Murphy v. Amway Canada Corporation

Murphy v. Amway Canada Corporation
Court (s) Database
Federal Court of Appeal Decisions
Date
2013-02-14
Neutral citation
2013 FCA 38
File numbers
A-487-11
Notes
Reported Decision
Decision Content
Date: 20130214
Docket: A-487-11
Citation: 2013 FCA 38
CORAM: NADON J.A.
GAUTHIER J.A.
TRUDEL J.A.
BETWEEN:
KERRY MURPHY
Appellant
and
AMWAY CANADA CORPORATION
and
AMWAY GLOBAL
Respondents
Heard at Montreal, Quebec, on November 7, 2012.
Judgment delivered at Ottawa, Ontario, on February 14, 2013.
REASONS FOR JUDGMENT BY: NADON J.A.
CONCURRED IN BY: GAUTHIER J.A.
TRUDEL J.A.
Date: 20130214
Docket: A-487-11
Citation: 2013 FCA 38
CORAM: NADON J.A.
GAUTHIER J.A.
TRUDEL J.A.
BETWEEN:
KERRY MURPHY
Appellant
and
AMWAY CANADA CORPORATION
and
AMWAY GLOBAL
Respondents
REASONS FOR JUDGMENT
NADON J.A.
[1] On October 23, 2009, the appellant, Kerry Murphy, began a proposed class action proceeding against Amway Canada Corporation and Amway Global (hereinafter the “respondent”), claiming that their business practices were in violation of sections 52, 55 and 55.1 of the Competition Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 34. The appellant’s proposed class action proceeding prompted the respondent to file several motions, including a motion to stay and to compel arbitration, which Boivin J. (the “Judge”) of the Federal Court of Canada allowed with costs on November 23, 2011, reported as 2011 FC 1341. As a result, the appellant’s class proceeding was stayed.
[2] The Judge’s decision has led to the appeal now before us, wherein the appellant seeks to have the stay granted by the Judge set aside to pursue his class proceeding before the Federal Court. One of the questions raised by the appeal is whether the Judge’s decision can be appealed to this Court. If that question is answered in the affirmative, then the second question we must address is whether the substantive issues raised by the appellant in his Statement of Claim are issues which, although clearly within the ambit of the Agreement to Mediate and Arbitrate Disputes (the “Arbitration Agreement”) entered into by the parties, are indeed arbitrable.
The Facts
[3] The appellant is a small business owner and is registered as an Independent Business Owner (“IBO”) under the umbrella of the respondent, Amway Canada (also operating under its trade name, Amway Global). Amway Canada is a wholesaler of home, personal care, beauty, and health products. It sells its products through a multi-level marketing plan. It is structured with a large number of IBOs, who in turn recruit additional distributors for further sales, resulting in multiple levels of distribution. Each IBO must review the Business Opportunity brochure and sign a Registration Agreement in order to become part of the distribution framework. The Registration Agreement, which every individual must execute in order to become an IBO, includes an Arbitration Agreement, wherein the parties agree to submit any possible claims to arbitration. The Registration Agreement incorporates by reference the IBO Compensation Plan and the Amway Rules of Conduct (the “Rules of Conduct”).
[4] The appellant registered, in the province of British Columbia, as an IBO with Amway Canada four separate times over the course of a number of years (first registration in 1980-82). For the purpose of this appeal, suffice it to say that the appellant registered as an IBO on June 5, 2008, which registration was valid until the end of that year. On November 26, 2008, the appellant renewed his registration for the year 2009 and that registration expired on December 31, 2009.
[5] On October 23, 2009, the appellant commenced proceedings in the Federal Court of Canada, pursuant to section 36 of the Competition Act. By his Statement of Claim, the appellant alleged that, inter alia, the respondent was operating a multi-level marketing plan, as that term is defined in subsection 55(1) of the Competition Act, and that in the operation thereof, the respondent had failed to provide its distributors with accurate information concerning the compensation which they could earn. The appellant further alleged that the respondent operated an illegal scheme of pyramid-selling in violation of subsection 55(1) of the Competition Act, and that the respondent’s business was built on the misleading of potential distributors with regard to the business opportunities that were offered to them by the respondent. In so doing, the appellant said that the respondent was in breach of sections 52 and 55 of the Competition Act.
[6] Consequently, the appellant sought damages in the sum of $15,000 and filed a motion for the certification of a proposed class action. No other potential class members were identified.
