Lawyers

Lorna A. Pawluk, K.C. (Retired December 31, 2022)

Lorna has been Associate Counsel with the firm for many years, and advised employers almost exclusively in the occupational health and safety area.  This included any matter arising from compliance with provincial and federal occupational health and safety legislation, including regulatory, employment and human rights matters. She also spoke to large groups about occupational health and safety related issues and is a past columnist in Canadian Occupational Safety magazine.  In February of 2021, Lorna was appointed to the Board of Directors of WorkSafeBC and no longer practices in this area.

Lorna continues as Associate Counsel and is available to advise Boards of Directors on practice and procedure, having been Vice Chair of the Board of Governors of the British Columbia Institute of Technology and a member of the Board of Directors of the British Columbia Safety Authority.  She has variously chaired policy, human resources and governance committees.  She was also a member of the Board of Directors of the College of Massage Therapists of BC (CMTBC) and chair of the Inquiry Committee.  Lorna was also Chair of the National Administrative Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association and of the Administrative Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association BC Branch.  She is also a past member of the board of the Employer’s Forum, a non profit organization representing employers in matters relating to the British Columbia workers’ compensation system.  Lorna is currently working towards certification in The Directors College at the DeGroot School of Management, McMaster University.

As chair of the Inquiry Committee of CMTBC, Lorna chaired panels under section 35 of the Health Professions Act and meetings of the Inquiry Committee which is charged with investigations under the Health Professions Act and Massage Therapists Regulation. Her experience as an adjudicator also includes a decade of experience at both the Employment Standards Tribunal and Appeal Division of Workers Compensation Board of BC (now WorkSafeBC). She has also been legal counsel to the Commissioner of the Industrial Relations Council and has been in private practice where she practiced employer side labour/employment law. She is available to investigate harassment and bullying complaints for private clients.

Representative Cases

• Review Division, WCB, Review Reference #: R0141417, R0141421 & R0156201 – traffic control orders – traffic control person – administrative penalty removed – expert evidence.
• Workers Compensation Appeal Tribunal WCAT 2013-02719 – excavation orders – not high risk – expert evidence – overall effective health and safety program – penalty not justified.

Professional and Other Affiliations

• Called to the Bar of British Columbia
• Called to the Bar of Alberta
• Canadian Bar Association
• Liberal Women’s Network, Vice-Chair, 2013-ongoing
• National Administrative Law Section, Canadian Bar Association, Section Chair, September 2013-August 2014.
• National Administrative Law Conference Committee, Canadian Bar Association, Organizing Committee, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011; Conference Chair, 2013.
• Member, Board of Directors, College of Massage Therapists of BC and Chair, Inquiry Committee
• Member, Board of Directors, Employers Forum

Author and Speaker

• Co-Chair, National Administrative and Labour & Employment Law Conference, Ottawa, November 29-30, 2013.
• Speaker, “Coordinating Contractor Safety”, British Columbia Municipal Safety Association, Victoria, October 21-22, 2013.
• Speaker, "Investigating Harassment & Bullying Complaints", Conference, Infonex, Vancouver, April 10, 2013.
• Moderator, Canadian Bar Association, Administrative and Labour & Employment Law Conference, "Specialized Expert Evidence", Ottawa, November 23-24, 2012.
• Moderator, Canadian Bar Association, Administrative and Labour & Employment Law Conference, "Straight from the Horse’s Mouth: Public Inquiries," Ottawa, November 27, 2010.
• Moderator, Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers, "Prosecuting OH&S Offences," Vancouver Conference, September 23, 2010.
• Speaker and Author, Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers, "OH&S Responsibilities of Directors and Officers," Vancouver Conference, September 23, 2010.
• Speaker, Lorman Educational Services, Occupational Health and Safety—Employer obligations, April 15, 2010
• Moderator, Canadian Bar Association, National Administrative Law Conference, "Suing the Government," Ottawa, November 20, 2009.
• Speaker, Ontario Hospital Association, "Pandemic Planning," A Business Continuity Conference, Vancouver, June 25, 2008.
• Speaker, Human Resources Management Association, Annual Conference, October 2, 2007, "Drug and Alcohol Testing in the workplace".
• Speaker, Continuing Legal Education Conference, Labour and Employment Conference", "Workplace Fatalities and Injuries", May 31, 2007.
• Columnist, Canadian Occupational Safety: Column devoted to workers compensation and workplace safety issues. December 2005 – June 2007.
• Speaker, Continuing Legal Education Conference, Workers’ Compensation—2006 Update, "Solicitor-Client Privilege in the Investigations Process".
• Author, "Director Liability", Business in Vancouver, March, 2003.
• Speaker, Continuing Legal Education Conference "Workers Compensation Update, "Commentary on WCAT", March 31 – April 1, 2003.
• Speaker, Canadian Society of Safety Engineers, "Update on Workers Compensation", November 26, 2002.
• Speaker, Human Resources Management Association, "The WCB Core Report", Vancouver - June 12 and 18, 2002; Victoria - June 19, 2002
• Speaker, University of British Columbia, Conferences, "Whole Body Vibration: Legal Aspects", April 4, 2001.
• Author, "Freedom of Association and Labour Law", The Advocate, Nov. 1991.
• Past Vice-Chair, Canadian Bar Association, Constitutional Law Section, Vancouver.
• Member, Canadian Bar Association, Labour Section, Alternate Dispute Resolution Section British Columbia Branch.
• Speaker, Industrial Relations Management Association, Fall Conference, 1988, October 16 – 18, 1988: "Variable Compensation", Vancouver.

Other Interests

Boating, music and cooking.

Areas of Practice

• Employment Law
• Occupational Health and Safety

Publications

• Update on Workers Compensation Developments
• Director and Officer Risk Issues and Risk Management