On April 1, 2020, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer urged his local public health counterparts to order COVID-19 patients and their contacts into quarantine. The situation, according to the Chief Medical Officer, is such that measures need to be put in place in order to manage this pandemic. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures and implementing the broad order-making powers of medical officers of health under the Health Protection and Promotion Act (HPPA) may be where we are headed. This means placing limitations on a person’s liberty and privacy.
Insights
Hicks Morley publishes a number of materials, both electronic and print, on issue-specific and sector-specific topics of interest to our clients. Our insights section has links to all of our various publications, updates and blogs, both current and historical, to keep you informed of developments in the law that impact human resources.
174 Results
Information & Privacy Post
On March 25, 2020, the provincial government passed Bill 188, Economic and Fiscal Update Act, 2020, which amends various statutes, including the Personal Health Protection Information Act, 2004 (PHIPA). Included among these amendments are new requirements for health information custodians relating to electronic audit logs, requirements for “consumer electronic service providers,” the ability of justices to make production orders, administrative penalties that can be issued by the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (Commissioner) and a significant increase in the amount of penalties and possible imprisonment for offences. Unless otherwise indicated, these amendments came into force on March 25, 2020.
FTR Now
On March 19, 2020, the Ontario Legislature met in an emergency session to pass legislation to extend protections for employees in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bill 186, the Employment Standards Amendment Act (Infectious Disease Emergencies), 2020 amends the leaves of absence provisions of the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) to provide more leave entitlements to employees impacted by the pandemic and to prohibit employers from requesting medical notes in relation to the new leave.
FTR Now
Today, the Ontario government announced that it will be introducing legislation to amend the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) in light of COVID-19. In addition, the federal government announced, among other things, that the Canadian border will be closed to foreign nationals, with some exceptions.
FTR Now
As we learn more about the Novel Coronavirus (2019-vCoV or Coronavirus), employers will no doubt be contemplating the potential implications of this virus on their workplaces. We have set out below some of the emerging questions that employers may have right now and our answers and guidelines for how to address these issues.
FTR Now
Health officials in Canada have stated that the risk of contracting COVID-19 remains very low. That said, in recent weeks the virus has been top of mind for many, including employers. In this FTR Now, we discuss workplace pandemic planning and operational issues employers should be anticipating in the unlikely event of an outbreak.
Case In Point
The case of Yenovkian v. Gulian is a significant case that, for the first time in Canada, has recognized a new privacy tort – “publicity placing a person in a false light.” The decision was decided by Justice Kristjanson of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and released in late 2019. The case arose out…
FTR Now
As of November 14, 2019, investment dealers engaged in trading activity in Canadian markets (Dealer Members) that are regulated by the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) are now subject to new stringent reporting obligations for cybersecurity incidents. These new rules are the result of amendments to Rules 3100 and 3703 of the IIROC Rules that apply to all Dealer Members.
FTR Now
On January 6, 2020, Canadian employers who have commercial drivers operating in the United States will be required to comply with the requirements under the new Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse program. Clearinghouse is administered by the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
HR HealthCheck
Three Ontario hospitals were recently targeted in ransomware attacks that highlight the emerging risk of cyberattacks on public institutions and healthcare providers. The CBC first reported these attacks, which are the latest in a growing list of public institutions whose computer systems are infiltrated by hackers. Are you prepared? Learn more in this HR HealthCheck.