Federally Regulated Employers: Understanding what laws govern your workplace.

Approximately 90% of workplaces in Ontario are governed by the employment laws enacted by the Ontario government. However, some Canadians do not fall under that provincial jurisdiction, but instead are considered “federally regulated”. Federally regulated workplaces are governed by legislation enacted by the Government of Canada instead of the Province of Ontario.

Most Ontario employment law articles or publications focus on the law and issues applicable to the majority. However, if you are a federally regulation employee or employer, it is important to understand how these federal employment laws differ from the Ontario employment law.

What is a Federally Regulated Employer or Workplace?

The answer to this questions goes back to confederation. So you don’t fall asleep, I will keep it very brief. When Canada was formed, the provinces and the federal government divided up power and responsibilities into discrete buckets. Those areas which were assigned to the federal government, to this day, are the industries that are governed by the Government of Canada and it’s laws.

The industry sectors that are federally regulated, include:

• Banks
• Marine shipping, ferry and port services
• Air transportation, including airports, aerodromes and airlines
• Railway and road transportation that involves crossing provincial or international borders
• Canals, pipelines, tunnels and bridges (crossing provincial borders)
• Telephone, telegraph and cable systems
• Radio and television broadcasting
• Grain elevators, feed and seed mills
• Uranium mining and processing
• Businesses dealing with the protection of fisheries as a natural resource
• Many First Nation activities
• Most federal crown corporations, and
• Private businesses necessary to the operation of a federal act

Is my Workplace Federally Regulated?

The Canadian Government keeps records of all Federally regulated corporations with 100 or more employees across Canada a copy of the most recently published list from 2017 can be searched through here:

List of Federally Regulated Employers

• 1456998 Alberta Ltd.
• 1507953 Ontario Inc. (Inactive)
• 1791949 Ontario
• 2635-8762 Québec Inc.
• 2701545 Canada Inc.
• 3903214 Canada Inc.
• 4Tracks Ltd.
• 591182 Ontario Ltd.
• 6240143 Canada Inc.
• 6422217 Canada Inc.
• 9007-6720 Québec Inc.
• 9064-4287 Québec Inc.
• 9736140 Canada Inc.
• A. Beaumont Transport Inc.
• A.J. Bus Lines Ltd.
• Acadia Broadcasting Limited
• Access Communications Co-operative Limited
• Accessible Media Inc.
• ADM Agri-Industries Ltd.
• Administration portuaire de Montréal
• Aéroport de Québec Inc.
• Aéroports de Montréal
• Aevitas Inc.
• Agri-Marché Inc.
• Agrifoods International Cooperative Ltd.
• Agris Co-operative Ltd.
• Air Canada
• Air Canada Rouge LP
• Air Creebec Inc.
• Air Georgian Limited
• Air Inuit Ltd/Ltée
• Air North Charter & Training Ltd.
• Air Tindi Ltd
• Air Transat inc.
• Airbus Helicopters Canada Limited
• Airport Terminal Services Canadian Co.
• AirSprint Inc.
• Algoma Central Corporation
• ALL Communications Network
• All-Can Express Ltd.
• Alliance Pipeline Ltd.
• Alliance Pulse Processors Inc.
• Alpine Aerotech LP
• Alpine Helicopters Inc.
• American Airlines, Inc.
• Amex Bank of Canada
• Andy Transport Inc. (90 employees in 2018)
• Apex Motor Express Inc.
• APPS Cargo Terminals Inc.
• Archipelago Marine Research Ltd.
• Ardent Mills
• Armour Transport Inc.
• Arnold Bros. Transport Ltd.
• Association des employeurs maritimes
• ATCO Structures & Logistics
• ATI Telecom International Co.
• Atlantic Towing Limited
• ATS Andlauer Transportation Services LP.
• ATS Services Ltd.
• Autobus Campeau Inc.
• Autobus Idéal Inc.
• Aveda Transportation and Energy Services Inc.
• Avex Flight Support Inc.
• Avmax Aviation Services Inc.
• AYR Motor Express Inc.
• B&R Eckel’s Transport Ltd.
• Bandstra Transportation Systems Ltd
• Bank of America National Association, Canada Branch
• Bank of Canada
• Bank of Montreal
• Banque Laurentienne du Canada
• Banque Nationale du Canada
• Bay Ferries Limited
• Bearskin Lake Air Service LP.
• Bell Canada
• Bell Solutions Techniques Inc.
• Bessette & Boudreau Inc.
• Big Freight Systems Inc.
• Bison Transport Inc.
• Blackburn Radio Inc.
• Blue Ant Media Inc.
• BNP Paribas
• Bradley Air Services Limited
• Bragg Communications Inc.
• Brasseur Transport Inc.
• Brett-Young Seeds Limited
• Brian Kurtz Trucking Ltd.
• Bridgewater Bank
• Brink’s Canada Limited
• British Columbia Maritime Employers Association
• Bruce Power LP
• Bruce R. Smith Limited (Inactive)
• Business Development Bank of Canada
• BWXT Nuclear Energy Canada Inc. / BWXT ITG Canada, Inc.
• C.A.T. Inc.
• Calm Air International LP
• Cam-Scott Transport Ltd.
• Cameco Corporation
• Can-Am West Carriers Inc.
• Canada Cartage System Limited Partnership
• Canada Council for the Arts
• Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation / La Société d’assurance-dépôts du Canada
• Canada Malting Company Ltd.
• Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
• Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
• Canada Post Corporation
• Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
• Canadian Broadcasting Corporation / Société Radio-Canada
• Canadian Commercial Corporation
• Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
• Canadian Light Source Inc.
• Canadian Museum for Human Rights
• Canadian Museum of History
• Canadian Museum of Nature
• Canadian National Railway Company
• Canadian North Inc.
• Canadian Nuclear Laboratories
• Canadian Pacific Railway Limited
• Canadian Payments Association
• Canadian Press Enterprises Inc.
• Canadian Tire Bank
• Canadian Western Bank
• Cancrew Enterprises Ltd.
• Candu Energy Inc.
• Canpar Express Inc.
• Capital One Bank (Canada Branch)
• Cardinal Couriers Ltd.
• Cargair Ltd.
• Cargill Limited
• Cargo Airport Services Canada Inc.
• CargoJet Airways Ltd.
• Caron Transportation Systems Partnership
• Cascade Aerospace Inc.
• Cascade Energy Services LP
• Cassens Transport ULC
• Cassidy’s Transfer & Storage Limited
• Cathay Pacific Airways Limited
• Cavalier Transportation Services Inc.
• Central Mountain Air Ltd.
