Ontario Passes Tips and Gratuities Bill

On December 7, 2015, Bill 12 An Act to Amend the Employment Standards Act, 2000 With Respect to Tips and Other Gratuities passed Third Reading in the Ontario Legislature. The Bill will prohibit employers from withholding, making deductions from, or collecting tips or other gratuities from employees unless authorized to do so under the Employment Standards…

Police Record Checks Legislation Passes Third Reading

On December 1, 2015, Bill 113, the Police Record Checks Reform Act, 2015, as amended by the Standing Committee on Justice Policy, passed at Third Reading. When proclaimed in force, this legislation will implement a new process governing requests for searches of the Canadian Police Information Centre databases, or other police databases, in connection with screening an…

Ontario to Reform Certain Workplace Laws Relating to Construction Labour, Pensions and Workplace Safety and Insurance

On November 18, 2015, the Ontario government introduced Bill 144, the Budget Measures Act, 2015, omnibus legislation that would, if passed and among other things, implement reforms to construction labour relations, workplace safety and insurance indexing and to certain rules governing multi-employer pension asset transfers. The proposed Bill 144 changes include: Amending the construction industry provisions of…

Ontario Introduces Legislation Addressing Sexual Violence and Harassment

On October 27, 2015, the Ontario government introduced Bill 132, Sexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan Act (Supporting Survivors and Challenging Sexual Violence and Harassment), 2015 which, if passed, would amend various statutes with respect to sexual violence, sexual harassment, domestic violence and related matters. Among other things, it would: amend the Occupational Health and Safety Act to revise the…

Ontario Passes Legislation to Prevent Proceedings that Limit Freedom of Expression

On October 28, 2015, Bill 52, Protection of Public Participation Act, 2014, passed Third Reading. Bill 52 amends the Courts of Justice Act by adding a section regarding Prevention of Proceedings that Limit Freedom of Expression on Matters of Public Interest (Gag Proceedings). As stated in the Bill, the purpose of the provision is: (a) to encourage individuals…