Human Resources Legislative Update
Ontario 2012 Budget Bill Introduced
Date: March 30, 2012
On March 27, 2012, the Ontario government introduced Bill 55, Strong Action for Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2012 (“Bill 55”), omnibus legislation designed to implement a number of the proposals contained in its 2012 Budget, “Strong Action For Ontario.”
In part, Bill 55 proposes amendments to reform the interest arbitration process in Ontario that would affect a variety of employment-related statutes, including the Ambulance Services Collective Bargaining Act, 2001, the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997, the Hospital Labour Disputes Arbitration Act and the Police Services Act, among others. The amendments would:
- require submissions from the parties to the arbitration;
- require written reasons from the arbitrator upon the request of either party;
- create a 12-month time limit on the issuance of an arbitration award (subject to limited extension in exceptional circumstances); and
- permit the Ontario Labour Relations Board to issue an award if the arbitration award is not rendered in accordance with the prescribed time limits.