[7] Following the filing of the appellant’s Statement of Claim and his proposed class proceeding, the respondent filed a motion for an order dismissing or permanently staying the appellant’s action and to compel arbitration on the ground that the Federal Court had no jurisdiction. More particularly, the respondent argued that the matters raised in the Statement of Claim were subject to compulsory arbitration under the terms of the Arbitration Agreement entered into by the parties.
[8] On May 5, 2010, Mainville J. of the Federal Court (as he then was) directed that the respondent’s motion be heard on June 18, 2010 (2010 FC 498).
[9] On June 18, 2010, Mainville J. heard the respondent’s motion, and on July 2, 2010, he delivered his reasons in support of an order dismissing the respondent’s motion with costs (2010 FC 724). As Mainville J. explained at paragraph 3 of his reasons, the parties had argued before him at the hearing which led to his direction of May 5, 2010, that the respondent’s motion to stay and to compel arbitration raised the issue of the scope, validity and enforceability of the Arbitration Agreement, and of the limited class action waiver contained therein, and whether that issue should be decided by the Federal Court or by an arbitrator.
[10] However, as Mainville J. further explained at paragraph 4 of his reasons, the parties took a different view of the respondent’s motion to stay and to compel arbitration at the hearing before him on June 18, 2010. More particularly, the parties limited their arguments on the motion to the question of whether the issue raised by the motion should be decided by the Federal Court or by an arbitrator. Thus, the hearing before Mainville J. proceeded on the jurisdictional issue only, leaving aside the substantive issue which, per the parties’ agreement, would be decided later by an arbitrator in arbitration proceedings or by the Federal Court at the certification stage of the class action.
[11] After canvassing the arguments submitted the appellant and the respondent, Mainville J. closely examined the Arbitration Agreement concluded between the parties and, more particularly, Rules 11.3.9 and 11.3.10 of the Rules of Conduct, pointing out that the parties were in agreement that their binding Arbitration Agreement applied and that it was governed by the Ontario Arbitration Act, S.O. 1991, c. 17 (the “OAA”).
[12] In Mainville J.’s view, the Rules of Conduct were clear in that they provided that class action claims were excluded from arbitration and that any controversy regarding the enforceability or applicability of the limited class action waiver set out at Rule 11.3.9 of the Rules of Conduct was to be decided by the Court. Consequently, he was satisfied that “class action claims and any controversies concerning the enforceability or applicability of the limited class action waiver are not matter[s] ‘to be submitted to arbitration under the Arbitration Agreement’ as contemplated by subsection 7(1) of the Ontario Arbitration Act” (Mainville J.’s reasons, paragraph 20).
[13] At paragraph 25 of his reasons, Mainville J. held that the Arbitration Agreement entered into by the parties conferred jurisdiction and authority on the Court regarding class action claims and over the enforceability or applicability of the limited class action waiver. He concluded that the substantive issue raised by the appellant’s motion was one that had to be determined by the Federal Court and not by an arbitrator.
[14] On October 3, 4, and 5, 2011, the Judge heard the parties’ arguments regarding the substantive issue raised by the respondent’s motion, namely, the scope, validity, and enforceability of the Arbitration Agreement and of the limited class action waiver contained therein. As I have already indicated, the Judge allowed the respondent’s motion with costs.
Decision of the Federal Court
[15] After carefully reviewing the facts, the Judge proceeded with an analysis of the Rules of Conduct, the Arbitration Agreement, the procedural history of the motion leading to the judgment itself, and of the recent jurisprudence concerning class action waivers in the context of arbitration agreements and consumer protection. In each discrete part of his judgment, the Judge set out the position of both parties before proceeding with his analysis. He came to the forthright conclusion that the Arbitration Agreement is applicable, enforceable, and serves to bar the initiation of a class proceeding for any amount exceeding $1,000.
[16] Both parties relied on the Supreme Court of Canada’s recent decision in Seidel v. Telus Communications Inc., 2011 SCC 15, [2011] 1 S.C.R. 531 (“Seidel”). The appellant invoked Seidel in his attempt to demonstrate that both the class action waiver and a resolution of the dispute through private, confidential arbitration were against the public interest. He argued an analogy between the provisions of the Competition Act and the legislative scheme at issue in Seidel, the British Columbia Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act, SBC 2004, c. 2 (the “BPCPA”). The respondent relied on Seidel and on other Supreme Court jurisprudence in support of its contention that agreements to arbitrate must be enforced except when there is clear legislative language to the contrary. In its submission, Seidel was not analogous because of the interaction between sections 3 and 172 of the BPCPA.
