Jana Linner, K.C.

Jana focuses on labour and employment and human rights law, representing public and private sector employers in a wide variety of industries. She provides practical strategic advice on all matters relating to federal and provincial labour and employment law, including, among other issues, collective agreement negotiation, interpretation and bargaining, employment standards, the drafting and implementation of employment contracts and workplace policies, advising on disciplinary matters and terminations, navigating human rights, occupational health and safety, harassment and accommodation situations, and defending employers facing litigation. She regularly acts for unionized and non-unionized employers and has extensive experience representing rural and urban municipalities on labour and employment matters.

Jana has represented clients at all levels of Saskatchewan courts, as well as the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board, collective agreement arbitrations and various administrative boards and tribunals. She clerked with the Saskatchewan Court of King’s Bench.

• Acts for private and public employers throughout Saskatchewan in a variety of sectors including mining, manufacturing, construction, municipalities, health care, education, non-profits and retail, among others

• President, Board of Directors, Canadian Bar Association, (Saskatchewan, present)
• Director, Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers (Saskatchewan, present)
• Member, Planning Committee, “Updates and Current Issues in Labour & Employment Law Seminar,” Law Society of Saskatchewan (2022)
• Vice President, Board of Directors, Canadian Bar Association (Saskatchewan, 2021-2022)
• Conference Co-chair, Labour Arbitration and Policy Conference, Lancaster House (Calgary, 2021)
• Planning Committee Member, “Virtual Seminar – Administrative Law Update – Current Issues and Future Trends, October 19 & 20,” Law Society of Saskatchewan (2021)
• Conference Advisory Committee Member, Labour Arbitration and Policy Conference, Lancaster House (Calgary, 2020)
• Treasurer, Canadian Bar Association (Saskatchewan, 2019-2021)
• Member, Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers (2010-present)
• Education Director, Canadian Bar Association (Saskatchewan, 2019)
• Chair, Mid-Winter Meeting Planning Committee, Canadian Bar Association (Saskatchewan, 2018)
• Member, Mid-Winter Meeting Planning Committee, Canadian Bar Association (Saskatchewan, 2012; 2014; 2016; 2018; 2020)
• Director, Regina Sports Hall of Fame (Regina, 2009-2015)
• Director, Regina Bar Association (Regina, 2009-2014)
• Editor, Saskatchewan Law Review (Saskatchewan, 2007-2008)

