Author: Hicks Morley

Ontario’s New Child and Family Services Framework is Coming Soon

· 2 min read

As we previously reported, the Ontario government introduced Bill 89, the Supporting Children, Youth and Families Act, 2016 (Bill 89), omnibus legislation repealing the current Child and Family Services Act, and enacting new legislation in its place. Bill 89 received Royal Assent on June 1, but is not yet in force. Certain amendments to the…

An “Uncomfortable” Workplace Interaction – or Harassment and Discrimination under the Human Rights Code?

· 4 min read

In dismissing this human rights application as having no reasonable prospect of success, Vice Chair Hart made helpful comments with respect to the Human Rights Code (Code) and the role of the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (Tribunal) in dealing with “uncomfortable” workplace interactions. In short, the decision stands for the proposition that, depending on…

Federal Reforms to Prohibit Discrimination on Basis of Gender Identity or Gender Expression

· 2 min read

Editor’s Note: Bill C-16 received Royal Assent on June 19, 2017 and is now in force. Bill C-16, An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code, passed third reading, without amendment, in the Senate on June 15, 2017. As we previously reported, Bill C-16 was introduced in the House of…

Ontario to Introduce Significant Amendments to Employment and Labour Laws

· 3 min read

On May 30, 2017, the Ontario government announced its intention to introduce The Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017 (Act), omnibus legislation proposing a series of broad ranging, significant amendments to Ontario’s Employment Standards Act, 2000 and Labour Relations Act, 1995. According to the government’s announcement, the Act will contain a package of proposed legislative…

Landlord Required to Give Additional Notice to Tenants as Religious Accommodation

· 3 min read

The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (Tribunal) has recently found that a landlord’s statutory right to show an occupied rental unit with 24 hours’ notice may be limited by a tenant’s requests for accommodation. In Madkour v. Alabi, a Muslim married couple (the Applicants) rented an apartment in the home of the landlord (the Respondent)….

Appeal Court Affirms Exclusive Jurisdiction Model Applies in CFL Concussion Case

· 4 min read

In a case that continues to attract media attention, the British Columbia Court of Appeal (Court) upheld a lower court decision that concluded it was without jurisdiction to hear claims brought against the Canadian Football League (CFL), its teams and various individuals relating to concussions alleged to have occurred to a former professional football player,…

Federal Budget Implementation Legislation Introduced

· 1 min read

On April 11, 2017, the federal government introduced Bill C-44, the Budget Implementation Act, 2017, No. 1, omnibus legislation that would enact various measures outlined in its 2017 Budget. The accompanying Department of Finance Backgrounder indicates that Bill C-44 would, among other things, amend the Employment Insurance Act to: allow parents to choose to receive Employment…

New Private Member Bill Proposes “Card Check” Unionization, First Contract Arbitration Model for Ontario

· 4 min read

On April 4, 2017, the New Democratic Party (NDP) of Ontario introduced private member legislation that would amend the Labour Relations Act, 1995 (Act) to bring “card check” union certification back to Ontario for the first time since 1995, and to implement a new first contract arbitration process. It is important to note that private…