[17] The Judge emphasized that a long line of Canadian cases have confirmed Canada’s status as an “arbitration-friendly jurisdiction”. Without express legislative language to the contrary, courts must give effect to the parties’ agreement to arbitrate. While the appellant submitted that such language could be found in section 36 of the Competition Act, the Judge disagreed. In his view, section 36 simply identifies the Federal Court as a court of competent jurisdiction for disputes arising under Part VI of the Competition Act, but does not declare it to be the only competent forum. Therefore, section 36 does not prevent parties from contracting out of that jurisdiction through a valid arbitration process.
[18] The Judge went on to say that the comparison between section 36 of the Competition Act and sections 3 and 172 of the BPCPA was incommensurate: Section 3 states that any waivers or releases of an individual’s rights are void unless they are expressly permitted by the BPCPA and section 172 governs court actions respecting consumer transactions for parties to contracts and third parties, allowing for both declaratory and injunctive relief. Neither of these provisions is analogous to section 36 of the Competition Act. Moreover, the Competition Act does not contain a provision similar to section 3 of the BPCPA. Accordingly, the Judge concluded that Seidel was not an appropriate analogue for the instant case.
Registration Agreement
[19] As I indicated earlier, the Registration Agreement, amended as of September 1, 2008, includes an agreement to arbitrate and incorporates the IBO Compensation Plan and the Rules of Conduct. The following provisions of the Arbitration Agreement and of the Rules of Conduct are relevant to the determination of this appeal:
Arbitration Agreement
Amway Canada Corporation d/b/a Amway Global (“Amway Global”) and its IBOs mutually agree to resolve all claims and disputes arising out of or relating to an Independent Business, the Amway Global Independent Business Owner Compensation Plan (“IBO Compensation Plan”), or the Rules of Conduct, as well as disputes involving Support Materials (SMs), as defined below under the Dispute Resolution Procedures described in the Rules of Conduct, specifically Rule 11. The Rules of Conduct shall be part of this IBO Registration Agreement and are incorporated by reference.
I agree to submit any dispute I may have with another IBO, Amway Global, or an approved seller or supplier of SM, that is not resolved informally under Rule 11.1 to Conciliation under Rule 11.2. The Conciliation requirement is reciprocal and binds both Amway Global and IBOs.
I further agree that if any dispute cannot be resolved by good faith efforts in Conciliation under Rule 11.2, I will submit any remaining claim or dispute arising out of or relating to my Independent Business, the IBO Compensation Plan, or the IBO Rules of Conduct (including any claim against another IBO, or any such IBO’s officers, directors, agents, or employees; or against Amway Corp. d/b/a Amway Global, Amway Canada Corporation d/b/a Amway Global, and any parent, subsidiary, affiliate, predecessor or successor thereof, or any of their officers, directors, agents, or employees) as well as disputes involving SMs, to binding arbitration in accordance with Rule 11.3. The arbitration award shall be final and binding and judgment may be entered upon it by any court of competent jurisdiction. Demand for arbitration shall be made within 2 years after the claim arose, but in no event after the date when the initiation of legal proceedings would have been barred by the applicable statute of limitations, subject to the tolling provision in Rule 11.3.4. I acknowledge that this Agreement evidences a transaction involving interstate and interprovincial commerce. The Ontario Arbitrations Act (1991) or any Canadian arbitration statute that may supersede it, shall govern the interpretation, enforcement, and proceedings in any federal or provincial court in Canada. The parties intend for the Dispute Resolution Procedures to apply to the maximum degree possible in any arbitration. The agreement to arbitrate and conciliate under Rule 11 is reciprocal and binds both Amway Global and IBOs.
[Emphasis added]
Rules of Conduct
11.3 Arbitration.
All disputes not resolved through the process described in Rules 11.1 and 11.2 above shall be settled in arbitration as stated below. The arbitration award shall be final and binding and judgment thereon may be entered by any court of competent jurisdiction. As stated in Rule 1, Michigan law applies; but IBOs and the Corporation acknowledge that the IBO Contract and each of its parts evidence a transaction involving interstate commerce, and the United States Arbitration Act shall govern the interpretation and enforcement of the arbitration rules and arbitration proceedings.
