In Reid v College of Chiropractors of Ontario, the Ontario Court of Appeal recently reviewed the test for extending time to file leave to appeal. The Court dismissed the motion for an extension of time on the basis that the proposed appeal lacked merit. The decision provides a helpful summary of the test for extending…
Author: Hicks Morley
Supreme Court Affirms Supremacy of Solicitor-Client Privilege
In Alberta (Information and Privacy Commissioner) v. University of Calgary, a majority of the Supreme Court of Canada (with two justices partially concurring) affirmed that the University of Calgary was justified in its refusal to produce certain documents over which it had claimed solicitor-client privilege to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta (Commissioner). The…
Protecting Students Act Passes Third Reading
On November 15, 2016, Bill 37, Protecting Students Act, 2016, passed Third Reading…
When are Commissions Required to be Paid?
Carefully drafted commission plans can limit an employer’s liability for commission payments to terminated or laid-off employees. Other than a regulation that prescribes set reconciliation periods and minimum wages for commissioned automobile salespeople (see section 28 of O. Reg. 285/01), the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (Act) says very little about commissions. The Act does treat…
Post-Retirement Benefits Changes Affecting Members of the Ontario Public Service
On November 11, 2016 the government of Ontario and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) reached an agreement regarding post-retirement benefits (PRBs) for members of the OPSEU Pension Plan. The Ontario government subsequently announced that the terms of that agreement would be extended to members of the Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP), subject to…
Regulation Filed for Personal Emergency Leave in Auto Sector
On November 21, 2016, the Ontario government filed O. Reg. 370/16, amending O. Reg. 502/06 (Terms and Conditions of Employment in Defined Industries – Automobile Manufacturing, Automobile Parts Manufacturing, Automobile Parts Warehousing and Automobile Marshalling) made under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA). O. Reg. 370/16 adds section 4, “personal emergency leave,” to O. Reg. 502/06…
WSIB Rate Framework Approved
On November 14, 2016, the Board of Directors of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) approved its new Rate Framework which fundamentally changes the way the WSIB classifies Schedule 1 employers and sets their premium rates. The Rate Framework has a targeted implementation date of January 2019. On the same date, the Board of…
Don’t Rush to Summary Judgment!
The Court of Appeal has overturned a decision by a motion judge which allowed the plaintiffs’ wrongful dismissal actions to be decided by way of summary judgment motion. In Singh v. Concept Plastics Limited, the two plaintiffs were long-term former employees of Concept Plastics. Both brought motions to resolve their actions by way of summary…
Appellate Court Affirms the Importance of Clearly Drafted Minutes of Settlement
In a recent decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal, RJM56 Investments Inc v Kurnik, the Court supported an employer’s reasonable conduct in withholding and remitting amounts owing to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) in the face of ambiguous minutes of settlement, and in so doing emphasized the need for carefully drafted minutes of settlement….
Ontario PRPP Legislation Now in Force
On November 8, 2016, the Ontario Pooled Registered Pension Plans Act (Act) came into force. As we previously reported, pooled registered pension plans (PRPPs) are a relatively new type of savings plan, operating much like a defined contribution pension plan that holds assets pooled together from multiple participating employers and employees. PRPPs are administered by…