FSCO Publishes FAQ on Surplus Distribution for Full or Partial Plan Wind Ups

The Financial Services Commission of Ontario (“FSCO”) updated its long-running online “FAQ” for pension plan administrators to set out FSCO’s position on surplus distribution on full or partial plan wind ups in light of recent amendments to the Pension Benefits Act. A detailed discussion of the FAQ and FSCO’s position on this point is available…

Municipal Elections 2010: Employers’ Obligation to Provide Paid Time Off to Vote

Province-wide municipal elections will be held on October 25, 2010, and voting hours will run from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, all employees who are eligible to vote in the election are entitled to three consecutive hours during voting hours on election day to cast their vote. To be…

Interest Arbitrator Awards Wage Increase to Unionized Nursing Home Employees

On September 15, 2010, Arbitrator Jesin released an interest arbitration award in which he awarded a 2% wage increase to unionized nursing home employees. In his reasons, he considered both the Ontario government’s March 2010 Budget and its subsequent directive that, as collective agreements are renegotiated, the government’s transfer payment partners and the corresponding bargaining…

New General Pension Regulation Amendments Filed

On September 17, 2010, the Ontario government filed O. Reg. 367/10 under the Pension Benefits Act, amending Reg. 909 of R.R.O. 1990 (General). The amendments extend certain filing deadlines and funding schedules under the temporary solvency funding relief regulations for two university-sponsored pension plans. By way of background, Ontario’s temporary solvency funding relief regulations were…

New Education Act Regulation Filed – Audit Committees

On September 13, 2010, the Ontario government published a regulation setting out the rules applicable to audit committees established by district school boards under subsection 253.1(1) of the Education Act. O. Reg. 361/10 is now in force.

Bill Amending Employment Standards Act, 2000 Ordered for Third Reading

On September 13, 2010, Bill 68, the Open For Business Act, 2010, was reported as amended by the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs and ordered for Third Reading. As previously reported, Bill 68 is omnibus legislation that would amend Ontario’s Employment Standards Act, 2000 as follows: to allow the Director of Employment Standards…

Proposed Integrated Accessibility Regulation Under the AODA: FTR Now

On Friday, September 10, 2010, Hicks Morley published a detailed overview of the “Integrated Accessibility Regulation Proposed Under the AODA” in an FTR Now, which is available on our website. As previously reported, the proposed Integrated Accessibility Regulation was published by the Ontario government on September 2, 2010.