11.3.1. The arbitration requirement is reciprocal and binds both the Corporation and IBOs.
…
11.3.5. If IBOs become involved in a claim or dispute under the arbitration rules, they will not disclose to any other person not directly involved in the conciliation or arbitration process (a) the substance of, or basis for, the claim; (b) the content of any testimony or any other evidence presented at an arbitration hearing or obtained through discovery; or (c) the terms or amount of any arbitration award. However, nothing in these Rules shall preclude a party from, in good faith, investigating a claim or defense, including interviewing witnesses and otherwise engaging in discovery.
…
11.3.7. To reduce the time and expense of the arbitration, the arbitrator will not provide a statement of reasons for his or her award unless requested to do so by all parties. The arbitrator’s award shall be limited to deciding the rights and responsibilities of the parties in the specific dispute being arbitrated.
…
11.3.9. No party to this agreement shall assert any claim as a class, collective or representative action if (a) the amount of the party’s individual claim exceeds $1,000, or (b) the claiming party, if an IBO, has attained the status of Platinum either in the current fiscal year or any prior period. This subparagraph shall be enforceable when the applicable law permits reasonable class action waivers and shall have no effect when the applicable law prohibits class action waivers as a matter of law. In any case, the class action waiver provision, as well as any other provision of Rule 11, is severable in the event any court finds it unenforceable or inapplicable in a particular case.
11.3.10. Class action claims are not arbitrable under these Rules under any circumstances; but in the event a court declines to certify a class, all individual plaintiffs shall resolve any and all remaining claims in arbitration.
[Emphasis added]
[20] A few words concerning the Arbitration Agreement are in order. It begins by incorporating the Rules of Conduct. It then states that any dispute between an IBO and the respondent, if not resolved informally, must proceed to conciliation. It then further states that if conciliation is not successful, the parties must proceed to binding arbitration in accordance with Rule 11.3, and that any arbitration award rendered will be final and binding. Lastly, the Arbitration Agreement provides that the OAA “shall govern the interpretation, enforcement and proceedings in any federal or provincial court in Canada”. Although the words used by the parties are not entirely clear, I take it that their intent was to make their Arbitration Agreement and any proceedings undertaken in respect thereof subject to the OAA.
[21] I now turn to the Rules of Conduct. Rule 11.3 provides the following dispute resolution scheme: first, if mediation is unsuccessful, the parties must proceed to arbitrate their dispute. Second, any arbitration award made shall be final and binding. Third, the law of the state of Michigan shall apply to the arbitration proceedings and the United States Arbitration Act shall govern the interpretation and enforcement of the arbitration rules and proceedings. Fourth, a demand for arbitration must be filed with either JAMS (the former Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services) or the American Arbitration Association (the “AAA”). The arbitration will be conducted in accord with the Commercial Rules of Arbitration of either JAMS or the AAA, subject to any modification or clarification specified in Rule 11.3. The Commercial Rules of Arbitration and Rules of Conduct of either JAMS or the AAA shall apply to the arbitration, and any conflict between those rules and Rule 11.3 of the Rules of Conduct shall be resolved in favour of Rule 11.3
[22] I note here that there appears to be a conflict between the Arbitration Agreement and Rule 11.3 in that the former provides for the applicability of the OAA while the latter provides for the applicability of the United States Arbitration Act. In my view, to the extent that the issues raised in the appellant’s Statement of Claim are subject to arbitration, the OAA is the applicable statute.
[23] The other provisions of the Rules of Conduct which are pertinent are Rules 11.3.9 and 11.3.10. Rule 11.3.9 bars the assertion of any claim as a class with regard to claims exceeding $1,000. This is the limited class action waiver that Mainville J. recognized in his reasons and that is at the heart of the dispute between the parties. In other words, can the appellant assert his claim of $15,000 as a class action in the Federal Court, notwithstanding Rule 11.3.9? With respect to all other claims, i.e., claims not exceeding $1,000, Rule 11.3.10 provides that class action claims are not arbitrable under any circumstances. The Rule goes on to provide, however, that if the courts refuse to certify such a claim as a class action, the matter must be dealt with by way of arbitration.
