On December 13, 2013, the House of Commons adjourned for the winter break. It is scheduled to resume sitting on January 27, 2014.
Industry: Arts & Sports
Ontario Legislative Assembly Adjourns Until February 18, 2014
On December 12, 2013, the House adjourned for the winter break. It is scheduled to resume sitting on February 18, 2014.
Federal Government Proposes Mandatory e-filing ITA Regulation Amendment
Further to a Budget 2009 initiative, on December 7, 2013, the federal government published proposed amendments to subsection 205.1(1) of the Income Tax Regulations. Regulations Amending the Income Tax Regulations (Mandatory Electronic Filing – Prescribed Information Returns) would expand mandatory electronic filing (“e-filing”) for prescribed information returns for the purpose of subsection 162(7.02) of the…
Federal Government Releases Final Anti-Spam (CASL) Regulations
On December 4, 2013, the federal government published final Electronic Commerce Protection Regulations (“final ECP Regulations”) under Canada’s Anti-spam Legislation (“CASL”). As previously reported, CASL enacts comprehensive anti-spam legislation relating to the sending of commercial electronic messages (“CEMs”). Earlier proposed regulations under CASL had been released for consultation in July, 2011, and again on January 5, 2013 with…
Significant ESA, WSIA, OHSA, LRA Amendments Proposed (Bill 146, Stronger Workplaces for a Stronger Economy Act)
On December 4, 2013, the Ontario government introduced Bill 146, the Stronger Workplaces for a Stronger Economy Act, omnibus legislation that would, if passed, amend several key employment-related statutes, including the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (“ESA”), the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 (“WSIA”), the Occupational Health and Safety Act (“OHSA”), the Labour Relations Act,…
Ontario Introduces Bill 141, Infrastructure for Jobs and Prosperity Act
On November 26, 2013, the Ontario government introduced Bill 141, the Infrastructure for Jobs and Prosperity Act, 2013, at First Reading. If passed, this legislation would establish legislative and regulatory mechanisms intended to “encourage principled, evidence-based and strategic long-term infrastructure planning that supports job creation and training opportunities, economic growth and protection of the environment,…
Ontario Imposes Mandatory Health and Safety Awareness Training
On November 14, 2013, the Ontario government filed O. Reg. 297/13 Occupational Health and Safety Awareness and Training, a new regulation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (“OHSA”) requiring employers to ensure workers and supervisors receive mandatory safety awareness training. In this FTR Now, we provide an overview of these new training obligations, and…
New Federal Graduated Late-Filing Penalty for Certain Employment-Related Tax Filings
On November 20, 2013, the federal government registered Regulations Amending the Income Tax Regulations (Late Filing Penalty – Prescribed Information Returns). The regulatory amendment relates to the government’s Budget 2009 and subsequent legislative initiative (via Budget Implementation Act, 2009 amendments) to provide for a “separate, less severe, graduated penalty that would be applicable where ‘prescribed’…
Supreme Court of Canada Denies Leave to Appeal in Reduction of Retiree Benefits Case
Today, the Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) denied leave to appeal from a decision of the British Columbia Court of Appeal (“BCCA”) in Lacey v. Weyerhaeuser Company Limited. The case concerned changes to certain post-retirement benefits for retired salaried employees (“Retirees”) of Weyerhaeuser Company Limited (“Weyerhaeuser”), and a predecessor company. At issue were fully-funded post-retirement…
Ontario Court of Appeal Upholds Malicious Prosecution Finding Against Municipality, Reduces Punitive Damages
In a cautionary tale for employers, the Court of Appeal for Ontario has upheld a lower court decision which found a Township guilty of malicious prosecution in its actions relating to a dismissed employee. The quantum of punitive damages awarded is also a stark reminder that employee terminations must be conducted in a fair and…