• CEVA Freight Canada Corp.
• CEVA Logistics Canada, ULC
• Challenger Motor Freight Inc.
• Chartright Air Inc.
• CHC Helicopter Group of Companies
• Chemin de fer QNS&L
• Citibank Canada
• City of Ottawa
• Clean Harbors Canada Inc.
• Coastal Pacific Xpress Inc.
• Cogeco Connexion Inc.
• Cogeco Média Acquisitions Inc.
• Colispro Inc.
• Comwave Networks Inc.
• Conair Group, Inc.
• Concentra Bank
• Connors Transfer Limited.
• Consolidated Fastfrate Inc.
• Contrans Flatbed Group LP
• Contrans Services LP
• Contrans Tank Group LP
• Cooney Group Inc.
• Corporation des Pilotes du Saint-Laurent Central inc.
• Corporation du Fort St-Jean
• Corus Entertainment Inc.
• Cougar Helicopters Inc.
• CWS Logistics Ltd.
• D&W Forwarders Inc.
• D.C.T. Chambers Trucking Ltd.
• Day & Ross Inc.
• Defence Construction (1951) Ltd.
• Delta Air Lines, Inc.
• Denny Bus Lines Ltd.
• Desgagnés Marine Cargo Inc.
• DHL Express (Canada), Ltd.
• Dicom Transportation Group
• Direct Limited Partnership
• Distributel Communications Limited
• Doug Coleman Trucking Ltd.
• DP World (Canada) Inc
• Dufferin Communications Inc.
• Earl Paddock Transportation Inc
• Eassons Transport Ltd.
• ECL Carriers LP
• Edmonton Regional Airports Authority
• Elgin Motor Freight Inc.
• Enbridge Employee Services Canada Inc.
• ENTREC Corporation
• Envoy Air Inc.
• Equitable Bank
• Erb Enterprises Inc.
• Execaire, a division of I.M.P. Group
• Execulink Telecom Inc.
• Executive Flight Centre Fuel Services Ltd.
• Expertech Network Installation Inc./Expertech Bâtisseur de reseaux Inc
• Export Development Canada
• F. Ménard Inc.
• Fairchild Radio Group Ltd.
• Fairchild Television Ltd.
• Farm Credit Canada
• Federal Express Canada Corporation
• Fedex Freight Canada Corp.
• FedEx Ground Package System, Ltd.
• Fednav Limited
• Ferus Inc.
• Fibernetics Corporation
• Field Aviation Company Inc.
• First Canada ULC
• First Team Transport Inc.
• Floradale Feed Mill Limited
• Flying Colours Corp
• Formula Powell L.P.
• Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation
• Fugro Canada Corporation (INACTIVE)
• G. Zavitz Limited
• G3 Canada Limited
• Gardewine Group Limited Partnership
• GCT Canada Limited Partnership
• Gestion TForce Inc.
• Gilbert M. Rioux et Fils Ltée.
• Glen Tay Transportation (Inactive)
• Golden West Broadcasting Ltd.
• Grace Transport Inc.
• Grain Millers Canada Corp.
• Great Canadian Railtour Company Ltd.
• Great Slave Helicopters Ltd.
• Greater Toronto Airports Authority
• Greyhound Canada Transportation ULC.
• Grimshaw Trucking L.P.
• Groupe Galland
• Groupe Guilbault Ltée
• Groupe Robert
• Groupe Transport Morneau inc.
• Groupe TVA Inc.
• Groupe TYT Inc.
• Groupe V Média
• H & R Transport Limited
• Halifax Employers Association
• Halifax International Airport Authority
• Hallcon Crew Transport Inc.
• Hammond Transportation Ltd.
• Hapag-Lloyd (Canada) Inc
• Harvard Broadcasting Inc.
• Hélicoptères Canadiens Limitée/Canadian Helicopters Limited
• Helijet International Inc.
• Henri Sicotte inc
• Hensall District Co-operative Inc.
• Highland Moving and Storage Ltd.
• HomeEquity Bank
• HSBC Bank Canada
• Hudbay Minerals Inc.
• Hudson Bay Railway Company
• Hughson Trucking Inc. (Inactive)
• Hutton Transport Limited
• Hyndman Transport Limited
• ICICI Bank Canada
• ILTA Grain Inc.
• IMP Group Limited – Aerospace Division
• Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Canada)
• Information Communication Services
• Inmarsat Solutions (Canada) Inc.
• Innotech Aviation, a division of IMP Group Limited
• Instech Télécommunication Inc.
• Intek Communications Inc.
• International Air Transport Association
• International Development Research Centre
• International Truckload Services Inc
• Iron Range Bus Lines Inc.
• Island Tug and Barge Ltd.
• J & R Hall Transport Inc.
• J & T. Murphy Limited
• Jade Transport Ltd.
• Jay’s Transportation Group Ltd.
• Jazz Aviation L.P.
• Jervis B. Webb Company of Canada, Ltd.
• Jet Transport Ltd.
• Jim Pattison Industries Ltd.
• Jones Feed Mills Limited
• JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
• KEB Hana Bank Canada
• Keewatin Air LP
