Date: 20031104

Docket: A-292-02

Citation: 2003 FCA 412

CORAM:       DÉCARY J.A.

NOËL J.A.

NADON J.A.

BETWEEN:

JUAN JOSE JONFE OROZCO ET AL.^[1]

Applicants

and

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CANADA

Respondent

Hearing held at Montréal, Quebec, on November 4, 2003.

Judgment from the bench at Montréal, Quebec, on November 4, 2003.

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

Date: 20031104

Docket: A-292-02

Citation: 2003 FCA 412

CORAM:       DÉCARY J.A.

NOËL J.A.

NADON J.A.

BETWEEN:

JUAN JOSE JONFE OROZCO ET AL.¹

Applicants

and

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CANADA

Respondent

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE COURT

(Delivered from the bench at Montréal, Quebec, on November 4, 2003)

DÉCARY J.A.

[1]       On the question of the interruption of earnings, the Court adopts the reasons rendered this day in Dion (A-251-02).

[2]       On the question of the quantum of the penalty, which the board of referees had adjusted to 50%, the Court considers that the board of referees provided sufficient explanation of the reasons leading it to conclude that the Commission had not exercised its discretion in the manner required by precedent and that the umpire had even less reason to intervene to set this quantum at 100% as counsel for the respondent had said they were satisfied with a 50% quantum.

[3]       The application for judicial review will therefore be allowed in the cases where the question of the penalty was raised, namely cases A-297-02, A-299-02 and A-302-02, the decision of the umpire in those cases will be set aside as to the disposition dealing with the penalty, 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 quantum of the penalty is that set by the board of referees. In the circumstances, each party will pay its own costs.

[4]       The application for judicial review will be dismissed in the other cases, namely cases A-292-02, A-303-02, A-294-02 and A-498-02, with costs to the respondent in the manner prescribed in Dion.

[5]       A copy of these reasons and the judgment signed in this case will be included in the other records to stand in place of the original.

Certified true translation

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

                                                FEDERAL COURT OF APPEAL

                                                      SOLICITORS OF RECORD

DOCKET:                                                                      A-292-02

(APPLICATION FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW FROM EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE COMMISSION DECISION ON MARCH 1, 2002, IN CASE CUB 53776).

STYLE OF CAUSE:                                                      JUAN JOSE JONFE OROZCO ET AL.

and

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CANADA

PLACE OF HEARING:                                                Montréal, Quebec

DATE OF HEARING:                                                 November 4, 2003

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE COURT :    (DÉCARY, NOËL AND NADON JJ.A.)

DELIVERED FROM THE BENCH BY:                   DÉCARY J.A.

APPEARANCES:

William De Merchant                                                       FOR THE APPLICANTS

Pauline Leroux                                                                  FOR THE RESPONDENT

SOLICITORS OF RECORD:

OUELLET, NADON & ASSOCIÉS                               FOR THE APPLICANTS

Montréal, Quebec

MORRIS ROSENBERG                                                 FOR THE RESPONDENT

Deputy Attorney General of Canada

Montréal, Quebec