Stevedoring by Local Company Subject to Provincial, Not Federal Regulation

The Québec CSST and Court of Appeal ruled that the stevedoring operations engaged in by a heavy equipment rental company were subject to provincial, not federal OHS regulation. The Supreme Court of Canada agreed. Stevedoring is normally associated with interprovincial commerce and shipping. But all of the company’s operations were carried out within Québec. Stevedoring was just a small part of operations and  was integrated with the company’s overall operations which were distinctly local in character [Tessier Ltée v. Québec (CSST), [2012] S.C.J. No. 23, May 17, 2012].