CNESST
The Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité de travail (CNESST) is a Quebec-based agency that mostly protects employees working in job sectors regulated by the Quebec government.
However, the CNESST may also investigate your complaint if:
However, the CNESST may also investigate your complaint if:
You have a federally regulated job;
Your complaint relates to workplace injury or illness; and
Your physical workplace (such as, for example, a bank branch or company office building) is located in Quebec.
Your complaint relates to workplace injury or illness; and
Your physical workplace (such as, for example, a bank branch or company office building) is located in Quebec.
For more information on which types of job sectors are federally regulated, see What English-Language Rights Do I Have In Canadian Employment Law? in Rights in Federal Workplaces.
When contacting the CNESST via telephone (1-844-838-0808):
Be aware there is an automated voice recording in French explaining the services and information offered by the Commission that must be listened to before the caller can request listening to the same information in English by pressing “9”.
You can visit the CNESST website to file a complaint online. You can also visit its Complaints and Recourses webpage to learn of all the different types of complaints you may file.
When filing a complaint, be aware tha the CNESST’s online portal MonEspace, through which complainants may check on the status of their case, is available only in French.
CNESST Services in English
While only available in French, the CNESST’s Language Policy outlines the limited circumstances where you may use English in communications and dealings with the CNESST.
While significant portions of the CNESST’s legal information and procedural information (for filing a complaint) are available online in English, the Office Québécois de la langue française requires that all official communications be done in French.
However, CNESST staff are permitted to communicate in English with Indigenous persons, or individuals or organizations from outside Quebec.
Regarding telephone conversations, CNESST staff can assist and communicate with you in English if you do not speak or understand French well enough to carry out a conversation.
CNESST staff addressed in a language other than French must first verify whether you are able to understand French, most likely by asking the caller directly.
If you then confirm their inability to understand French, then the CNESST representative can continue to speak to you in English.
If the CNESST representative is unable to speak in English, they can din a coworker who can better serve you.
If the CNESST representative is unable to speak in English, they can din a coworker who can better serve you.
NOTE: Based on the wording of the CNESST's Language Policy, while staff members are allowed to help you in English in certain circumstances, they are not obligated to do so.
The Labour Program
The Labour Program of Canada is an independent department of the Government of Canada, responsible for protecting the rights of employees and employers in federally regulated workplaces like banks, telecom companies, government institutions, etc.
The Program offers alternative methods to resolve disputes between employers and employees (like mediation), and helps non-unionized employees recover unpaid wages or challenge an unfair job firing.
For information regarding employment rights in federally regulated workplaces or filing a complaint, you can call 1-800-641-4049 or e-mail NA-ERO-GD@labour-travail.gc.ca.
When contacting the Labour Program via telephone:
The Program offers alternative methods to resolve disputes between employers and employees (like mediation), and helps non-unionized employees recover unpaid wages or challenge an unfair job firing.
For information regarding employment rights in federally regulated workplaces or filing a complaint, you can call 1-800-641-4049 or e-mail NA-ERO-GD@labour-travail.gc.ca.
When contacting the Labour Program via telephone:
Press “1” to hear the automated voice recording for services in English.
Canada Industrial Relations Board
The Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) is a federal administrative tribunal that resolves disputes relating to complaints involving bargaining rights, unfair labour practices, unlawful worker strikes and lockouts, among other matters.
The CIRB can only hear complaints from employers and employees in private federally regulated workplaces like banks or telecommunications companies.
For a list of federally regulated job sectors, see What English-Language Rights Do I Have In Canadian Employment Law?
Complaints to the CIRB may be filed through their online E-filing Web Portal.
The CIRB can only hear complaints from employers and employees in private federally regulated workplaces like banks or telecommunications companies.
For a list of federally regulated job sectors, see What English-Language Rights Do I Have In Canadian Employment Law?
Complaints to the CIRB may be filed through their online E-filing Web Portal.
For more information or general inquiries, call their toll-free phone number at 1-800-575-9696 or visit their online contact page.
Social Security Tribunal of Canada
The Canadian Social Security Tribunal (SST) is an independent, federal administrative body that hears appeals from Service Canada on employment insurance matters and makes decisions related to regular benefits, illness and parental benefits, etc.
The SST can hear appeals on employment insurance matters from both federally regulated and provincially regulated employees, such as speeding up payment or stopping repayment.
The following are a few examples of the kinds of appeals the SST can hear:
The SST can hear appeals on employment insurance matters from both federally regulated and provincially regulated employees, such as speeding up payment or stopping repayment.
The following are a few examples of the kinds of appeals the SST can hear:
Where you quit you job and can demonstrate you had no other option but to quit.
Where you can demonstrate that you were both capable and available to work as well as actively looking for work.
Where you can demonstrate that you were both capable and available to work as well as actively looking for work.
Before a case can be appealed to the SST, you must first have Service Canada (through the Canada Employment Insurance Commission) reconsider and stand by their original decision.
Once Service Canada reconsiders, and stands by, their original decision, you may then appeal that reconsidered decision.
When filing an appeal, the Notice of Appeal Employment Insurance form (either online or downloadable as a PDF document) must be submitted to the SST within 30 days of Service Canada issuing the reconsideration of their original decision.
You can visit the SST website for complete instructions on How to Start an Appeal, including the forms needed for employment insurance appeals.
All supporting documentation and forms needed for an appeal can be sent to info.sst-tss@canada.gc.ca.
Call the SST’s toll-free phone number at 1-877-227-8577 Monday to Friday (7am–7pm) for more information.
