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 –…

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…

Consultations on Public Sector Compensation Begin

On July 20, 2010, the Ontario government initiated a consultation process designed to address upcoming compensation negotiations for “bargaining” employees not caught by the Compensation Restraint Act. In this FTR Now, we discuss the potential implications of this process for public sector employers. BACKGROUND In March, as part of its 2010 Budget, the government introduced…

FSCO Releases Final Records Retention Policy

The Financial Services Commission of Ontario (“FSCO”) issued a records retention policy for pension plan administrators effective July 9, 2010. The policy is intended to provide guidance for “prudent records management and retention practices” relating to Ontario-registered pension plans. The policy was approved and issued following the introduction of a draft policy last year and…

Bill 168 – Assessing Students as Risks

The new provisions incorporated into the Occupational Health and Safety Act (“OHSA”) by Bill 168 came into force on June 15, 2010. These provisions make clear that colleges must take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances to protect their workers from workplace violence. In this bulletin, we focus on the college duty to manage the…