On December 17, 2021, the Ontario government announced it is taking further public heath measures in light of the rapidly spreading Omicron variant. The new measures significantly expand upon the December 15 announcement reducing capacity limits to 50% in certain settings with a usual capacity of 1000 or more. Effective December 19, 2021, the following…
Business Operation: Ontario
Ontario Reduces Certain Capacity Limits in Light of Omicron Variant
On December 15, 2021, the Ontario government announced that in light of the Omicron variant, it is reducing capacity limits to 50% for the following indoor venues with a usual capacity of 1000 persons or more: facilities used for sports and recreational fitness activities entertainment facilities such as concert venues, theatres and cinemas racing venues…
Reminder to Employers: General Minimum Wage to Increase January 1, 2022
On December 9, 2021, the Ontario government passed Bill 43, Build Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2021, which, among other things, amends the Employment Standards Act, 2000 to increase the general minimum wage from $14.35 per hour to $15.00 per hour, effective January 1, 2022. The following changes to other minimum wage rates also come into…
Ontario Releases Recommendations on the “Future of Work”
On December 9, 2021, the Ontario government released The Future of Work in Ontario, a report from the Ontario Workforce Recovery Advisory Committee that includes 21 recommendations on the future of work in the province. The recommendations focus on three key areas: economic recovery, strengthening the province’s competitive position and supporting workers. As we reported…
Bill 27, Working for Workers Act, Receives Royal Assent
On December 2, 2021, Bill 27, Working for Workers Act, 2021, received Royal Assent. We reviewed Bill 27 in detail in our FTR Now of October 26, 2021, Ontario Proposes Significant Changes to ESA and Other Employment-Related Legislation, as well as our FTR Now of December 1, 2021, Ontario Passes Bill 27, Working for Workers…
Ontario Passes Bill 27, Working for Workers Act, As Amended at Committee
On November 30, 2021, the Ontario government passed Bill 27, Working for Workers Act, 2021.
The Bill will amend a number of statutes, including the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA), the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997….
Arbitrator Upholds Mandatory Vaccination Policy
On November 9, 2021, Arbitrator Von Veh upheld the mandatory vaccination policy (Policy) implemented by a security company, finding the company acted reasonably in implementing the Policy and that it did not breach the collective agreement. The award provides some helpful guidance for employers that have implemented similar policies. In United Food And Commercial Workers…
Ontario Proposes Minimum Wage Increase Starting January 1, 2022
On November 2, 2021, the Ontario government announced that it plans to introduce legislation that, if passed, would raise the general minimum wage from $14.35 to $15.00 per hour, effective January 1, 2022. Under the proposed legislation, the minimum wage rate for liquor servers (currently set at $12.55 per hour) would be eliminated. This means…
Ontario Court Denies Injunctive Relief Pending Action Challenging Employer’s Vaccination Policy
On October 29, 2021, Justice Dunphy of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice declined to extend emergency injunctive relief to a group of University Health Network (UHN) employees, seeking reprieve from UHN’s Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policy (Policy) which required employees to either become fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 22, 2021, or be terminated from…
Ontario Tables Legislation Regarding Right to Wear Poppy in Workplace During Remembrance Week
On October 28, 2021, the Ontario legislature tabled Bill 38, Remembrance Week Amendment Act, 2021 which, if passed, would amend the Remembrance Week Act, 2016 to provide every worker in Ontario the right to wear a poppy in the workplace during Remembrance Week. An exception would exist if wearing a poppy would pose a hazard…