Analysis
[24] As I indicated at the outset of my reasons, the first issue for determination is whether the Judge’s decision can be appealed to this Court. If not, that is the end of the appeal. I now turn to that question.
1. Does Subsection 7(6) of the OAA Bar this Appeal?
[25] The specific provision of the OAA at issue is subsection 7(6) of the OAA, which is best viewed in the context of the entirety of section 7, which provides as follows:
7. (1) If a party to an arbitration agreement commences a proceeding in respect of a matter to be submitted to arbitration under the agreement, the court in which the proceeding is commenced shall, on the motion of another party to the arbitration agreement, stay the proceeding.
(2) However, the court may refuse to stay the proceeding in any of the following cases:
1. A party entered into the arbitration agreement while under a legal incapacity.
2. The arbitration agreement is invalid.
3. The subject-matter of the dispute is not capable of being the subject of arbitration under Ontario law.
4. The motion was brought with undue delay.
5. The matter is a proper one for default or summary judgment.
(3) An arbitration of the dispute may be commenced and continued while the motion is before the court.
(4) If the court refuses to stay the proceeding,
(a) no arbitration of the dispute shall be commenced; and
(b) an arbitration that has been commenced shall not be continued, and anything done in connection with the arbitration before the court made its decision is without effect.
(5) The court may stay the proceeding with respect to the matters dealt with in the arbitration agreement and allow it to continue with respect to other matters if it finds that,
(a) the agreement deals with only some of the matters in respect of which the proceeding was commenced; and
(b) it is reasonable to separate the matters dealt with in the agreement from the other matters.
(6) There is no appeal from the court’s decision.
7. (1) Si une partie à une convention d’arbitrage introduit une instance à l’égard d’une question que la convention oblige à soumettre à l’arbitrage, le tribunal judiciaire devant lequel l’instance est introduite doit, sur la motion d’une autre partie à la convention d’arbitrage, surseoir à l’instance.
(2) Cependant, le tribunal judiciaire peut refuser de surseoir à l’instance dans l’un ou l’autre des cas suivants :
1. Une partie a conclu la convention d’arbitrage alors qu’elle était frappée d’incapacité juridique.
2. La convention d’arbitrage est nulle.
3. L’objet du différend ne peut faire l’objet d’un arbitrage aux termes des lois de l’Ontario.
4. La motion a été présentée avec un retard indu.
5. La question est propre à un jugement par défaut ou à un jugement sommaire.
(3) L’arbitrage du différend peut être engagé et poursuivi pendant que la motion est devant le tribunal judiciaire.
(4) Si le tribunal judiciaire refuse de surseoir à l’instance :
a) d’une part, aucun arbitrage du différend ne peut être engagé;
b) d’autre part, l’arbitrage qui a été engagé ne peut être poursuivi, et tout ce qui a été fait dans le cadre de l’arbitrage avant que le tribunal judiciaire ne rende sa décision est sans effet.
(5) Le tribunal judiciaire peut surseoir à l’instance en ce qui touche les questions traitées dans la convention d’arbitrage et permettre qu’elle se poursuive en ce qui touche les autres questions, s’il constate :
a) d’une part, que la convention ne traite que de certaines des questions à l’égard desquelles l’instance a été introduite;
b) d’autre part, qu’il est raisonnable de dissocier les questions traitées dans la convention des autres questions.
(6) La décision du tribunal judiciaire n’est pas susceptible d’appel.
[26] Subsection 7(1) provides that the court in which a proceeding has been commenced shall stay that proceeding if the matter raised by the proceeding is one which, by reason of the Arbitration Agreement, should be submitted to an arbitrator. Subsection 7(2) then provides for situations where the court may refuse to stay such a proceeding. Subsection 7(4), it provides that if the court refuses to stay the proceeding, there shall be no arbitration, and where the arbitration has already commenced, it shall not be continued. Subsection 7(5) of the OAA deals with situations where some of the issues raised in the proceeding fall within the Arbitration Agreement and other issues do not. Finally, subsection 7(6) provides in unequivocal terms that the decision rendered by the court cannot be appealed.
[27] In my opinion, an appeal from the Judge’s decision lies to this Court. I come to that conclusion for the following reasons.
