On April 2, 2020, the Ontario government issued an order under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act authorizing every retirement home and licensee (within the meaning of the Retirements Homes Act, 2010) to take all reasonable steps necessary to respond to, prevent and alleviate the outbreak of COVID-19 in a retirement home.
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New Long-Term Care Homes Emergency Order Issued
On Friday, March 27, 2020, the Ontario government issued a second Emergency Order to specifically address the Long-Term Care Homes sector (O. Reg 95/20: Streamlining Requirements for Long-Term Care Homes).
New Canada Emergency Response Benefit and Tax Relief Measures
Bill C-13, COVID-19 Emergency Response Act, received Royal Assent on March 25, 2020 after swift passage by Parliament and the Senate. This federal legislation implements the income support and other fiscal measures announced by the federal government on March 18, 2020.
New Leave Relating to COVID-19 under Canada Labour Code
On March 25, 2020, the federal government passed Bill C-13, COVID-19 Emergency Response Act, which contains various fiscal and other measures designed to deal expeditiously with the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. Included among these measures is an amendment to the Canada Labour Code (Code) which provides an unpaid leave of up to 16 weeks for employees who are unable or unavailable to work for reasons related to COVID-19. The COVID-19 Leave came into force on March 25, 2020.
CHRT Seeks Feedback on Rules of Procedure to be Developed Under New Pay Equity Act
The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) is seeking feedback on specific questions related to the development of the Rules of Procedure under the federal Pay Equity Act (Act), which is expected to come into force sometime in 2020.
COVID-19 and Long-Term Care – Ontario Takes Significant Steps to Address Staffing Concerns
On Monday, March 23, 2020, the Ontario government issued an Emergency Order granting Ontario Health Service Providers broad authority to take all reasonable steps necessary to staff as needed to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. The government has now taken two significant steps to grant similar authority to Long-Term Care home providers and Municipal Homes for the Aged to address the staffing issues which may arise due to the emerging pandemic.
Ontario’s Announcement about Closure of Non-Essential Businesses: Questions and Answers for Employers
On March 23, 2020 Premier Doug Ford announced that effective 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, all non-essential businesses will be ordered to close for 14 days, and possibly longer. This order is made further to the emergency declared on March 17, 2020 under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. Here is what employers need to consider now.
Federal Government Waives EI Waiting Periods for Workers Affected by COVID-19
As part of this initiative, the government will be waiving the mandatory one-week waiting period for Employment Insurance sickness benefits for those workers who are in quarantine or who have been directed to self-isolate as a result of the COVID-19.
Supreme Court of Canada to Consider Jurisdictional Issue Involving Human Rights Complaint Arising in Unionized Workplace
On February 27, 2020, the Supreme Court of Canada granted leave to appeal from a decision of the Manitoba Court of Appeal, Northern Regional Health Authority v Manitoba Human Rights Commission et al, that found a human rights adjudicator had jurisdiction to hear complaints of discrimination where the workplace was governed by a collective agreement….
HRTO Orders Significant Remedies in Ontario Midwives Case
In Association of Ontario Midwives v. Ontario (Health and Long-Term Care), the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO) affirmed that those who set compensation rates may be required to take proactive steps to ensure that sex-segregated workers are compensated in a way that is free of sex-based discrimination. It ordered, among other things, that the…