Susan acts for both public and private sector employers in the BC, Yukon and federal jurisdictions. She has over 35 years’ experience representing clients in labour, employment and human rights matters before the BC Labour Relations Board, Canada Industrial Relations Board, BC Human Rights Tribunal and Yukon Human Rights Commission, as well as federal and provincial arbitration boards.
* Susan P. Arnold provides legal services through a law corporation.
Areas Of Focus
Collective Agreements
Arbitration and Dispute Resolution
Labour Relations and Employment Law, including Employment Standards
Human Rights
Privacy
Administrative Law
B.C. Police Act
Credentials
LL.B., University of British Columbia (1982)
B.A. University of British Columbia (1977)
Recognition
Included in the 2020 Canadian Legal Expert® Directory: Labour (Management), Workplace Human Rights (Employer)
Lexpert Business of Law – Vancouver Leading Practitioners – Labour Relations, Employment, and Workplace Human Rights – Repeatedly recommended
Recognized since 2010 in Best Lawyersin Canada™ for Labour and Employment Law
2019 edition of Who’s Who Legal: Canada in the area of Labour, Employment and Benefits
Professional Affiliations
Law Society of British Columbia
Law Society of Yukon
Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers (CACE)
Associations
Associations
Associations
Susan also conducts workplace investigations in both the private and public sectors.
Susan is a former adjunct professor in the Faculty of Law, University of British Columbia, where she taught labour and human rights law. Susan sat on the Committee of Special Advisors to the Government of British Columbia for the Review of the Employment Standards Act in 1993 and was a member of the British Columbia Law Institute’s Employment Standards Act Reform Project Committee. The Committee issued its comprehensive report in December 2018, and its Recommendations provided the framework for significant amendments to the Act, which were introduced by the Government in 2019.
Susan is recognized as a leading practitioner in the areas of labour and employment law in the 2011-2023 editions of The Best Lawyers in CanadaTM. She has also been repeatedly recognized in the Canadian Lexpert® Directory in the areas of Labour Relations, Employment, and Workplace Human Rights, and has been recognized in the 2019-2022 editions of Who’s Who Legal: Canada in the area of Labour, Employment and Benefits.
Prior to joining PCM, Susan was a founding partner of Sheen Arnold McNeil LLP and was a partner for many years in a leading national labour, employment and human rights firm.
Pulver Crawford Munroe LLP is proud to announce that three of our partners —Dean Crawford, K.C., Craig Munroe, and Paul Pulver— have been recognized in the Chambers Canada Guide 2025 for their work in Employment & Labour Law. Employment & Labour Rankings Commitment to Excellence in Employment & Labour Law Our Chambers ranking highlights our dedication to providing […]
Pulver Crawford Munroe LLP is one of Canada’s leading labour and employment boutiques, providing trusted advice to many well-known local, national and international employers. The firm’s lawyers are acknowledged by Lexpert, Chambers Canada, Benchmark, Who’s Who and Best Lawyers as leaders in employment, labour, human rights and workers compensation. The firm has a vibrant practice […]
Pulver Crawford Munroe LLP is pleased to announce the return of PCM alumna Suzanne Solsona and the arrival of new associate Kelsey Croft. Suzanne Solsona is no stranger to Pulver Crawford Munroe LLP. She originally joined us in 2003, working with our team for 2 years before heading abroad to start her own company. Suzanne […]
We are proud of our team’s inclusion in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers in Canada, with all partners and senior counsel being recognized by our peers. Recognition in Best Lawyers is widely regarded as a significant achievement and reflects Pulver Crawford Munroe LLP’s ongoing commitment to excellent client service. We are honoured to be […]
Pulver Crawford Munroe LLP is pleased to introduce Carly Beatty, our new Director of Operations. Carly has worked in the legal industry for over 15 years. She brings a wealth of experience to our firm, having excelled in front-line litigation support and office coordination in both small and national firm settings.Her recognized leadership ability and […]
The BC provincial government has announced new regulations under the Employment Standards Act which will come into effect on September 3, 2024. These regulations will provide new protections for app-based gig workers, including a minimum wage of $20.88 for engaged time. These protections will apply to people who accept assignments through app-based ride-hailing and delivery […]
Due to considerable client growth and demand, we are seeking to add two to three mid-to-senior level associates, based in either our Vancouver or Victoria offices. We have successfully and fully integrated an associate working remotely and are open to remote working arrangements for the right candidate living outside of the Lower Mainland or Greater […]
We are pleased to congratulate our partner Craig Munroe on being recognized by Lexology, WWL, as a Thought Leader for his unique insight and expertise in advising clients in labour, employment and benefits law matters. WWL Thought Leaders are comprised of leading private practice lawyers and consulting experts identified through extensive research, including interviews with […]
We are pleased to congratulate our Partner, Paul Pulver, on being recognized as a Litigation Star for his work in labour and employment law in the 2024 edition of Benchmark Litigation Canada.