[28] The respondent, relying on subsection 7(6) of the OAA, argues that there can be no appeal from the Judge’s decision. More particularly, the respondent argues that because the parties have agreed to have their Arbitration Agreement subject to the provisions of the OAA, this Court cannot, by reason of subsection 7(6) thereof, entertain any appeal from the decision of the Federal Court determining whether or not the issues raised in the appellant’s Statement of Claim are issues that may properly be resolved by way of arbitration. In support of that view, the respondent refers us to a decision of Shaw J. of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Fowler v. 1752476 Ontario Ltd., 2010 ONSC 779 (“Fowler”); and to a decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal giving effect to subsection 7(6) of the OAA, namely, Huras v. Primerica Financial Services Ltd., [2000] 137 OAC 79 (“Huras”) (see also, to the same effect, the Ontario Court of Appeal’s decisions in Mantini v. Smith Lyons LLP, [2003] 228 D.L.R. (4th) 214, 174 O.A.C. 138; and Brown v. Murphy (2002), 59 O.R. (3d) 404). The respondent also relies on the Alberta Court of Appeal’s decision in Lamb v. AlanRidge Homes Ltd., 2009 ABCA 343, where that Court gave effect to a similar provision found in the Alberta Arbitration Act, R.S.A. 2000, c. A-43. Finally, the respondent relies on this Court’s decision in Halterm Ltd. v. Canada, [1984] F.C.J.. No. 541 (Q.L.), 55 N.R. 541 (F.C.A.) (“Halterm”), in which the Court gave effect to a contractual undertaking precluding an appeal from a decision of the Federal Court.
[29] The point which I wish to make here is that contrary to the situation found in the cases decided by the Ontario Court of Appeal, the OAA is not before us in this matter by reason of force of law, but because the parties have incorporated it into their Arbitration Agreement. In the cases decided by the Ontario Court of Appeal, the parties had agreed to settle their disputes by way of arbitration, and to that effect, arbitration agreements had been entered into. These arbitration agreements were entered into in Ontario and were subject to the provisions of the OAA. In other words, the “law of the land”, i.e., the law of Ontario, applied to the arbitration agreements.
[30] Consequently, the Ontario Court of Appeal was bound to apply the terms of the OAA to the arbitration agreements and the proceedings instituted in connection therewith. The same can be said with regard to the decision of the Alberta Court of Appeal, where the parties entered into an arbitration agreement in Alberta, and the Alberta Arbitration Act was applicable thereto. Thus, like the Ontario Court of Appeal, the Alberta Court of Appeal had no choice but to give effect to the provisions of that statute. At paragraph 14 of its reasons, the Alberta Court of Appeal made the following point:
In our view, section 7(6) [identical to subsection 7(6) of the OAA] reflects an equally important policy consideration, namely, that the process of determining whether the parties should proceed with arbitration, or legal proceedings, should not become bogged down by resort to the appeal process. The legislator obviously intended that the decision of the Court of Queen’s Bench should be final, so as to promote an expeditious determination of the forum to hear the disputes of the parties.
[Emphasis added]
[31] Consequently, notwithstanding a party’s right to appeal a final order of a judge of the Superior Court of Justice under paragraph 6(1)(b) of the Ontario Courts of Justice Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C-43, the Ontario Court of Appeal was bound to follow the Ontario legislature’s intent that decisions rendered by a judge of the Superior Court of Justice pursuant to subsection 7(6) of the OAA were not appealable.
[32] However, in the present matter, the OAA has no force of law before this Court. Simply put, we are not bound by the terms of that statute. The question which arises is whether the parties can, by incorporating the OAA into their bargain, oust this Court’s jurisdiction found in subsection 27(2) of the Federal Courts Act, R.S. 1985, c. F-7, which provides that an appeal lies from either an interlocutory or a final judgment of the Federal Court. In my view, the answer to that question is that the parties cannot prevent this Court from exercising its jurisdiction to hear this appeal.
[33] The issue before us is not whether this Court is prepared to decline to exercise its jurisdiction so as to give effect to the parties’ intention to settle their disputes by way of arbitration. There is no question that this Court is prepared to give effect to arbitration agreements if the subject matter of the proceedings falls within the ambit thereof. Rather, the issue before us in this appeal is whether an appeal lies from a decision which concludes that the questions raised in the appellant’s Statement of Claim are the proper subject of an arbitration agreement, i.e., that these questions are arbitrable. In other words, the question which we must determine is whether the Judge’s conclusion on the arbitrability of the matters raised in the Statement of Claim is correct or not.
