Publication Name: FTR Now

Highlights of the 2024 Federal Budget and Budget Bill

· 10 min read

On May 2, 2024, the federal government introduced Bill C-69, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 16, 2024, for first reading. Bill C-69 contains legislation that, if passed, would enact certain measures outlined in the 2024 Budget, “Fairness for Every Generation” (Budget) that was previously tabled on…

Ontario Introduces Working for Workers Five Act, 2024

· 5 min read

On May 6, 2024, the Ontario government introduced the Working for Workers Five Act, 2024 (Bill 190). Bill 190 proposes amendments to various employment-related statutes, including the Employment Standards Act, 2000, Occupational Health and Safety Act, and Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997. Some of these proposed amendments were discussed in our FTR Now of…

Important Amendments Made to the Temporary Help Agency and Recruiter Licensing Framework in Ontario

· 4 min read

On July 1, 2023, a new licensing regime was introduced under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 for any temporary help agency (THA) or recruiter operating in Ontario. Of significant concern to many recruiters and THAs was the requirement to provide a $25,000 irrevocable line of credit in order to be licensed. While the new regime…

Ontario Proposes Changes to Sick Leave Under the Employment Standards Act, 2000

· 2 min read

The Ontario government has announced it is proposing changes that would restrict an employer from requiring a medical note to substantiate an unpaid sick leave day under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA). Currently, an employee who has been employed for at least two consecutive weeks is entitled to up to three days of unpaid…

Federal Budget 2024 Tabled

· 1 min read

On April 16, 2024, the federal government tabled its 2024 Budget, “Fairness for Every Generation” (Budget). While much of the Budget is focused on topics such as housing, strengthening the economy and making the cost of living more affordable, it also includes a number of initiatives that will have implications for employers, pension plan administrators…

Highlights of the 2024 Ontario Budget

· 7 min read

On March 26, 2024, the Ontario government tabled its 2024 budget, “Building a Better Ontario” (Budget) and Bill 180, Building a Better Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2024 (Bill 180). In this FTR Now, we highlight information contained in the Budget and Bill 180 that is of broad interest to employers, human resources professionals and pension…

Working for Workers Four Act, 2023 Receives Royal Assent

· 4 min read

On March 21, 2024, Ontario’s Bill 149, Working for Workers Four Act, 2023 (Bill 149) received Royal Assent. Bill 149 amends several statutes including the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA), Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 (WSIA), Digital Platform Workers’ Rights Act, 2022 (DPWRA), and Fair Access to Regulated Professions and Compulsory Trades Act, 2006…

Ontario Tables Bill Introducing Policy Requirements for Colleges and Universities

· 3 min read

Bill 166, Strengthening Accountability and Student Supports Act, 2024 (Bill 166) was tabled by the Ontario Minister of Colleges and Universities (Minister) on February 26, 2024. If passed, Bill 166 will require every college of applied arts and technology (College) and publicly assisted university (University) to have a student mental health policy and a policy…

Ontario Court of Appeal Upholds in Part Lower Court Finding That Bill 124 Is Unconstitutional; Bill to Be Repealed

· 7 min read

On February 12, 2024, the Ontario Court of Appeal rendered its much-anticipated decision in Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association v. Ontario (Attorney General). A majority of the Court upheld in part the decision of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (ONSC) which found that Bill 124, the Protecting a Sustainable Public Sector for Future Generations…