Former general manager sues Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency
Monday, December 1, 2014
by DAVE PINK
A wrongful dismissal suit involving the former general manager of the Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency will likely be heard in Guelph small claims court early next year.
Murray Hunt is seeking $25,000 compensation from the marketing agency.
The agency’s board of directors fired Hunt on June 8, 2012. The 11-member board, represented by London lawyer Paul Linley, contends in its statement before the court that Hunt was fired for cause after he was believed to have circulated an e-mail that was critical of some board members.
“The board of directors determined that his activities in late May of 2012, as evidenced by e-mail correspondence dated May 31, 2012, were completely inimical to his role as general manager,” the board’s statement to the court reads.
However, in his statement filed with the court, Hunt maintains that his employment reviews up to the time of his dismissal were glowing, and that his e-mail was justified. In his submission to the court, Hunt claims: “The e-mail was written after consistent and persistent interference, micromanaging and lack of support from the chairperson of the board at that time. ... In addition, the chairperson did not carry forward to the board my concerns, even though he agreed to and is obliged, by policy, to do so.”
No claims have been proven in court.
The $25,000 claim is money that Hunt alleges is owed to him by the marketing agency that was not paid at the time of his dismissal.
Neither Hunt nor Jennifer McTavish, the current general manager of the Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency, would comment on the legal action.
The marketing agency, based in Guelph, is a producer operated organization that works to promote and improve the marketing of sheep, lamb and wool products in Ontario. It draws its board members from elections held in 11 districts across the province and is financed by a check-off system. It represents about 3,500 producers and, this year, the board had a budget of $660,000. BF
Updated Dec. 2 2014 8:34 p.m.