway paved without permission needs to be ripped up, says Puslinch, Ont. homeowner
A Puslinch, Ont. woman says her driveway will need to be repaved less than month after she came home to find strangers working on it without her prior consent.
-
Justin Bieber's family member allegedly involved in fiery Stratford crash
A fiery crash shut down a Stratford street on Tuesday and witnesses tell CTV News one of Justin Bieber's family members was allegedly involved.
Vancouver
-
Coal Harbour murder: Life sentence with no parole eligibility for 20 years
A man who admitted to his role in a fatal shooting on a busy stretch of the Vancouver seawall has been sentenced to life in prison.
-
DEVELOPING
DEVELOPING | New Surrey hospital: Update on 'next step' expected from health minister
British Columbia's health minister is expected to give an update Monday on the new Surrey hospital.
-
DEVELOPING
DEVELOPING | Former B.C. clerk of the legislature Craig James to be sentenced
One of the biggest spending scandals in the history of B.C. politics is expected to reach its final chapter Monday.
Edmonton
-
'It went through my daughter's room': Bullets hit southeast Edmonton home
A southeast Edmonton family is stunned after two bullets hit their home Saturday, with one narrowly missing a young girl's bedroom.
-
'Be prepared for delays at any point': Canada not flying alone in worldwide travel chaos
As Canadian airports deal with their own set of problems amid the busy summer travel season, by no means are they alone.
-
Pope Francis denies he's planning to resign soon
Pope Francis has dismissed reports that he plans to resign in the near future, saying he is on track to visit Canada this month and hopes to be able to go to Moscow and Kyiv as soon as possible after that.
Windsor
-
WECHU warns of 12,000 possible student suspensions in September
The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit is urging parents and students to plan ahead to avoid suspension in September due to incomplete immunization records.
-
Big week for Windsor International Airport as Flair Airlines launches new direct flights
Flair Airlines is getting ready to take off out of Windsor International Airport this week.
-
CK police report knife pulled on drug store manager
A Tilbury man is charged after pulling a knife on an employee at a Shoppers Drug Mart in Chatham, according to police.
Regina
-
Stolen City of Regina truck involved in accident with serious injuries: Regina police
A man was seriously injured after a stolen City of Regina truck collided with his vehicle early Saturday morning, the Regina Police Service (RPS) said in a news release.
-
New ice cream bike bringing treats to southeast Regina residents
If you happen to live in southeast Regina you might just run into a brand new company called Sharkbites Ice Cream Treats
-
Regina prepares to welcome charter flight with displaced Ukrainians
Regina’s Ukrainian community is preparing to welcome the first charter flight with families displaced by the war in Ukraine.
Ottawa
-
'He was a hero': Family says Ottawa man killed in fatal collision sacrificed himself
The family of an Ottawa man killed in a Canada Day crash in the west end says Tom Bergeron died exactly as he lived: selflessly thinking of others before himself.
-
Man, 65, dies in ATV crash near Bancroft, Ont.
A 65-year-old man was killed in an ATV crash near Bancroft, Ont. on Sunday.
-
City manager kicks off final week of testimony at the Ottawa LRT public inquiry
City Manager Steve Kanellakos is taking the stand at the public inquiry into Ottawa's light rail transit system this morning, as the final four days of testimony begins at the University of Ottawa.
Saskatoon
-
'Tragic event': Three people dead in ATV collision, Sask. RCMP say
Three people are dead after two ATVs crashed on Highway 925 just outside of Dillon, Sask. on Friday night.
-
In pictures: Saskatoon’s 10 most expensive house listings
The number of homes for sale in Saskatoon has increased but the number of places to buy remains 20 per cent lower than last year, according to the Saskatchewan Realtors Association.
-
Wakaw, Sask. pharmacy robbed of prescription meds, RCMP say
Police are investigating a pharmacy robbery Saturday afternoon in Wakaw and are asking for people's photos taken in the area.