Ontario to Move Forward with Recommendations on Preventing Violence in the Healthcare Sector

The Ontario government has announced that it will be moving forward with certain recommendations from the Workplace Violence Prevention Care Report (Report), released on May 15, 2017, to enhance safety in hospitals and to reduce incidents of workplace violence across the healthcare sector. Among other things, the government will be consulting with stakeholders on the following…

Appeal Court Affirms Exclusive Jurisdiction Model Applies in CFL Concussion Case

In a case that continues to attract media attention, the British Columbia Court of Appeal (Court) upheld a lower court decision that concluded it was without jurisdiction to hear claims brought against the Canadian Football League (CFL), its teams and various individuals relating to concussions alleged to have occurred to a former professional football player,…

Are You Properly Authorized to Make that Freedom of Information Decision?

This is a short reminder to our college contacts about an often overlooked feature of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) – the assignment of formal powers and duties to the Chair of the Board of Governors. These powers and duties include those related to the processing of freedom of information requests…

Court Renders Helpful Decision on Random Drug and Alcohol Testing

In a helpful decision for employers, Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 113 v Toronto Transit Commission, the Ontario Superior Court recently denied an application by the Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 113 and others (Applicants) for an interlocutory injunction to restrain the implementation of the Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC) random drug and alcohol testing, pending completion of…

Ontario Budget 2017

On April 27, 2017, the Ontario government tabled its 2017 Budget “A Stronger, Healthier Ontario” (Budget) and Bill 127, Stronger, Healthier Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2017 (Budget Bill), omnibus legislation designed to implement some of the proposals contained in the Budget. In this FTR Now, we highlight key proposals that are of particular interest to…

Ontario Tables 2017 Budget

On April 27, 2017, the Ontario government tabled its 2017 Budget “A Stronger, Healthier Ontario.” We are in the process of reviewing the Budget, and an FTR Now highlighting measures of interest to employers, human resources professionals and pension plan administrators will be available on our website in the coming days. Editor’s Note: Bill 127, Stronger,…

The Truth Hurts: Employer Not Liable In Defamation For Bad Reference Because It Was True

The Ontario Superior Court has affirmed that employers are not liable for defamation when they provide candid and truthful references about former employees. In Papp v Stokes et al, 2017 ONSC 2357, the plaintiff, Adam Papp, worked as an economist for Stokes Economic Consulting for 2.5 years when his employment was terminated without cause in…