Ontario to Amend Occupational Health and Safety Legislation

On March 3, 2011, the Ontario government introduced Bill 160, the Occupational Health and Safety Statute Law Amendment Act, 2011 (“Bill 160”). The proposed Bill 160 amendments, which are intended to respond to the recommendations provided by the Expert Panel on Occupational Health and Safety, would significantly amend the Occupational Health and Safety Act (“OHSA“)….

TTC “Essential Service” Legislation Passes Second Reading, Referred to Committee

On March 8, 2011, Bill 150, the Toronto Transit Commission Labour Disputes Resolution Act, 2011, carried at Second Reading and was ordered referred to the Standing Committee on General Government. As previously reported, Bill 150 is proposed legislation that would designate the Toronto Transit Commission an essential service and provide for binding arbitration by a…

Remuneration of Office-Holders may not be Pensionable for CPP Purposes

In two recent cases – Real Estate Council of Alberta v. The Minister of National Revenue (“RECA”) and Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Ontario v. The Minister of National Revenue (“HMQ”) – the Tax Court of Canada (“TCC”) ruled, respectively, that attendance and per diem fees paid to persons holding an office were…

Occupational Health and Safety Legislation Introduced

On March 3, 2011, the Ontario government introduced Bill 160, the Occupational Health and Safety Statute Law Amendment Act, 2011 (PDF). The proposed Bill 160 amendments, which are intended to respond to the recommendations provided by the Expert Panel on Occupational Health and Safety, would significantly amend the Occupational Health and Safety Act (“OHSA”), by:…

Draft Pension Regulations (Asset Division on Marriage Breakdown) Posted for Public Comment

On March 3, 2011, the Ontario government posted draft regulations under Bill 133, the Family Statute Law Amendment Act, 2009, and a related Consultation Paper for public review and comment. Among other family law-related matters, Bill 133 amends the Pension Benefits Act and creates new rules governing both: (1) the valuation of pension assets by…

Hicks Morley Information and Privacy Highlights – Spring 2011

Welcome to the Spring 2011 Hicks Morley Information and Privacy Highlights! As you may have noticed, we’ve recently re-vamped our publication and introduced a shorter, more condensed version of our traditional Post, designed to provide you with the most relevant and leading case law. The Highlights will now be published three times annually and will…

Pay Equity: The Implications of the Gender Wage Gap Program

The Ontario Pay Equity Office (PEO) recently launched its Gender Wage Gap Program. If you are an employer in the Ontario private or not-for-profit sectors, please continue reading this FTR Now, as the Program could have a significant impact on your organization. The Program is designed to measure the extent of gender wage gaps in…

Giving Accessibility the Green Light: Ontario Government Moves Forward With a Draft “Integrated Accessibility Standards” Regulation Under the AODA

The Ministry of Community and Social Services (the “Ministry”) has released for public comment the long-awaited draft Integrated Accessibility Standards regulation (the “Draft Regulation”) under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (the “AODA” or the “Act“). The 54-page Draft Regulation combines accessibility standards in three areas: information and communication, employment, and transportation. It…

Proposed AODA Integrated Accessibility Regulation Posted For Public Comment

On February 1, 2011, the Ontario government published its proposed Integrated Accessibility Regulation (“IAR”) under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (“AODA”) for final public review and commentary. This draft regulation reflects public input received on the initial draft Integrated Accessibility Standard summary of proposed regulatory requirements released in September 2010. Among the…