[34] This Court has jurisdiction pursuant to subsection 27(2) of the Federal Courts Act, and consequently, we must hear the appeal unless there are proper grounds justifying a refusal on our part to exercise our jurisdiction. No such grounds have been put forward, other than the fact that the parties have incorporated the OAA into their Arbitration Agreement. In my view, that is not sufficient to oust this Court’s jurisdiction to hear the appeal.
[35] There remains for me to deal with this Court’s decision in Halterm, where Halterm Ltd. entered into a lease agreement with the National Harbours Board regarding a container terminal
facility at the port of Halifax, Nova Scotia, for a term of 20 years. One of the clauses of the agreement provided that Halterm Ltd., as lessee, could apply to the Federal Court for a determination of the appropriate rental rate, and that neither party would exercise any right of appeal from the decision of the Federal Court. In concluding that the Federal Court’s decision could not be appealed to the Federal Court of Appeal, Mahoney J.A. stated at paragraph 9 his reasons:
…The question is the intention of parties to a commercial contract. Ordinary commercial practice would dictate that the settlement of such an anticipated dispute be committed to arbitration. It seems clear that, in opting for a proceeding in the Exchequer Court, the parties intended the judgment at first instance to be final, as an arbitrator’s award would be, and not subject to appeal. …
[36] In other words, the Court viewed the Federal Court’s decision as akin to that of an arbitrator in respect of which the parties had agreed that the decision would be final. With respect, that is not the situation that arises in the present matter, where the issue is whether the matter raised by the appellant’s Statement of Claim should or should not go to arbitration.
[37] Consequently, it is open to us, pursuant to subsection 27(2) of the Federal Courts Act, to hear this appeal. I now turn to a different issue.
2. Does the Arbitration Agreement Automatically Stay a Class Proceeding Commenced in a Court of Competent Jurisdiction?
[38] In his Notice of Appeal and at paragraph 18 of his Memorandum of Fact and Law, the appellant submits that the Judge erred in his interpretation of Rules of Conduct 11.3.9 and 11.3.10. In the appellant’s view, it is only if a court refuses to certify a class proceeding that the parties are required to proceed to arbitration. With respect, this is not what the Rules of Conduct state. As the respondent argues, the Rules of Conduct include both an arbitration agreement and a class action waiver. Class actions are actually permitted for amounts below $1,000. However, class actions that exceed $1,000 are expressly prohibited by the Arbitration Agreement. The appellant, with his $15,000 claim, is barred from bringing a motion for certification of a class proceeding by reason of this provision. At paragraphs 28 and 31 of his reasons, the Judge dealt with this issue as follows:
[28] The Court finds the parties’ arbitration agreement to be clear. First, section 11.3.9 of the Rules of Conduct allows class actions for an amount not exceeding $1,000. Second, claims over $1,000 are subject to a class action waiver. Third, as stated in section 11.3.10, class actions are not arbitrable under the Rules of Conduct under any circumstances. Finally, for claims under $1,000, in the event a court declines to certify a class, all individual plaintiffs shall resolve any and all remaining claims in arbitration.
…
[31] Against this background, and considering the clear wording of both sections 11.3.9 and 11.3.10, the Court rejects the plaintiff’s contention that the Court has jurisdiction over its class action claim and accordingly concludes that the plaintiff’s claim for $15,000 must be heard (i) by an arbitrator and (ii) on an individual basis in accordance with the parties’ arbitration agreement.
[39] The respondent points out, correctly in my view, that the appellant’s arguments in this appeal are directed solely at the arbitrability issue, not to the contract interpretation issue. Consequently, I have not been persuaded that there is any basis to disagree with the Judge regarding the meaning of the Arbitration Agreement subject to the appellant’s arguments regarding the arbitrability issue, to which I now turn.
3. Is a Private Claim for Damages under Section 36 of the Competition Act Capable of Being the Subject of Arbitration?
[40] The fundamental legal issue raised by this appeal is whether a private claim for damages brought under section 36 of the Competition Act is arbitrable. For the reasons that follow, I conclude that it is.
