Recently, Arbitrator MacDowell released an interest arbitration award involving SEIU Local 2 and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre that considered the impact of the Ontario government’s 2010 Budget directions on collective bargaining. This award is the first of a number of expected interest arbitration decisions addressing the government’s new fiscal directive. We discuss the decision and…
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Ontario to Introduce Phase II Pension Reforms
On August 24, 2010, the Ontario government announced that further pension reforms to be tabled this fall will address almost 40 recommendations made by the Expert Commission on Pensions. The announcement indicates that this “broad package of pension reforms” will include: modifications to the funding requirements for multi-employer pension plans and jointly sponsored pension plans,…
Section 21 of Ontario’s Early Learning Legislation Now Into Force
The amendments outlined in section 21 of Bill 242, the Full-Day Early Learning Statute Amendment Act, 2010, were proclaimed in force effective August 16, 2010. Section 21 adds PART X.3 (Designated Early Childhood Educators – Induction, Performance Appraisal and Reporting Obligations) to the Education Act (sections 277.46 to 277.52). As previously reported, the amendments outlined…
Federal Government Introduces New Temporary Foreign Worker Regulations
On August 18, 2010, the federal government published new regulations applicable to temporary foreign workers (“TFWs”) under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The Regulations Amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (Temporary Foreign Workers) are designed to protect TFWs and minimize their exploitation by employers and third-party agents by amending the Immigration and Refugee…
New Full-Day Learning, ECE Appointment Regulations Filed
On August 18, 2010, the Ontario government published the following regulation and regulatory amendments under the Education Act: O. Reg. 321/10 (Extended Day Programs), amending O. Reg. 225/10, which in part provides for board approval of delegation by a principal and the appointment of Early Childhood Educators (“ECEs”); O. Reg. 322/10 (Letter of Permission –…
New Quality Assurance Regulations Filed for Defined Service Agencies
On August 7, 2010, the Ontario government published a regulation under the Services and Supports to Promote the Social Inclusion of Persons with Developmental Disabilities Act, 2008, which is not yet in force. O. Reg. 299/10 establishes comprehensive quality assurance measures for defined service agencies. These measures specifically relate to human resources practices, such as…
Ontario Announces Pension Funding Relief for University Sector
On August 5, 2010, the Ontario government announced that it will provide universities with temporary solvency funding relief. The temporary funding relief will be provided through two stages: a temporary period during which each university must develop a sustainability plan for its pension plans and, if the sustainability plan is acceptable to the government, an…
2010 Summer Issue
LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS Student Communication Through Social Media – The Struggle to Define Misuse “Stress” Leave – The Legal Framework FOCUS ON SCHOOL BOARDS Tales Out of School PROFILE Making School a Priority Download PDF
Hicks Morley Information and Privacy Post – Summer 2010
Welcome to the Summer 2010 Quarterly Edition of the Hicks Morley Information and Privacy Post! This edition is packed with the most up-to-date case law developments in privacy, freedom of information, confidentiality and the law of production. Of note is the Supreme Court of Canada’s recent pronouncement on access to information under Ontario’s Freedom of…
Ontario Launches Safety Campaign for Construction Sites
On July 28, 2010, the Ontario government announced the launch of an eight-week campaign, together with its health and safety partners, which targets construction sites across the province. The focus of the campaign is to impress upon workers and employers the importance of putting safety first, through proper training and awareness of workplace dangers. Also…