Lawyer Profile
Richard (Rick) M. Dunlop
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Overview
Bar Admission(s): Nova Scotia, 2001; Ontario, 2025
Providing legal services through a professional corporation.
Rick works with clients such as construction companies, radio companies, government, food services companies, international organizations, trucking companies, finance companies and power companies. He has appeared before all levels of Court in the province and labour and employment related tribunals, as well as the Supreme Court of Canada. Some of the ways in which he has assisted his clients include:
Successfully represented municipality in interest arbitration involving police union.
Secured substantial monetary damages award for consulting business whose employees secretly competed while employed.
Successfully represented private sector employers’ organization before Nova Scotia Court of Appeal in high profile medical marijuana benefits human rights appeal.
Successfully represented employer in wrongful dismissal involving malingering employee that received national attention.
Successfully represented employer in constitutional challenge to essential services legislation.
Successfully represented an energy company in a complex construction industry labour relations matter before the Labour Board.
Successfully represented an international organization in a wrongful dismissal suit before the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Canada.
Successfully represented employers in upholding dismissal of employees for theft before arbitrators, the Labour Standards Tribunal and the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal.
Successfully represented car dealerships before the Nova Scotia Labour Board.
Successfully represented a securities company before the Nova Scotia Supreme Court in a wrongful dismissal suit.
University of King’s College, BA (honours), 1996
Practice group leader, Stewart McKelvey Labour and Employment group
Former part time faculty, Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University, Civil Trial Practice
Past chair, Constitutional and Human Rights Section, Canadian Bar Association
Associate member, Human Resources Association of Nova Scotia
Member, Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers
Recipient, Outstanding Volunteer Award, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia, April 2011
Former member, Board of Directors, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia
Best Lawyers: Labour and Employment Law, 2013 – 2026
Nova Scotia relaunches Paid Sick Leave Program
Supreme Court of Canada almost slams the door on unionized employees’ human rights complaints
Nova Scotia workers can now access paid COVID-19 sick days – “stay tuned for the details”
Think: roadmap to recovery – Saskatchewan’s re-open plan is worthy of consideration
Atlantic Canada Year in Review 2019 – Top 15 Takeaways for Employers
Proposed Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention Regulations under the Canada Labour Code
New Trade Union Act General Regulations addresses (in part) *snapshot* approach to construction industry unionization
Client Update: Benefits plans really do not have to cover the sun, the moon and the stars (and medical cannabis)
Client Update: Federal Cannabis Act regulations taking shape: consultation feedback revealed
Client Update: Nova Scotia gives first look at cannabis regulation
Client Update: Federal government desires feedback on proposed Cannabis Act regulations
Client Update: New Brunswick’s final cannabis report: government operated stores, guidance on growing at home
Client Update: Elk Valley Decision – SCC Finds that Enforcement of “No Free Accident” Rule in Workplace Drug and Alcohol Policy Does Not Violate Human Rights Legislation
Client Update: Cannabis Act regulations – now we are really getting into the weeds!
Client Update: The Cannabis Act – Getting into the Weeds
TTC’s Random Testing Decision: A Bright Light for Employers in the Haze of Marijuana Legalization
Unionization in the Construction Industry: Vacation Day + Snapshot Rule = Disenfranchisement
Federal Government’s Cannabis Report: What does it mean for employers?
