Ontario Government Taking Significant Steps to Break Down Interprovincial Barriers for Certified Professionals

On September 1, 2025, the Ontario government announced significant steps to break down interprovincial barriers for certified professionals, effective January 1, 2026. The new “As of Right” framework, a key part of the Protect Ontario through Free Trade within Canada Act, 2025, is designed to streamline the certification process for qualified workers from other provinces…

No Takebacks: Ontario Court Rejects Employee’s Attempt to Rewrite Settlement Terms in Johnstone v. Loblaw

The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has delivered a clear message about the binding nature of settlement agreements in employment disputes, emphasizing that acceptance of settlement terms creates legally binding obligations that cannot be unilaterally modified after the fact. In Johnstone v. Loblaw, Justice Brownstone enforced a settlement despite the employee’s subsequent attempts to introduce…

Ontario Launches the Protect Ontario Financial Program with $1 Billion in Support to Sectors Impacted by Ongoing Tariff Disputes

How does Ontario’s new program look out for your business in the face of ongoing U.S. tariffs? In this FTR Now, Hicks Morley’s Mornelle Lee discusses the implication of the program in today’s economic context and actions employers can take now to be ready for the program.

Ontario Court of Appeal Grants Leave to Appeal Acquittal in Benevides Decision, Opening Door to Expanded Workplace Safety Liability for Incidental Construction Workers

On June 9, 2025 the Ontario Court of Appeal released its decision in Ontario (Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development) v. Benevides, granting leave to appeal the provincial offences appeal judge’s decision to the Court of Appeal. Background This case stems from a construction site incident that occurred in April of 2020 where eight spools…

Federal Government Publishes Revised Standard on Accessible Employment under the Accessible Canada Act

On May 29, 2025, Accessibility Standards Canada (ASC) announced its publication of a revised Accessibility Standard on Employment (Standard) under its mandate pursuant to the Accessible Canada Act (Act). The revised Standard, CAN/ASC-1.1:2024 (REV-2025), replaces the original version released in December 2024. Background The Act came into force on July 11, 2019, establishing ASC as…

Ontario Introduces Working for Workers Seven Act, 2025

On May 28, 2025, the Ontario government introduced Bill 30, the Working for Workers Seven Act, 2025 (Bill 30). Bill 30 continues the province’s ongoing “Working for Workers” legislative initiative, proposing significant amendments to various employment-related statutes, including the Employment Standards Act, 2000, Occupational Health and Safety Act, and Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997.