On October 28, 2013, the Ontario government filed amendments to regulations under the Education Act. O. Reg. 289/13 (Full Day Junior Kindergarten And Kindergarten) amends section 0.1 of O. Reg. 224/10 by (1) inserting a new section that provides that the obligations under the regulation with respect to a school terminate upon the closure of…
Industry: Education
2013 Federal Budget No. 2 (Bill C-4)
On October 22, 2013, the federal government introduced the Economic Action Plan 2013 Act, No. 2, omnibus legislation that would, if passed, implement measures from the Economic Action Plan 2013 (the 2013 Budget), as well as certain previously announced tax measures. Budget Bill items of interest to employers, human resources professionals and pension plan administrators…
Ontario Government Proposes Central Bargaining for School Boards
The Ontario government has introduced legislation that would, if passed, provide for central bargaining for school boards – a significant departure from how collective bargaining has historically occurred in the sector. Bill 122, the School Boards Collective Bargaining Act, 2013, was introduced at First Reading on October 22, 2013, and will now undergo consideration by…
Federal Government Announces Budget Bill No. 2
On October 22, 2013, the federal government announced the introduction of the Economic Action Plan 2013 Act, No. 2. The Bill would, if passed, implement key measures from Economic Action Plan 2013 (the Budget), as well as certain previously announced tax measures. Among other things, the Bill would: freeze Employment Insurance premium rates for three…
Ontario Introduces Bill 122, School Boards Collective Bargaining Act
On October 22, 2013, the Ontario government introduced Bill 122, the School Boards Collective Bargaining Act, 2013, legislation that would, if passed, amend the collective bargaining regime governing Ontario school boards and teachers. The government also released a Backgrounder on Bill 122. We are in the process of reviewing the proposed legislation, and a more…
Supreme Court of Canada to Determine Whether Charter Protects Right to Strike
The Supreme Court of Canada will decide whether the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (the “Charter”) guarantees the right to strike for unions and their members. Earlier this year, the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal found that the Charter does not protect the right to strike. A substantial component of the Court of Appeal’s decision…
New Education Act Regulatory Amendments Filed (Sick Leave Credits, Gratuities)
On October 10, 2013, the Ontario government filed O. Reg. 275/13 (Sick Leave Credits and Sick Leave Credit Gratuities), amending O. Reg. 1/13 (Sick Leave Credits and Sick Leave Credit Gratuities). Notably, the new amendments revoke the “sunset clause” previously contained in section 5 of O. Reg. 1/13, which had provided for an automatic revocation…
Is Drinking and Driving Cause for Dismissal?
In some circumstances, yes. In the recent decision of Dziecielski v. Lighting Dimensions Inc., the employee drove a company vehicle while intoxicated. He was returning to the workplace from a customer visit and a lunch where he drank four beers, when he was involved in a car accident which destroyed the vehicle and left him…
Manitoba Passes Private Sector Privacy Legislation
On September 12, 2013, Bill 211 The Personal Information Protection and Identity Theft Prevention Act, a Private Member’s Bill, passed Third Reading in the Manitoba Legislature. It received Royal Assent on September 13, 2013. Subject to specified exemptions, Bill 211 will apply to all organizations in the province (including private sector organizations) and will govern…
Ontario Introduces Bill to Amend the Employer Health Tax Act
On September 24, 2013, the Ontario government introduced Bill 105, Supporting Small Businesses Act, 2013. Among other things, the Bill would, if passed, amend the Employer Health Tax Act to increase the exemption amount for eligible employers to $450,000 for the calendar years 2014 to 2018, after which an exemption amount would be adjusted every…