Author, “Cannabis: a reminder of your rights and responsibilities in managing employees in safety sensitive roles”, Discovery: Atlantic Education and the Law – Spring 2019
Drafted the Canadian Association of Counsel to Employer (“CACE”) submission to the Nova Scotia Labour Board regarding its policy on casual employees
“Employers: What should you think about in preparation for the legalization of marijuana?”, Now! Nova Scotia
“Do’s and don’ts when facing a union-organizing drive”, Canadian HR Reporter, December 2015
False/unfounded allegations: what about the unsubstantiated complaints?”, Atlantic Employers’ Counsel, Fall 2015
“Community of Interest Considerations are Important in a Construction Industry Certification”, HR Law blog, March 2015
“Privacy Issues and Disclosure of Personal Information to Unions”, Atlantic Employers’ Counsel, Fall 2010
“Unionization and Its Impact in the Construction Industry”, Atlantic Employers’ Counsel, Spring 2014
“Wal-Mart Wins on Narrow Ground in Quebec Store Closure Case”, Labour and Employment Law Perspective – The Canadian Bar Association National Labour and Employment Law Section Newsletter, January 2010
“Nova Scotia Fights Workplace Violence with New Regulations”, Canadian HR Reporter
“Ontario Expands Arbitrators Jurisdiction to Award Punitive Damages”, Atlantic Employers’ Counsel, Spring 2005
“S.C.C. Expands Meaning of Family and Marital Status Discrimination”, Atlantic Employers’ Counsel, Winter 2003
“Defending Against Discriminatory Complaints in Nova Scotia”, Atlantic Employers’ Counsel, Winter 2002
“Nova Scotia Labour Relations Board (Construction Industry Panel) Examines Jurisdictional Dispute”, Atlantic Employers’ Counsel, Winter 2002
“What you Need to Know about the Federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act ”, Atlantic Employers’ Counsel, Summer 2002
Nova Scotia Labour Relations Board (Construction Industry Panel) issues Policy Statement on what is considered “Construction Work” vs. “Maintenance Work”, Atlantic Employers’ Counsel, Fall 2001
“Privacy Law Update: Surveillance Video Tape of Suspected Malingerer Not Admissible Under Federal Privacy Section Legislation”, Atlantic Employers’ Counsel
Mandatory Pre-Employment Testing Violates Human Rights Legislation in Alberta”, Atlantic Employers’ Counsel
Co-presenter, “Trending Topics”, Stewart McKelvey Labour and Employment webinar
Speaker, “Human rights and mental health accommodation”, Practical insights for employers navigating an uncertain workplace environment – Canadian Lawyer Employment Law masterclass
Featured speaker, Employment Agreements – Navigating Your Obligations in a Uncertain Environment webinar
Presenter, Urban Development Institute, “Top 10 Things Employers Need to Know about Cannabis in the Workplace”
Presenter, AMANS Conference, “A Burning Issue: Marijuana in the Workplace”
Presenter, Stewart McKelvey Webinar, “10 Things Employers Should Know about Cannabis”
Presenter, InformedHR, “Managing Cannabis in the Workplace – the role of HR”
Presenter, CPHR Nova Scotia, “Marijuana in the Workplace”
Presenter, Cannabis Safety Charter Presentation, “10 Things Every CEO Should Know about Cannabis”
Presenter, Cannabis Safety Charter Presentation, “10 Things Every CEO Should Know about Cannabis”
Presenter, Stewart McKelvey Labour and Employment Fall Seminar, “Marijuana (a.k.a. “Cannabis”) – Top 5 Employer Concerns”
Presenter, Stewart McKelvey Labour and Employment Fall Seminar, “Drug and Alcohol Testing – The Latest Law”
Presenter, CACE Webinar, “Hot Topics in Workplace Human Rights – Defending Human Rights Complaints”
Presenter, Canadian Pension & Benefits Institute Seminar, “Marijuana in the Workplace”
Presenter, CPHR NS, “Terminations from Start to Finish”
Presenter, HRANS Presentation: Law Seminar (New Glasgow), “Medical Marijuana Occupational Health and Safety”
Presenter, HRANS Presentation, “Constructive Dismissal”
Co-presenter, FAN – The Start Ups Guide to Avoiding Human Resources Hell, “Lesson 1 – Employment Agreement”
Presenter, HRANS Presentation: Law Seminar (Wolfville), “Medical Marijuana Occupational Health and Safety”
Presenter, HRANS Presentation, “Accommodating Family Status”
Presenter, HRANS Presentation: Law Seminar, “Terminating the Poor Performer Substances in the Workplace”
Presenter, HRANS Presentation – Annual Law Seminar
Presenter, Atlantic Canada Construction Labour Relations, Hot Topics in Employment, May 2012
Presenter, HRANS Association of Nova Scotia “Hot Topics in Employment Law”
Presenter, “Electronic Surveillance in the Workplace”, Canadian Bar Association Labour and Employment Section and Privacy Section, 2011
Presenter, “Facing the Facebooker: How to Effectively Address the Workplace Legal Issues Raised by Social Networking Sites”, HRANS Smart HR Atlantic Conference, 2009
Presenter, “Understanding Undue Hardship”, Meeting your Duty to Accommodate: Keeping up with New Regulations and Improving Workplace Productivity, INFONEX, November 2007
Practice Areas
Bar Information
Called to the bar: 2001 (NS)