Case Overview:
In Hancock v. MEG Energy Corp., Trevor Hancock, the plaintiff, sued MEG Energy Corp. for wrongful dismissal after his employment was terminated on June 30, 2022. He filed the claim in British Columbia on June 14, 2024, within the two-year limitation period, but the defendant argued that the court lacked jurisdiction.

Legal Issues:
The primary legal issue revolved around jurisdiction. MEG Energy Corp., an Alberta company, argued that the British Columbia Supreme Court lacked territorial competence since Hancock’s employment occurred entirely in Alberta. Hancock sought a transfer of the case to Alberta under the Court Jurisdiction and Proceedings Transfer Act (CJPTA), while MEG Energy Corp. requested dismissal due to the British Columbia court’s lack of jurisdiction and because the claim would now be statute-barred in Alberta.

Court’s Decision:
The British Columbia court agreed it lacked jurisdiction but exercised discretion under the CJPTA to transfer the case to Alberta rather than dismiss it. The court found it inequitable to dismiss the claim as Hancock had not unduly delayed filing, and the defendant did not demonstrate prejudice.

Costs:
The court ruled in favor of Trevor Hancock, granting his application for transfer and dismissing MEG Energy Corp.’s request for dismissal. The court awarded Hancock costs for both applications, but the specific amount of costs was not detailed in the judgment.