On April 14, 2022, the Ontario government filed O. Reg. 343/22: Firefighter Certification, under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997. The regulation comes into force on July 1, 2022. The regulation sets out the mandatory minimum certification standards and corresponding job performance requirements of firefighters delivering specific fire protection services, together with a compliance…
Author: Hicks Morley
Bill 88, Working for Workers Act, 2022, Passes – Key Dates to Watch For
On April 11, 2022, Bill 88, Working for Workers Act, 2022, received Royal Assent and is now law. Bill 88 enacts the Digital Platform Workers’ Rights Act, 2022 and makes amendments to the Employment Standards Act, 2000, the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Fair Access to Regulated Professions and Compulsory Trades Act, 2006….
Federal Budget 2022 Tabled
On April 7, 2022, the federal government tabled its 2022 Budget, “A Plan to Grow Our Economy and Make Life More Affordable.” The Budget covers a wide array of initiatives, and while housing, defence and climate change are its key focus areas, the Budget includes some proposals that will be of specific interest to employers,…
Ontario Revokes More COVID-19 Orders
On March 24, 2022, the Ontario government revoked certain Orders made under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020 (ROA), effective March 28, 2022. The remaining ROA Orders have been extended to April 27, 2022. This action is further to the province’s current plan to lift all remaining directives, Orders and measures…
Bill 88 Referred to Committee with Public Hearings to be Held on March 28 and 29: Note Quick Deadline for Request to Make Submissions
On March 23, 2022, Bill 88, Working for Workers Act, 2022, was carried on division at Second Reading and referred to the Standing Committee on Social Policy. The Committee will be holding public hearings on the Bill in Toronto on Monday, March 28 and Tuesday, March 29, 2022. For those parties who wish to be…
CHRT Seeks Feedback on Draft Rules and Forms Regarding Pay Equity
The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) has published and is seeking comments on its Draft Rules Respecting Pay Equity and accompanying draft forms. Comments are due by May 10, 2022. Background On August 31, 2021, the federal government proclaimed in force the Pay Equity Act (Act) and related regulations. The Act applies to federally regulated…
Ontario Lifting Remaining COVID-19-Related Measures: What Employers Need to Know
On March 1, 2022, all regions of Ontario entered the Roadmap Exit Step of the province’s Reopening Plan. Since that date, the government has been steadily reducing its COVID-19-related measures in anticipation of a full reopening of the province. As we previously reported, the Chief Medical Officer of Health announced on March 9, 2022 that…
Ontario to Lift All Remaining COVID-19-Related Measures
On March 9, 2022, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health announced that by the end of April, all remaining COVID-19-related measures, directives and orders will be lifted. This decision comes as the province sees continued improvements in key health indicators and follows the government’s easing of most public health restrictions earlier this month (see our…
Changes are Coming to the Rules of Civil Procedure
On March 31, 2022, various amendments to the Rules of Civil Procedure with respect to pre-trial conferences, expert reports and admissibility of evidence will come into force. The changes have been brought about by Ontario Regulation 18/22 which amends R.R.O. 1990, Regulation 194: Rules Of Civil Procedure (Rules) made under the Courts of Justice Act….
Ontario Introduces Bill 88, Working for Workers Act, 2022
On February 28, 2022, the Ontario government tabled Bill 88, Working for Workers Act, 2022, omnibus legislation which, if passed, would enact the Digital Platform Workers’ Rights Act, 2022 and make amendments to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) and other employment-related legislation. In this FTR Now, we review some of the key features of…