[41] The appellant argues that private claims under section 36 are not arbitrable. From this premise, he says that if the claim under section 36 is not arbitrable, the Judge had no jurisdiction to stay his action, and hence, the OAA does not apply to the dispute. The appellant says that compelling public policy reasons and the legislative intent of the Competition Act support his submissions. He quotes passages from the Supreme Court’s decision in General Motors of Canada Ltd. v. City National Leasing, [1989] 1 R.S.C. 641, as it pertains to the importance of competition to the Canadian market, the American anti-trust experience and the public policy foundations which support competition law. The appellant expresses concern that if forced to proceed to arbitration, the claim under section 36 will be submitted to an American arbitrator who will apply the laws of Michigan. The appellant contends that this undesirable outcome, combined with the private and confidential nature of arbitration proceedings, indicates that arbitration should not be permitted for public interest reasons.
[42] As he did before the Judge, the appellant relies on the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Seidel as authority for the proposition that the Federal Court is a competent court of jurisdiction in which to bring forward his class action proceeding, notwithstanding the Arbitration Agreement. In particular, the appellant asserts a public interest rationale as justification for why the class action should be permitted: he asserts the private and confidential nature of arbitration as being manifestly incompatible with the underlying objectives of the Competition Act of promoting an economic environment free of anti-competitive practices. The appellant further argues that Seidel stands for the proposition that public interest concerns—and in particular, class action waivers—can displace an arbitration agreement.
[43] The respondent, on the other hand, says that if the appellant’s argument is accepted, no claim under section 36 of the Competition Act could ever be sent to arbitration, under any circumstances. The respondent goes on to reference additional recent jurisprudence that recalls that public order concerns do not impact whether or not arbitration is permitted: Dell Computer Corp. v. Union des consommateurs et al, 2007 SCC 34, [2002] 2 S.C.R. 801 (“Dell”), Rogers Wireless Inc. v. Muroff, 2007 SCC 35, [2007] 2 S.C.R. 921 (“Rogers Wireless”); Desputeaux v. Éditions Chouette (1987) inc., [2003] 1 S.C.R. 178, 2003 SCC 17 (“Éditions Chouette”); and Jean Estate v. Wires Jolley LLP., 2009 ONCA 339.
[44] The respondent submits that these decisions entirely support its view that the matters raised by the appellant in his action brought under section 36 of the Competition Act are matters that are arbitrable and thus subject to the Arbitration Agreement. The respondent further submits that the cases support the proposition that an Act, like the Competition Act, should not be interpreted as excluding arbitration unless legislative language to the contrary can be found in the Act. To this, the respondent adds that there is no language to be found in the Competition Act which would exclude arbitration as a vehicle to settle matters falling under section 36 thereof.
[45] As a final argument, the respondent says that the Supreme Court’s decision in Seidel has put the last nail in the coffin. The appellant’s action under section 36 of the Competition Act is arbitrable.
[46] In my view, the answer to the question of whether or not the subject matter of the appellant’s Statement of Claim is arbitrable is found in Seidel, to which I now turn.
[47] In Seidel, the Supreme Court was concerned with a dispute between Telus Communications Inc. (“Telus”) and Ms. Seidel, one of its customers, over a cell phone contract which provided that any disputes had to be resolved by way of a private, confidential and binding arbitration.
[48] Disregarding the arbitration agreement, Ms. Seidel commenced an action in the Supreme Court of British Columbia wherein she asserted that she was the victim of deceptive and unconscionable business practices contrary to sections 4, 5, paragraph 8(3)(b) and section 9 of the BPCPA. In making her claim against Telus, Ms. Seidel invoked the remedies set out in the BPCPA at sections 171 and 172. Lastly, she sought certification to act on her own behalf and on behalf of a class of allegedly overcharged customers, pursuant to the Class Proceedings Act of British Columbia, R.S.B.C. 1996, C-50.
[49] Because the provisions at issue in Seidel are of relevance to the determination which we have to make herein, I reproduce section 3, subsections 171(1), and subsections 172(1) and (3) of the BPCPA. I also reproduce section 36 of the Competition Act, which bears close similarity to subsection 171(1) of the BPCPA (NOTE: the French version of the relevant BPCPA provisions is reproduced from the French version of the Supreme Court’s decision in Seidel):
The BPCPA
3. Any waiver or release by a person of the person's rights, benefits or protections under this Act is void except to the extent that the waiver or release is expressly permitted by this Act.
…
171. (1) Subject to subsection (2), if a person, other than a person referred to in paragraphs (a) to (e), has suffered damage or loss due to a contravention of this Act or the regulations, the person who suffered damage or loss may bring an action agains