Commencing on July 1, 2014, all Ontario employers are required to ensure that workers and supervisors receive mandatory safety awareness training pursuant to O. Reg 297/13, Occupational Health and Safety Awareness and Training. In this FTR Now, we provide a brief reminder about these new training obligations, which were discussed in detail in our November…
Business Operation: Ontario
WSIAT Finds Limitations on Mental Stress Unconstitutional
On April 29, 2014, Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal (the “Tribunal”) issued a significant decision regarding entitlement to benefits for chronic mental stress under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 (“WSIA“). In Decision No. 2157/09, the Tribunal found that the provisions in the WSIA limiting entitlement to mental stress that “arises from…
Supreme Court Affirms Broad Public Sector Decision-Making Privilege
Below is a post I wrote for All About Information regarding a significant decision rendered by the Supreme Court of Canada last Friday on the scope of the “advice and recommendations” exemption from disclosure found in the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act: “Yesterday the Supreme Court of Canada held that the “advice and recommendations” exemption…
CAPSA Releases Guideline on Defined Contribution Pension Plans
On March 28, 2014, the Canadian Association of Pension Supervisory Authorities (“CAPSA”), the association which represents all Canadian pension regulators, released the final version of Guideline No. 8: Defined Contribution Pension Plans, (“DC Guidelines”) along with an accompanying reference document. The DC Guidelines were issued following the circulation of a draft version and extensive public…
Increased Cancer Coverage Under WSIA for Firefighters
On May 2, 2014, prior to the dissolution of the Legislature, the Ontario government published regulatory amendments to s. 4 of Ontario Regulation 253/07 made under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 (“WSIA”). O. Reg. 113/14 adds the following six cancers to the list of diseases that are prescribed for the purposes of the presumptive…
Minimum Wage Increase to Come Into Effect June 1, 2014
Employers are reminded that the minimum wage rate prescribed under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (“ESA”) will be increasing on June 1, 2014, notwithstanding the recent dissolution of the Legislature and subsequent election call. As previously reported on our legislative blog, the increase to the minimum wage rate was accomplished by regulation on February 14,…
Ontario Budget 2014 and the Provincial Election – Voting Requirements and More
Last week saw significant developments at Queen’s Park that will be of interest to all employers in Ontario. On Thursday, May 1, 2014, the Ontario government introduced its 2014 Budget, entitled Building Opportunity, Securing Our Future (the “Budget”). On the same day, the government introduced Bill 194, the Building Opportunity and Securing Our Future Act…
Provincial Parliament Dissolved; General Election on June 12, 2014
On May 2, 2014, the 40th Parliament of Ontario was dissolved. As a result, all outstanding business before the Legislative Assembly, including all government and Private Members’ Bills, expired on the Order Paper. Parliament will reconvene following the general election, which has been set for June 12, 2014. More information is available in our FTR…
School Boards Collective Bargaining Act, 2014 (Bill 122) Now In Force
Bill 122 was proclaimed in force effective April 24, 2014. Detailed information about Bill 122, as it was amended and passed by the Legislature, is available in our FTR Now of April 10, 2014, “Bill 122 Passes Third Reading And Receives Royal Assent.”
Employer Permitted to Define “Spouse” under Benefit Plan to Exclude Married but Separated Spouses
In a recent decision of the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal (“Tribunal”) in VanderLinde v. Oshawa (City) (“VanderLinde”), the Tribunal found that it is not discriminatory for an employer to require that an employee’s legally married spouse be living with the employee as a condition of eligibility as a spouse under its group benefit plan. In…