Section 277 — Canada Labour Code: Certain defences not available

A person or department named in a notice of violation does not have a defence by reason that the person or the department exercised due diligence to prevent the violation; or reasonably and honestly believed in the existence of facts that, if true, would exonerate the person or the department. Every rule and principle of the common law that renders any circumstance a justification or excuse in relation to a charge for an offence under Part II or III applies in respect of a violation to the extent that it is not inconsistent with this Part.