On August 31, 2017, the Ontario government filed O. Reg. 348/17 amending O. Reg. 175/98 (General) made under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997. The regulation makes changes to certain industries in which Schedule 1 employers are liable to contribute to the Insurance Fund. Among other things, amendments to Class G – Construction: maintain…
Business Operation: Ontario
Ontario Minimum Wage to Increase on October 1, 2017
On October 1, 2017, the general minimum wage in Ontario will increase from $11.40 to $11.60 an hour. This minimum wage applies to most employees. Minimum wage rates for specified students, liquor servers, hunting and fishing guides and homeworkers will increase on the same date. Note that the Ontario government has tabled legislation to increase…
Change on the Horizon: Ontario Pension Plan Funding Reform is Coming Soon
Earlier this year, the Ontario government announced proposed reforms to pension plan funding that will have a significant impact on employers and plan administrators with plans registered in Ontario. These changes are expected to be part of the government’s Fall agenda, and will be of particular interest to employers who provide single employer defined benefit (DB) pension plans or participate in multi-employer pension plans (MEPPs) in Ontario.
WSIB Rate Framework Implementation Date Set for January 1, 2020
Further to O. Reg. 349/17 which amends O. Reg. 470/16 made under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997, the new Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) Rate Framework will be implemented on January 1, 2020, which is one year later than the initial targeted implementation date. As we previously reported, the Rate Framework will fundamentally change…
Represented an advertising company in defending a freedom of expression claim pursuant to the Charter. Claim stayed on jurisdictional and forum non conveniens grounds.
Represented an advertising company in defending a freedom of expression claim pursuant to the Charter. Claim stayed on jurisdictional and forum non conveniens grounds.
Represented a program delivery company in an unjust dismissal complaint. Successfully asserted preliminary objection to adjudicator’s jurisdiction based on the complainant’s status as an independent contractor.
Represented a program delivery company in an unjust dismissal complaint. Successfully asserted preliminary objection to adjudicator’s jurisdiction based on the complainant’s status as an independent contractor.
IMEs and the Scope of an Employer’s Communications with IME Examiners
The Ontario Court of Appeal has denied leave to appeal a judicial review of a Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (Tribunal) decision that found an employer’s request for an Independent Medical Examination (IME) as part of the accommodation process reasonable in the circumstances. This case further provides helpful guidance with respect to the scope of…
Ontario Court Declines to Consider Wrongful Dismissal Action Where Ontario Resident Worked in Michigan
In its recent decision in Koutros v Persico USA Inc., the Ontario Superior Court of Justice set aside the service of a Statement of Claim and stayed an action on the basis that Michigan (not Ontario) was the appropriate jurisdiction in which to dispute the termination of an employment contract. The plaintiff lived near Windsor…
SJTO Launches New HRTO Pilot Project for Children and Youth Cases
Earlier this summer, the Child and Youth Division of the Social Justice Tribunals of Ontario (SJTO) launched a pilot project to stream child and youth cases from the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO), and to provide access to specialized panels of adjudicators and mediators with expertise in child and youth issues and an understanding…
Big Changes to Bill 148 after Committee Review
On August 21, 2017, the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs (Committee) adopted significant amendments to Bill 148, the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017 (Bill 148) which will be reported back to the Ontario Legislature when it resumes sitting on September 11, 2017…