• Keith Hall & Sons Transport Limited
• Kelowna Flightcraft Group of Companies
• Keltic Transportation Incorporated
• Kenn Borek Air Ltd.
• Kindersley Transport Ltd.
• Kleysen Group Ltd.
• Kriska Holdings Limited
• Kunkel Bus Lines Ltd.
• L. Bilodeau et Fils ltée
• L. Hansen’s Forwarding Ltd.
• L. Simard Transport Ltée
• L3 Technologies MAS inc
• Laidlaw Carriers Bulk LP
• Laidlaw Carriers Van LP
• Lakehead Freightways Inc.
• Le Groupe de Sécurité Garda Inc
• Le Groupe Océan Inc.
• Ledcor Industries Inc.
• Les Distributions Carl Beaulac Inc.
• Les Investissements Nolinor Inc.
• Les Services JAG Inc.
• Linamar Transportation Inc.
• Link-on Communications Inc.
• Lockheed Martin Commercial Engine Solutions
• Logistec Arrimage Inc.
• Lomak Bulk Carriers Corp. (Inactive)
• Louis Dreyfus Company Canada ULC.
• Lower Lakes Towing Ltd.
• Mackie Moving Systems Corporation
• Maersk Supply Service Canada Ltd.
• Mantei’s Transport Ltd.
• Manulife Bank of Canada
• Marine Atlantic Inc.
• Maritime Broadcasting System Limited
• Masterfeeds Inc.
• McClay Group Ltd.
• McKeil Marine Limited
• McKevitt Trucking Limited
• Mediterranean Shipping Company (Canada) Inc.
• Menzies Aviation (Canada) Ltd.
• Midland Transport Limited
• Minimax Express Transportation Inc.
• Moe’s Transport Trucking Inc.
• Montship Inc.
• Morningstar Air Express Inc.
• MTU Maintenance Canada Ltd.
• MUFG Bank, Ltd., Canada Branch
• Mullen Oilfield Services L.P.
• Mullen Trucking Corp.
• Multiboard Communications Inc.
• My Broadcasting Corporation
• National Arts Centre Corporation
• National Capital Commission
• National Gallery of Canada
• National Museum of Science and Technology / Musée national des sciences et de la technologie
• NAV CANADA
• New Hope Transport Ltd.
• New United Goderich Inc.
• New-Life Mills, a Division of Parrish & Heimbecker, Limited
• Nordion (Canada) Inc.
• Normandin Transit Inc.
• North Cariboo Flying Services Ltd.
• Northern Communications Services Inc.
• Northumberland Ferries Limited
• Northwestel Inc.
• Nuclear Waste Management Organization
• Oceanex Inc.
• Oculus Transport Ltd.
• Office d’investissement des régimes de pensions du secteur public
• Offshore Recruiting Services Inc.
• Ontario Potato Dist. (Alliston) Inc. 1991
• Ontario Power Generation
• OpsMobil
• ORANO Canada Inc.
• Ornge Global Air Inc.
• Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport Authority
• P&H Milling Group, a division of Parrish & Heimbecker, Ltd.
• Pacific Coastal Airlines Ltd.
• Pacific Western Transportation Ltd.
• Papineau Int. S.E.C. (Transport Papineau International)
• Parrish & Heimbecker, Limited
• Paterson GlobalFoods Inc.
• Paul’s Hauling Ltd.
• Pe Ben Oilfield Services L.P.
• Pelmorex Corp.
• Pembina Pipeline Corporation
• Penske Logistics LLC
• Perimeter Aviation LP
• Pioneer Hi-Bred Production Company
• Plains Midstream Canada
• Pole Star Transport Incorporated
• Polymer Distribution Inc.
• Portage Transport Inc.
• Porter Airlines Inc.
• Premier Aviation Quebec inc.
• Presidents Choice Bank
• Primus Management ULC.
• Prince Rupert Grain Ltd.
• Provincial Aerospace Ltd.
• Purolator Inc.
• Q-Line Trucking
• Quik X Transportation Inc.
• Radio-Onde Inc.
• Rawlco Radio Ltd.
• Raytheon Canada Limited (The North Warning System)
• Remorquage St-Michel Inc.
• Richardson International Limited
• Ridley Terminals Inc.
• Rigel Shipping Canada Inc.
• Rio Tinto Alcan, Installations Portuaires
• RNC MEDIA INC.
• Rockwater Energy Solutions
• Rogers Communications Inc.
• Rogers Foods Ltd.
• Rosedale Transport Limited
• Rosenau Transport Ltd.
• Roxborough Bus Lines Limited
• Royal Bank of Canada
• RSB Logistic Inc. (Inactive)
• Ryder Truck Rental Canada Ltd.
• S.G.T. 2000 Inc.
• Safeco Driver Services Inc.
• Sander Geophysics Limited
• Sanimax EEI Inc.
• Scamp Transport Ltd.
• Schneider National Carriers Canada
• Scoular Canada Ltd.
• Seaboard Liquid Carriers Limited
• Seaspan ULC
• Secunda Canada LP
• Securiguard Services Ltd.
• Securitas Transport Aviation Security Ltd.
• Sentrex Communications Co.
• Serco Canada Inc.
• Service Trans-West inc.
• Shaw Communications Inc.