• Moderator, “Breaking the Silence: Addressing the Men’s Mental Health Crisis at Work,” Lancaster House (July 2023)
• Presenter, “Handling Harassment in a Municipal Workplace,” Regina District Association of Rural Municipalities (January 2023)
• Presenter, “Cross Canada Labour Update,” Canadian Association of Counsel for Employers (September 2022)
• Presenter, “COVID-19 Employment and Labour Case Law Update: What You Need to Know,” Law Society of Saskatchewan (June 2022)
• Presenter, “COVID-19 and the Future of Work,” Canadian Bar Association (Saskatchewan, January 2022)
• Presenter, “Handling Harassment in a Municipal Workplace,” Municipalities of Saskatchewan Workshop: Harassment and Disputes: How to Handle Conflict in Your Municipality
• Panellist, “Getting to the Finish Line: Vaccination Policies for Workplace Liabilities,” Joint Presentation for the Canadian Bar Association (British Columbia; Manitoba; Saskatchewan)
• Author, “Clear, Unambiguous Language Needed to Limit Bonus Entitlements During Reasonable Notice,” Canadian HR Reporter, 2021 Legal Guide (2021)
• Presenter, “Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccinations in the Business Event Industry,” Canadian Society of Association Executives Ottawa-Gatineau Tête-à-Tête
• Panellist, “Top 10 COVID-19 Questions,” Virtual Conference, Charter Professionals in Human Resources (Saskatchewan)
• Panellist, “Sexual Harassment and the Workplace: Trauma-Informed Approaches to Investigation and Litigation,” 38th Annual Labour Arbitration and Policy Conference, Lancaster House
• Author, “Sleuthing Job Applicants’ Social Media: Proceed with Caution,” HR Saskatchewan Magazine, Charter Professionals in Human Resources (Saskatchewan)
• Panellist, “Reefer Rentals, Cannabis Criminals and Weedy Workplaces: The Straight Dope on Legal Cannabis in a Variety of Contexts,” Mid-Winter Meeting, Canadian Bar Association (2020)
• Presenter, “Cannabis in the Workplace,” 95^thAnnual Convention, Regina District Association of Rural Municipalities
• Presenter, “Clearing the Smoke: Dealing with Cannabis in the Workplace,” Women in Leadership Forum – Breaking Barriers, FCI-CWI
• Presenter, “Handling Harassment in the Municipal Workplace,” Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association
• Panellist, “Is this Really Happening? A Cross-Canada Review of the Top Issues and Trends in Employment Law,” Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers
• Panellist, “Ethical Considerations in Admin and Labour Law,” Administrative & Labour Law South Section, The Canadian Bar Association (Saskatchewan)
• Presenter, “Weed at Work — Is your Organization Prepared?” Swift Current & District Chamber of Commerce (Swift Current, June 2019)
• Presenter, “Weed at Work: Where are we now?” Ministry of Justice Legal Services Division Rally (Moose Jaw, June 2019)
• Author, “The #Metoo Movement: One Year Later,” Alberta Digital Winter Issue, Charter Professionals in Human Resources
• Author, “So We Hired An Axe Murderer: What Criminal Record Checks Can and Can’t Do For Your Organization,” BarNotes, Canadian Bar Association (Saskatchewan)
• Presenter, “Weed at Work – Is Your Organization Prepared?” Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (Saskatchewan)
• Panellist, “Managing Performance of Employees with Mental Health and Addiction Disabilities,” 12^th Annual Saskatchewan Provincial Conference, Charter Professionals in Human Resources (Saskatchewan)
• Presenter, “Legal Marijuana: Getting Your Workplace Policies Right,” Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association
• Presenter, “Is your Workplace Ready for the Legalization of Marijuana?” Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association
• Presenter, “Social Media and the Workplace: How Employee’s Can Like, Share or Tweet Their Way Out of a Job”, Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (Saskatchewan)
• Presenter, “Cannabis in the Workplace – What you Should Know,” Building Owners and Managers Association of Regina
• Panellist, “Drug & Alcohol Policies and Marijuana in the Workplace”, OHS Investigations and Workplace Safety Law Seminar
• Presenter, “Human Resources: What’s your Process?” Virtus Group LLP’s Private Business Speaker Series
• Presenter, “Legal Marijuana: Issues for the Workplace” Heavy Construction Safety Association of Saskatchewan
• Presenter, “Health Care Legal Update,” Provincial Affiliate Resource Group Meeting
• “’Twas the Night Before Christmas – You’re Fired Edition,” Bar Notes, Canadian Bar Association (Saskatchewan)
• Presenter, “Human Resources: What’s your Process?” Virtus Group LLP’s NPO Breakfast Series
• Presenter, “The Human Rights Duty to Accommodate,” Western Canada Police Labour Conference
• Panellist, “Balancing Attendance Management, Accommodation and Return to Work: Advanced Skills Training,” Lancaster House
• Panellist, “Workplace Update,” Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers (Halifax)
• Panellist, “Summary and Repercussions of Leading Arbitration and Labour Board Cases in Western Canada,” Western Canada Labour and Employee Relations Forum (Vancouver)
• “Amendments to The Saskatchewan Human Rights Code,” CBA Administrative Law Section Newsletter
• “Amendments to The Construction Industry Labour Relations Act, 1992,” The Saskatchewan Advocate

• Appointed King’s Counsel (Saskatchewan, 2022)
• Named a Leading Practitioner, Employment Law (Employer), Labour Relations (Management), Workplace Human Rights (employer), Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
• Rising Stars Award, Lexpert (2020)
• Team Member, CIS All-Canadian, Cougars Basketball (Regina, 2005)
• Team Member, CIS Academic All-Canadian, Cougars Basketball (Regina, 2001-2005)
• Team Member, CIAU National Champion, Cougars Basketball (Regina, 2001-2005)
• President’s Award for a student-athlete with outstanding achievement in academics, athletics and community involvement (Regina, 2005)