Pulver Crawford Munroe LLP is proud to announce that six of our lawyers are recognized in The 2024 Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory rankings for British Columbia. In addition, our firm is ranked in Lexpert’s 2024 Labour Relations, Employment & Pensions Lawyers Who’s Who: Vancouver. Our lawyers are ranked as Leading Vancouver Practitioners in Employment Law, […]
Pulver Crawford Munroe LLP is proud to announce that our firm has been ranked among the top labour and employment law firms for 2024-25 by Canadian Lawyer magazine. Read the full announcement here: Top Labour and Employment Law Firms in Canada
By Armina Birdi (Articled Student) Recently, the federal government announced amendments to the Canada Labour Code (the “Code”) which will come into effect February 01, 2024. These amendments will increase the minimum notice of termination required for individual terminations under section 230 of the Code. Currently, section 230 (1) of the Code states that employers […]
Marino Sveinson & Armina Birdi (LR Advisor) The Pay Transparency Regulation is now law. The Regulation details the information that affected employers must include in their annual pay transparency reports. For background please see our prior bulletins about the statutory requirements implemented this year pursuant to the Pay Transparency Act (“PTA”) that affect employers in British […]
Pulver Crawford Munroe LLP is pleased to announce that our firm has been recognized on The Globe and Mail’s list of Canada’s Best Law Firms 2024. The complete list can be viewed on the Globe and Mail website. The Globe and Mail list was curated from recommendations made by lawyers (peer-to-peer survey) and clients (corporate […]
In a previous post, we wrote about the introduction of the BC Pay Transparency Act (the “Act”) which came into force on May 11, 2023. The Act imposed various requirements on employers in BC that apply in stages in an attempt to address the pay gap, which negatively and disproportionately impacts women and gender and […]
On March 7, 2023, the B.C. government introduced Bill 13 – Pay Transparency Act. The Bill received Royal Assent on May 11, 2023, and all provisions of the Act came into force on that same day except for section 2 (the provision on job postings) which will come into force on November 1, 2023. The […]
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is now required to be observed regardless of collective agreement provisions. On May 11, 2023, Bill 24 received Royal Assent in the B.C. Legislature. Part 5 of the Bill amends section 3 of the B.C. Employment Standards Act (the “ESA”) such that the “meet or exceed” test for […]
As workplaces emerge from the pandemic, employers across Canada continue to face unique challenges and new expectations. Advocates for Employers of Canada (AEC) has assembled a panel of knowledgeable speakers from coast to coast for a 2-hour webinar on June 13, 2023 to discuss the latest updates in Canadian labour and employment law. Our partner […]
Yesterday, the Province announced that British Columbia’s minimum wage for workers will be increasing from $15.65 to $16.75 an hour on June 1, 2023. The increase is based on British Columbia’s average inflation rate in 2022, which was 6.9%. The Government has also indicated an ongoing commitment to tie annual minimum wage increases to inflation. […]
Pulver Crawford Munroe LLP is proud to announce that seven of our lawyers were recognized in The 2023 Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory rankings for British Columbia earlier this month. Lexpert® Canada recognizes the country’s leading practitioners and firms. Being “Lexpert-ranked” is an acknowledgement of excellence by our peers and colleagues. We are honoured that our lawyers have […]
On February 7, 2023, the BC government introduced Bill 2, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, to recognize September 30 as a public holiday. Once passed, the Bill will amend the Employment Standards Act to include the day as the 11th provincial statutory holiday. September 30 is already recognized as a holiday for federal employees, […]
160 years of serving the southern Vancouver Island business community is no small feat. Pulver Crawford Munroe LLP is proud to be a member of this dynamic organization. The Chamber is dedicated to building connections among Island entrepreneurs and innovative organizations and advocating for initiatives at all levels of government in BC to support the […]
PCM Lawyers is pleased to be listed among the law firms recognized on The Globe and Mail’s list of Canada’s Best Lawyers 2023 for our work in Labour & Employment law. The awards list was announced on November 15, 2022, and can be viewed on the Globe and Mail website here. The Canada’s Best Lawyers list was curated based on […]
