Human Resources Legislative Update
Ontario’s New Child and Family Services Framework is Coming Soon
Date: July 21, 2017
As we previously reported, the Ontario government introduced Bill 89, the Supporting Children, Youth and Families Act, 2016 (Bill 89), omnibus legislation repealing the current Child and Family Services Act, and enacting new legislation in its place. Bill 89 received Royal Assent on June 1, but is not yet in force.
Certain amendments to the current Child and Family Services Act are expected to be proclaimed in force prior to the repeal of that legislation and its replacement with the new Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017 framework. The new legislative framework is expected to be proclaimed in force by the Spring of 2018 according to a recent media statement from the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth.
Notably, prior to receiving Royal Assent, Bill 89 was amended by the Standing Committee on Justice Policy. Among other things, the Committee amendments:
- require a society that receives notice of a proposed order to amalgamate or otherwise restructure to give a copy of the notice to affected employees and their bargaining agents
- require a society, on receipt of a final order to amalgamate or otherwise restructure, to give notice of the order to affected employees and their bargaining agents and other persons or entities whose contracts are affected by the order, and to make the order available to the public
- alter the rule governing collection, use and disclosure, add new notice obligations, set out detailed rules on substitute decision makers and expand the Information and Privacy Commissioner’s review powers and duties.
We continue to monitor these developments and will provide you with further updates as they are available.
