Canada (Attorney General) v. Tourangeau, 2001 FCA 293

Date: 20011009

Docket: A-30-00

Neutral citation: 2001 FCA 293

CORAM:        RICHARD C.J.

DESJARDINS J.A.

DÉCARY J.A.

BETWEEN:

                                                             ATTORNEY GENERAL

                                                                        OF CANADA

                                                                                                                                                       Applicant

                                                                                 and

                                                              JULIE TOURANGEAU

                                                                                                                                                   Respondent

                                      Hearing held at Montréal, Quebec, on October 9, 2001.

                    Judgment delivered from the bench at Montréal, Quebec, on October 9, 2001.

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE COURT BY:                                             DESJARDINS J.A.

Date: 20011009

Docket: A-30-00

Neutral citation: 2001 FCA 293

CORAM:        RICHARD C.J.

DESJARDINS J.A.

DÉCARY J.A.

BETWEEN:

                                                             ATTORNEY GENERAL

                                                                        OF CANADA

                                                                                                                                                       Applicant

                                                                                 and

                                                              JULIE TOURANGEAU

                                                                                                                                                   Respondent

                                                        REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

                                          (Delivered from the bench at Montréal, Quebec

                                                                 on October 9, 2001.)

DESJARDINS J.A.

[1]                 We are of the opinion that the Umpire erred when he concluded, contrary to the finding of the Board of Referees, that the respondent was justified in leaving her job to pursue her studies and that leaving was the only reasonable solution in her case.

[2]                 It is settled law that voluntarily leaving one's job to attend a course of instruction that is not authorized by the Commission (see section 25 of the Employment Insurance Act, S.C. 1996, c. 23) does not constitute just cause within the meaning of that Act (Attorney General of Canada v. Laurie Martel (1994), 175 N.R. 275, pages 282 and 283, pp.110-111; Attorney General of Canada v. Robert Barnett (1996), 205 N.R. 392, p. 114; Attorney General of Canada and Laurie A. Furey (1996), 201 N.R. 237, p. 118; Attorney General of Canada and Greg Stevens (1996), 195 N.R. 392, p. 126; Attorney General of Canada and Anna-Monique West, A-349-95 (unreported decision, February 20, 1996, p. 131); Canada (Attorney General) v. Bois, 2001 FCA 175 ([2001] F.C.A. No. 878 (QL)); Canada (Attorney General) v. Mancheron, 2001 FCA 174 ([2001] F.C.A. No. 880 (QL)).

[3]                 The respondent could not validly cite moving as a reason for leaving since it resulted from her going back to school. Nor could she claim to be available for another job and to have taken steps to find employment in her new location since the conditions prescribed in section 18 of the Act (formerly section 14) do not apply to section 29 of the Act (Attorney General of Canada v. Faltermeier (1995), 187 N.R. 305).

[4]                 The application for judicial review will be allowed with costs, the decision of the Umpire will be set aside, and the matter will be referred back to the Chief Umpire or an umpire designated by him for determination on the basis that the respondent is disqualified from receiving benefits because she left her job "without just cause" within the meaning of sections 29 and 30 of the Act.

                                                                                                                                          "Alice Desjardins"                  

J.A.

Certified true translation

Sophie Debbané, LL.B.                     

                     FEDERAL COURT OF APPEAL

Date: 20011009

Docket: A-30-00

Between:

                ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CANADA

                                                                                      Applicant

                                                and

                              JULIE TOURANGEAU

                                                                                  Respondent

       REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE COURT

                                                                 FEDERAL COURT OF APPEAL

                                           NAMES OF COUNSEL AND SOLICITORS OF RECORD

DOCKET:                                                          A-30-00

CORAM:                                                           RICHARD C.J.

DESJARDINS J.A.

DÉCARY J.A.

STYLE OF CAUSE:                                       

                                                              ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CANADA

                                                                                                                                                                                   Applicant

                                                                                              and

                                                                            JULIE TOURANGEAU

                                                                                                                                                                               Respondent

PLACE OF HEARING:                                  Montréal, Quebec

DATE OF HEARING:                                    October 9, 2001

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

OF THE COURT BY:                                     THE HONOURABLE MADAM JUSTICE DESJARDINS

DATED:                                                             October 9, 2001

APPEARANCES:

SOLICITORS OF RECORD:

Date: 20011009

Docket: A-30-00

Montréal, Quebec, October 9, 2001

Coram:             RICHARD C.J.

DESJARDINS J.A.

DÉCARY J.A.

BETWEEN:

                                                              ATTORNEY GENERAL

                                                                        OF CANADA

                                                                                                                                                        Applicant

                                                                                 and

                                                              JULIE TOURANGEAU

                                                                                                                                                   Respondent

                                                                        JUDGMENT

The application for judicial review is allowed with costs, the decision of the Umpire is set aside, and the matter is referred back to the Chief Umpire or the Umpire designated by him for determination on the basis that the respondent is disqualified from receiving benefits because she left her job "without just cause" within the meaning of sections 29 and 30 of the Act.

                                                                                                                                                     "J. Richard"                      

                    Chief Justice

Certified true translation

Sophie Debbané, LL.B.