Monsanto Canada Inc.

In 1999 2000 a FSCO Tribunal reviewed a Pension Plan Surplus case involving Monsanto Canada Inc. wherein approximately 146 employees lost their jobs due to a plant closure. The Superintendent of Pensions originally ordered Monsanto to distribute a portion of its pension plan surplus to the affected employees. However, Monsanto appealed that decision, and won on appeal, partly because only a small unit of the company was closed. You will be interested to know that it was a three-person, non-judge, tribunal and the decision was not unanimous (i.e. 2 to 1).

The Superintendent of FSCO filed an appeal of that decision in July 2000. The case was taken to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice were 3 judges ruled in favour of the employees. The ruling was reported in March 2001.

The Monsanto Management has appealed the March 2001 decision, and the Ontario Superior Court of Justice will be hearing the case on April 29/30, 2002.

To review more details go to one of the following sites

• Toronto Star article Mar 22 2001
• Toronto Star article Sept 27 2001

Nov 23rd, 2002: An important court ruling by Ontario Appeals Court has been confirmed. Decision in favour of Monsanto Employees.

July 29, 2004: The Supreme Court of Canada ruled today in favour of Monsanto employees. The precedent has been set for our claim to the BCE Pension Surplus.

The Monsanto Case will set a precedent for Bell Sygma Partial Windup.