• Sheffield Moving & Storage Inc
• Sirius XM Canada Inc.
• SITA Information Networking Computing Canada Inc.
• Sky Regional Airlines
• Skyservice Aviation Inc. and Sky Service F.B.O Inc.
• Snowbird Aviation Services Limited Partnership
• Société de transport de l’Outaouais
• Société du Vieux-Port de Montréal inc.
• Sogetel inc.
• Spearing Service L.P.
• Speedy Transport Group Inc.
• Standard Aero Limited
• Standard Aero Ltd.
• State Street Bank & Trust Company – Canada Branch
• Stericycle ULC.
• Steve’s Livestock Transportation (Blumenort) Ltd
• Stingray Radio Inc.
• Strategic Aviation Services Ltd.
• Sunbury Transport Limited
• Sunwest Aviation Ltd.
• Sunwing Airlines Inc.
• Sutco Contracting Ltd.
• Swissport Canada Inc.
• Symcor Inc.
• Systèmes Danfreight inc.
• Systemex Communications (S.C.) Inc.
• T&T Trucking Ltd.
• Tangerine Bank
• Tata Communications (Canada) Ltd
• Tbaytel
• Teekay Shipping (Canada) Ltd.
• TekSavvy Solutions Inc.
• Téléfilm Canada
• Telesat Canada
• TELUS Communications Company
• Tenold Transportation Ltd
• TeraGo Networks Inc.
• TFI Transport 5 LP
• TFI Transport 7 LP
• TForce Final Mile Canada Inc.
• The Bank of Nova Scotia
• The Calgary Airport Authority
• The CSL Group Inc.
• The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated
• The Royal Canadian Mint
• The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation
• The Toronto Terminals Railway Company Limited
• The Toronto-Dominion Bank
• The Trimac Group of Companies
• Thompsons Limited
• Thompsons Moving Group Limited
• Three Star Trucking Ltd.
• Thunder Airlines Limited
• Tier2 Technologist LTD
• Titanium Transportation Group Inc.
• Top Aces Inc.
• Toronto Port Authority
• Total Oilfield Rentals Ltd
• Trailwood Transport Ltd.
• Trans Mountain Canada Inc.
• Trans-Frt. McNamara Inc.
• TransCanada Pipelines Limited
• Transit Windsor
• Transport A. Laberge & Fils Inc.
• Transport Bellemare International
• Transport Bernières inc. (Groupe Bernières)
• Transport Bourret inc.
• Transport Couture
• Transport Gilmyr inc
• Transport Grayson Inc.
• Transport Guilbault Inc.
• Transport Guy Bourassa Inc.
• Transport Hervé Lemieux (1975) Inc.
• Transport Inter-Nord Inc.
• Transport Jacques Auger Inc.
• Transport Jocelyn Bourdeau Inc.
• Transport Lyon Inc.
• Transport Sylvester & Forget Inc.
• Transport TFI 1, SEC
• Transport TFI 15 S.E.C. (Transport Grégoire)
• Transport TFI 16 SEC
• Transport TFI 19 SEC (Durocher International)
• Transport TFI 22, S.E.C.
• Transport TFI 23, S.E.C./TFI
• Transport TFI 4 SEC
• Transport TFI 6 S.E.C. (Transport Besner)
• Transport Transbo Inc.
• Transwest Air Limited Partnership by its General Partner Transwest Management Ltd.
• TransX Ltd.
• Trappers Transport Ltd.
• Travelers Transportation Services Inc.
• Trentway-Wagar Inc.
• Tri-Line Carriers LP
• TRJ Telecom Inc.
• Trouw Nutrition Canada Inc.
• Troyer Ventures Ltd.
• TST Solutions L.P.
• Universal Coach Line Ltd.
• UPS Canada
• V.A. Inc.
• V.T.L. Express Inc.
• Van-Kam Freightways Ltd.
• Vancouver Airport Authority
• Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
• Vector Aerospace Engine Services – Atlantic
• Vedder Transport Ltd.
• Verreault Navigation inc.
• Verspeeten Cartage Ltd.
• VIA Rail Canada Inc.
• Vianet Inc.
• Vidéotron ltée
• Vista Radio Ltd.
• Viterra Inc.
• Voyageur Aviation Corp.
• Wallenstein Feed & Supply Ltd.
• Warren Gibson Limited
• Wasaya Airways Limited Partnership
• Wells Fargo Bank N.A., Canadian Branch
• West Wind Aviation LP
• Westcan Bulk Transport Ltd.
• Westcoast Energy Inc.
• Western Logistics Inc.
• Western Stevedoring Company Limited
• WestJet, an Alberta Partnership
• Westman Media Cooperative Ltd.
• Westower Communications Ltd.
• Westshore Terminals Limited Partnership
• Wills Transfer Limited
• Wilson’s Transportation Ltd.
• Windsor Disposal Services Ltd.
• Winnipeg Airports Authority Inc.
• WireComm Systems (2008), Inc.
• Withers L.P.
• XPO logistics Freight Canada, Inc.
• XTL Transport Inc
• Yellowhead Helicopters Ltd.
• YRC Freight Canada Company
• Zayo Canada Inc.
• Zim Integrated Shipping Services (Canada) Co. Ltd.