Negina Khalil On September 29, 2022, in Brown v. Planet Fitness (Dundas), the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario dismissed an application alleging discrimination based on creed with respect to a mandatory vaccine policy. The decision was made following a hearing in writing. The applicant alleged that they were denied access to the facility because of […]
Although the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have started to subside, the past year has been marked by upheaval in the personal and professional lives of workers across the country. In turn, Canadian employers continue to face new and emerging challenges to their businesses. On Tuesday, November 15, 2022 (11:00 AM – 1:00 PM, PDT), […]
Join Marcia McNeil and a panel of experienced counsel from Advocates for Employers of Canada for a discussion of Post-Pandemic Workforce Management. The panel addresses current employment issues, important legal developments, and practical strategies to help employers successfully navigate the new world of work. Topics include the following: Recording – Post-Pandemic Workforce Management from FWTA […]
Congratulations to Susan Arnold, Dean Crawford, KC, Marcia McNeil, Craig Munroe, Paul Pulver, Peter Sheen, Marino Sveinson, and Jessica Thomson for being recognized by their peers and listed in the 17th Edition of Best Lawyers in CanadaTM in the fields of Labour and Employment Law. Recognition in Best Lawyers is widely regarded by both clients […]
In certain circumstances, an employer may temporarily change how an employee performs the duties of their job and it will not be considered constructive dismissal. In constructive dismissal cases, an employee must prove the employer evinced an intention to no longer be bound by the employment contract, and the employee can do so in one […]
Benke v Loblaw Companies Limited, 2022 ABQB 461 (CanLII) In this case, a grocery store employee, Mr. Benke, refused to comply with a municipal bylaw requiring face masks in public premises and his employer’s policy requiring face masks to be worn at the workplace. The court determined the employee’s refusal to perform his job in […]
Pulver Crawford Munroe LLP recently represented a Municipal Police Board (the “Board) in an arbitration decision which determined that a non-disparaging comments clause in a Settlement Agreement between the Board, a Police Association (the “Union”), and a Former Police Constable (FPC), was enforceable 17 years after the Agreement was originally signed. The Arbitrator determined that […]
Pulver Crawford Munroe LLP is proud to be recognized as a leading labour and employment law firm in the 2022 Lexpert® rankings for Vancouver. Since 1994, Lexpert® Canada surveys have recognized the country’s leading lawyers and law firms based on peer ratings and nominations. This achievement reflects the work and dedication of our entire team […]
Bill 10, the Labour Relations Code Amendment Act, 2022, was introduced by the Government of British Columbia on April 6, 2022. On June 2, 2022, Bill 10 received Royal Assent and is now in effect. As a result, business can expect significant changes to the bargaining unit certification process. The new amendments to the Labour […]
We are excited to announce that Pulver Crawford Munroe LLP has joined the South Island Prosperity Project (SIPP) as the first law firm member in their regional economic alliance. SIPP acts as an integrator of leaders and sectors to create key partnerships with the goal of collectively nurturing a more innovative, diversified, inclusive and sustainable economy. SIPP […]
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed the nature of how work is done. What will the post-pandemic workforce look like across Canada? What new obligations and risks exist for Canadian employers? On June 7, 2022, Marcia McNeil of our office will join a panel of experienced counsel from Advocates for Employers of Canada to provide a seminar […]
We are delighted to announce that Craig Munroe has been recognized as a Canadian thought leader in the 2022 edition of Who’s Who Legal for labour and employment law. Who’s Who Legal publications feature over 27,000 of the world’s leading private practice lawyers and consulting experts. WWL reports are based on extensive research, including interviews […]
A recent arbitration decision, BC Hydro and Power Authority v International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 258, 2022 CanLII 25764 (BC LA), determined that BC Hydro’s mandatory vaccine policy was reasonable but the threat of discipline against those who remained unvaccinated was not. The decision is the first in BC to consider a mandatory COVID-19 […]
On April 6, 2022, the Government of British Columbia introduced Bill 10 to amend the Labour Relations Code (the “Code”). The proposed changes to the Code will re-introduce a single-step certification process which enables unions to be certified, without a vote, where 55% or more employees in the proposed bargaining unit have signed union cards. […]
