Countdown to ORPP: Ontario Tables New Implementation Legislation

Long-awaited Ontario Retirement Pension Plan (ORPP) legislation was introduced on Thursday, April 14, 2016, which, if passed in its present form, will provide the statutory framework and timeline for full ORPP implementation by January 1, 2020…

Ontario Passes Legislation Creating a Statutory Presumption of Work-Relatedness for First Responders Diagnosed with PTSD

On April 5, 2016, the Ontario government passed Bill 163, Supporting Ontario’s First Responders Act (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder) 2016, amending the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 (“WSIA”) and the Ministry of Labour Act. The Bill will come into force upon Royal Assent.

In Camera Deliberations of Teacher Dismissal can be Subject of Testimony, Supreme Court of Canada Rules

On March 18, 2016, the Supreme Court of Canada issued Commission scolaire de Laval v. Syndicat de l’enseignement de la région de Laval (“Laval”), a significant decision on whether a union can subpoena members of a school board’s executive committee to testify about their in camera deliberations regarding a teacher’s dismissal…

Universities and Colleges Take Note: Sexual Violence and Harassment Legislation Passed

On March 8, 2016, legislation addressing sexual violence and harassment was passed and received Royal Assent. As previously reported, the Sexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan Act (Supporting Survivors and Challenging Sexual Violence and Harassment), 2015 (“Act”) requires publicly assisted colleges and universities and private career colleges to develop a sexual violence policy and creates…

Sexual Violence and Harassment Legislation Passed

On March 8, 2016, legislation addressing sexual violence and harassment was passed and received Royal Assent. As previously reported, the Sexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan Act (Supporting Survivors and Challenging Sexual Violence and Harassment), 2015 (“Act”) creates specific duties for all employers to develop policies and procedures to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace,…

Pay Equity Hearings Tribunal Clarifies Maintenance Obligations for Employers Utilizing the Proxy Method

The Ontario Pay Equity Hearings Tribunal (the “Tribunal”) recently issued a long-awaited decision in Ontario Nurses’ Association v Participating Nursing Homes (“Nursing Homes“). At issue in this case was the Unions’ assertion that in order to maintain pay equity using the proxy method, employers were required to return to their proxy employer to obtain up-to-date…

Raising the Bar – Twelfth Edition

Dear Friends Welcome to the first 2016 issue of Raising the Bar! We are looking forward to a year full of exciting developments in the world of civil litigation. However, before we know where we’re headed, we thought it would be wise to reflect on where we’ve been. Now that the dust has settled, we…