On May 2, 2014, the 40th Parliament of Ontario was dissolved. As a result, all outstanding business before the Legislative Assembly, including all government and Private Members’ Bills, expired on the Order Paper. Parliament will reconvene following the general election, which has been set for June 12, 2014. More information is available in our FTR…
Industry: Education
School Boards Collective Bargaining Act, 2014 (Bill 122) Now In Force
Bill 122 was proclaimed in force effective April 24, 2014. Detailed information about Bill 122, as it was amended and passed by the Legislature, is available in our FTR Now of April 10, 2014, “Bill 122 Passes Third Reading And Receives Royal Assent.”
Ontario Budget 2014 and the Provincial Election – Voting Requirements and More
Last week saw significant developments at Queen’s Park that will be of interest to all employers in Ontario. On Thursday, May 1, 2014, the Ontario government introduced its 2014 Budget, entitled Building Opportunity, Securing Our Future (the “Budget”). On the same day, the government introduced Bill 194, the Building Opportunity and Securing Our Future Act…
Employer Permitted to Define “Spouse” under Benefit Plan to Exclude Married but Separated Spouses
In a recent decision of the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal (“Tribunal”) in VanderLinde v. Oshawa (City) (“VanderLinde”), the Tribunal found that it is not discriminatory for an employer to require that an employee’s legally married spouse be living with the employee as a condition of eligibility as a spouse under its group benefit plan. In…
Ontario Government Introduces Budget 2014
On May 1, 2014, the Ontario government tabled its Budget 2014: Building Opportunity, Securing Our Future. An FTR Now providing an analysis of proposals of interest to employers and plan administrators will be available shortly on our website.
Three New Leaves of Absence Added to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 Effective October 29, 2014
On April 29, 2014, the Ontario Legislature passed Bill 21, the Employment Standards Amendment Act (Leaves to Help Families), 2014. Royal Assent was given on the same day. Bill 21 will amend the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (the “Act“) to add three new job-protected leaves of absence effective October 29, 2014 – family caregiver leave,…
Bill 21, Leaves to Help Families Act, Coming Into Force October 29, 2014
On April 29, 2014, Bill 21, Employment Standards Amendment Act (Leaves to Help Families), 2014, as amended by the Standing Committee on General Government, passed Third Reading in the Ontario Legislature and received Royal Assent. As previously reported, the Bill will allow eligible employees to take the following job-protected unpaid leaves of absence: •Family Caregiver Leave…
Ontario Proposes Significant Pension Regulation Reforms
On April 25, 2014, the Ontario government released four proposals (the “Proposals” or the “Proposal”) in respect of proposed amendments to Regulation 909 (the “Regulations”) under the Pension Benefits Act (“PBA”) and is seeking comments from interested stakeholders. The Proposals relate to PBA reforms introduced or announced by the Ontario government over the past four…
Ontario Proposes Significant Regulatory Amendments under Pension Benefits Act
On April 25, 2014, the Ontario government announced a number of proposed amendments to Regulation 909 made under the Pension Benefits Act (“PBA”), further to its ongoing pension reform initiatives. The government is inviting comments from stakeholders on the following proposals: Proposed Amendment to Regulation 909 under the Pension Benefits Act: Disclosure of Environmental, Social…
Federal Government Consults Public on Proposed Target Benefit Plans Framework
On April 24, 2014, the federal government announced the launch of consultations on a potential federal framework for Target Benefit Plans (“TBP”). TBPs, if introduced through subsequent legislative reforms, would create a new pension design option available to federally regulated private sector and Crown corporation plan sponsors under the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985 (“PBSA”)….