On March 9, 2022, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health announced that by the end of April, all remaining COVID-19-related measures, directives and orders will be lifted. This decision comes as the province sees continued improvements in key health indicators and follows the government’s easing of most public health restrictions earlier this month (see our…
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Changes are Coming to the Rules of Civil Procedure
On March 31, 2022, various amendments to the Rules of Civil Procedure with respect to pre-trial conferences, expert reports and admissibility of evidence will come into force. The changes have been brought about by Ontario Regulation 18/22 which amends R.R.O. 1990, Regulation 194: Rules Of Civil Procedure (Rules) made under the Courts of Justice Act….
Ontario Introduces Bill 88, Working for Workers Act, 2022
On February 28, 2022, the Ontario government tabled Bill 88, Working for Workers Act, 2022, omnibus legislation which, if passed, would enact the Digital Platform Workers’ Rights Act, 2022 and make amendments to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) and other employment-related legislation. In this FTR Now, we review some of the key features of…
Ontario Enters Roadmap Exit Step, Removes Proof of Vaccination Requirement
As announced by the Ontario government earlier this month, public health restrictions imposed in light of COVID-19 will be substantially eased on March 1, 2022. On that date, all regions in Ontario will be moved into the Roadmap Exit Step of the province’s Reopening Plan and almost all public health restrictions will be removed. Notably,…
Ontario to Introduce Legislation Requiring Employers to Disclose Information Regarding Electronic Monitoring of Employees
On February 24, 2022, the Ontario government announced its plan to introduce legislation later this month that would require employers to inform their workers if and how they are being monitored electronically. If passed, Ontario will be the first province to require electronic monitoring policies. As the government states, the intention of this legislation is…
Ministry Updates ESA Guide on Disconnecting from Work Policies and Non-Compete Agreements
On February 18, 2022, the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development (Ministry) updated its online guide to the Employment Standards Act (Guide) to include chapters on written policy on disconnecting from work and non-compete agreements. The chapters provide guidance on recent Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) amendments that require employers with 25 or…
Reminder to Universities and Colleges: New Requirements for Sexual Violence Policies Coming into Force on March 1, 2022
On March 1, 2022, new requirements will come into force that require universities and colleges to ensure that their sexual violence policies prevent discipline against a student who is found to have violated the institution’s drug and alcohol policies when such a violation is disclosed in the course of good faith efforts to report sexual…
Ontario to Ease Capacity Limits and Lift Proof of Vaccination Requirements
With the key public health indicators improving and the Omicron variant beginning to retreat, the Ontario government has announced that public health measures imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19 will be eased, effective February 17 and March 1, 2022. The province has announced that it intends to lift proof of vaccination requirements and all…
Arbitrator Finds Mandatory Vaccination Policy Implemented by Energy Sector Employer to be Reasonable
In Power Workers’ Union v Elexicon Energy Inc., Arbitrator Michael Mitchell recently held that a mandatory vaccination policy implemented by Elexicon Energy Inc. (Employer) was reasonable for all employees, except for those who had been working exclusively from home and had no expectation or requirement of returning to the workplace in the near future, and…
Arbitrator Finds Part of LTC Homes’ Mandatory Vaccination Policy Violated Collective Agreement
On February 7, 2022, Arbitrator Misra issued her decision in Chartwell Housing REIT (The Westmount, The Wynfield, The Woodhaven And The Waterford) and Healthcare, Office And Professional Employees Union, Local 2220 in which she found that the termination consequences of a long-term care home employer’s mandatory vaccination policy violated the collective agreement. Background In late…