Date: 20020212

Docket: A-595-00

Montréal, Quebec, February 12, 2002

Coram:      DESJARDINS J.A.

DÉCARY J.A.

NOËL J.A.

BETWEEN:

GILBERT MERCIER

Applicant

and

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CANADA

Respondent

JUDGMENT

The application for judicial review is allowed with costs, the decision of the umpire reversed and the matter is referred back to the chief umpire or to an umpire designated by him to be again decided on the basis that the appeal brought by the Commission from the board of referees' decision should be dismissed.

Certified true translation

Suzanne M. Gauthier, C. Tr., LL.L

Date: 20020212

Docket: A-595-00

Neutral reference: 2002 FCA 63

CORAM: DESJARDINS J.A.

DÉCARY J.A.

NOËL J.A.

BETWEEN:

GILBERT MERCIER

Applicant

and

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CANADA

Respondent

Hearing held at Montréal, Quebec on February 12, 2002

Judgment from the bench at Montréal, Quebec on February 12, 2002

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

Date: 20020212

Docket: A-595-00

Neutral reference: 2002 FCA 63

CORAM: DESJARDINS J.A.

DÉCARY J.A.

NOËL J.A.

BETWEEN:

GILBERT MERCIER

Applicant

and

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CANADA

Respondent

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE COURT

(Delivered from the bench at Montréal, Quebec

on February 12, 2002)

DÉCARY J.A.

[1]       We consider that the evidence in the record allowed the board of referees to conclude that the Employment Insurance Commission ("the Commission") was not able to establish the scheduled date for return to work and so to find that the ineligibility resulting from s. 36(1) of the Employment Insurance Act was inapplicable to casual employees. The umpire therefore had no reason to substitute his own finding of fact for that of the board.

[2]       This application for judicial review will be allowed with costs, the decision of the umpire reversed and the matter referred back to the chief umpire or to an umpire designated by him to be again decided on the basis that the appeal brought by the Commission from the board of referees' decision should be dismissed.

[3]       It was agreed that the fate of this case would determine that of cases A-593-00 (Gatien Dugal and the Attorney General of Canada), A-594-00 (Laurier Mercier and the Attorney General of Canada), A-596-00 (Paul-Émile Huard and the Attorney General of Canada), A-597-00 (Adrien Moreau and the Attorney General of Canada) and A-599-00 (Guy Blais and the Attorney General of Canada). A copy of these reasons will accordingly be included in each of the said cases to have effect as reasons in support of the judgments rendered in each one, except that costs will only be awarded to the applicant in the case at bar.

Certified true translation

Suzanne M. Gauthier, C. Tr., LL.L

                                                FEDERAL COURT OF CANADA

                                                            APPEAL DIVISION

                           NAMES OF COUNSEL AND SOLICITORS OF RECORD

FILE:                                                                         A-595-00

CORAM:                                                                   DESJARDINS J.A.

DÉCARY J.A.

NOËL J.A.

STYLE OF CAUSE:                                                 GILBERT MERCIER

Applicant

and

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CANADA

Respondent

PLACE OF HEARING:                                             Montréal, Quebec

DATE OF HEARING:                                              February 12, 2002

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

DATED:                                                                      February 12, 2002

APPEARANCES:

Jean-Guy Ouellet                                                          FOR THE APPLICANT

Paul Deschênes                                                             FOR THE RESPONDENT

SOLICITORS OF RECORD:

Ouellet, Nadon & Associés                                           FOR THE APPLICANT

Montréal, Quebec

Morris Rosenberg                                                          FOR THE RESPONDENT

Deputy Attorney General of Canada

Montréal, Quebec