What are the differences between Federally Regulated and Provincially Regulated workplaces?

The difference between federally regulated and provincially regulated workplaces comes down to the difference in the written laws (statutes) that govern. While most Ontario workplaces are governed by the Employment Standards Act, the Ontario Human Rights Code, and the Occupational Health and Safety Act, federally regulated workplaces are governed by the Canada Labour Code and the Canadian Human Rights Act.

Employment Standards Act vs the Canada Labour Code

While both the federal and provincial governments have established minimum employment standards to protect employees, the differences between the Employment Standards Act and the Canada Labour Code are significant, especially in the area of termination and wrongful dismissal.

In Ontario, under the Employment Standards Act, employers can fire employees at any time for any non-discriminatory reason. However, under the Canada Labour Code, employees in non-management positions cannot be terminated without just cause. In Wilson v Atomic Energy Canada, the  Supreme Court of Canada confirmed that a federally regulated employer cannot simply dismiss an employee on a “without cause” basis and provide severance arrangements.

In other words, most federally regulated employees cannot be fired unless they are guilty of serious misconduct (i.e. just cause) or if their position is legitimately no longer required (i.e. after the closure of a business). Unlike most Ontario employees, employees regulated by the Canada Labour Code have a right to keep their job.

As I discussed in more detail in my article on Termination of the Employment Relationship: “Termination for cause has been described by the Ontario courts as the “capital punishment” of the employment relationship. It is typically very difficult for an employer to prove willfull misconduct or cause.” Accordingly, federally regulated employees have much greater job protection than the majority of Ontario workers.

Human Rights

In terms of Human Rights law the difference between federal and provincial employers is minimal. All employers are entitled to work free from discrimination.