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It was the learned Justice’s view that s. 9 of the collective agreement went beyond the compass of s. 29, above quoted, and that it was not a “working condition”. Hence, it could not be relied on (as Brooke J.A. thought) to empower the discharge of a probationary constable without the Nicholson requirement of notice of reason and a fair opportunity to respond. However, Thorson J.A. concluded that Proctor knew why he was being discharged, that it was unnecessary to spell it out formally and that he had an opportunity to make a response. It seems to me that the opportunity allegedly given to respond was no opportunity when it was to a person, the chief of police, who, concededly, had no power to effect a dismissal. It is by no means clear that Proctor knew of the reason for dismissal at the time. The learned Justice does not say what the reason was, whether it was the fact that Proctor was with Archer when the latter was involved in a disturbance in a tavern, or whether it was the post facto assertion of the chief of police, made not to Proctor but in the chiefs evidence, and based on a report from others, that Proctor had lied under oath at the Archer hearing. Nonetheless, he concluded (in agreement with Brooke J.A.) that the evidence supported the view that the Board had made a decision to discharge Proctor and that it was an effective decision.
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