The minimum wage in British Columbia will increase from $15.20 to $15.65 as of June 1, 2022. The BC Provincial Government calculated the increase based on a 2.8% average inflation rate. It appears the current provincial government intends to increase the minimum wage each year in accordance with an annual inflation rate. Since 2018, the […]
Congratulations to Susan Arnold, Dean Crawford, QC, Pat Gallivan, QC, Marcia McNeil, Craig Munroe, Paul Pulver, Peter Sheen, and Marino Sveinson for once again being recognized by their peers and listed in the 2022 Edition of the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory. The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory rankings and awards are well-recognized in the legal community, […]
Ontario’s labour legislation, like British Columbia’s, provides an opportunity for union members to bring complaints against their union to the Labour Relations Board asserting that the union did not properly represent their interests. On January 10, 2022, the Ontario Labour Relations Board dismissed the complaint of several unvaccinated healthcare personal support workers. The Board held that […]
In Shalagin v Mercer Celgar Limited Partnership, 2022 BCSC 112, the BC Supreme Court dismissed an employee’s wrongful dismissal lawsuit on the basis that the employee’s secret recordings of his co-workers was just cause for his termination given the effect on the relationship of trust between employer and employee. Takeaways The employment relationship depends on […]
On January 12, 2022, Arbitrator Randall Noonan issued a decision denying an application by the International Association of Professional Firefighters to stay the implementation of a mandatory vaccination policy (the “Policy”) by the City of Richmond (the “Employer”). In this case, the Employer had enacted its vaccination policy with a view to limiting the spread […]
Two Ontario Labour Arbitrators recently heard grievances from unions claiming the Employers’ mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policies were a violation of the respective collective agreements. In one case, the grievance was dismissed. In the other, the grievance was upheld. While these decisions come out of Ontario, they provide insight into how Labour Arbitrators are considering the legitimacy of mandatory vaccination policies. UFCW Local 333 v Paragon, 9 November 2021 The […]
The Province, after consulting with workers and employers across British Columbia, has legislated five paid sick days for employees regulated by the Employment Standards Act (the “ESA”).[1] Effective January 1, 2022, employees can take up to five days of paid leave per year for personal illness or injury. This is in addition to the three […]
PCM Lawyers is delighted to be among the law firms recognized on The Globe and Mail’s list of Canada’s Best Law Firms 2022. This prestigious award is presented by The Globe and Mail and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider. The awards list was announced on November 16, 2021, and can […]
On September 22, 2021, a national panel of speakers from Advocates for Employers of Canada (AEC) held a webinar to discuss the current state of workplace accommodation law in Canada and provide practical tips and strategies for employers. Topics included: General Legal Principles Family Status Accommodation Religious Accommodation Disability Accommodation Drugs and Alcohol in the […]
British Columbia’s Public Health Officer recently announced proof of vaccination requirements in order to access certain non-essential events, services and business. The proof of vaccination requirements applies to all people in British Columbia who are 12+ years old. Key Dates By September 7, 2021, post-secondary students staying in on-campus student housing will be required […]
Workplace accommodation can be one of the most challenging issues faced by HR and LR professionals. The ongoing pandemic has added another nuanced layer to this already complicated area of law. Marcia McNeil is joining a panel of our colleagues at Advocates for Employers of Canada (AEC) for a 90-minute Zoom webinar covering the latest […]
On July 1st, 2021, B.C. progressed to Step 3 of the Province’s Restart Plan. Employers are no longer required to maintain a COVID-19 Safety Plan pursuant to WorkSafeBC requirements. Instead, employers can transition to developing a Communicable Disease Plan (CDP) as directed in a statement by the Provincial Health Officer. A communicable disease is an […]
On June 15, 2021, a national panel of speakers from Advocates for Employers of Canada (AEC) held an informative webinar for In-house counsel, human resources and labour relations professionals on the latest case law developments, practical tips, and strategies to address common contractual issues. Topics included: Termination provisions: is it possible to limit an employee’s […]