On December 18, 2017, the Ontario government filed the following regulations in support of amendments made by Bill 148, Fair Workplaces, Betters Jobs Act, 2017, to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) and the Labour Relations Act, 1995 (LRA): Regulations Made Under the ESA: 1. O. Reg. 526/17 amends O. Reg. 285/01 (Exemptions, Special Rules and…
Industry: Financial Services
Bill 177 Receives Royal Assent, Amends WSIA, OHSA, PBA and BPSECA
On December 14, 2017, Bill 177, Stronger, Fairer Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2017, received Royal Assent. Bill 177 is omnibus legislation which amends several statutes, including the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Pension Benefits Act and the Broader Public Sector Executive Compensation Act. Workplace Safety and Insurance…
Setting up Shop in Canada? What U.S. Employers Need to Know About Canadian Privacy Law
While Canada and the United States are alike in many respects, there are a few key differences in privacy law that U.S. organizations should be aware of if you are considering buying, selling or operating a business in Canada.
The (Funding) Future is Here: Ontario Releases Pension Funding Reform Details
On December 14, 2017, the Ontario government published the long-awaited details to support the proposed reforms to funding rules for Ontario pension plans. The proposed regulations describe the amendments to the Pension Benefits Act Regulations that will, among other things: Alter solvency funding obligations, by reducing the solvency deficiency required to be funded (such that…
Provincial Cannabis Act, Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 Receives Royal Assent
On December 12, 2017, Bill 174, Cannabis, Smoke-Free Ontario and Road Safety Statute Law Amendment Act, 2017 received Royal Assent. As we previously reported, Bill 174 is omnibus legislation enacting the Cannabis Act, 2017 and the Ontario Cannabis Retail Corporation Act, 2017 which will regulate the cultivation, sale, distribution and consumption of cannabis in Ontario. It also…
Setting up Shop in Canada? What U.S. Employers Need to Know About Canadian Human Rights Law
While Canada and the United States are alike in many respects, there are a few key differences in human rights law that U.S. employers should be aware of if you are considering buying, selling or operating a business in Canada.
The Road Ahead: Are You Prepared for Bill 148?
Bill 148, the Fair Workplaces, Betters Jobs Act, 2017 is now in force, having received Royal Assent on November 27, 2017. With it comes substantial changes to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) and the Labour Relations Act, 1995 (LRA), as well as changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). In this FTR Now, we have consolidated and summarized the information provided to clients previously in a series of updates that tracked the development of Bill 148…
Deadline for Submissions on Exemptions under ESA Extended
As we previously reported, the Ontario government is seeking input on the following occupations currently exempted under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA): Architects Domestic Workers, Homemakers and Residential Care Workers IT Professionals Managerial and Supervisory Employees Pharmacists Residential Building Superintendents, Janitors and Caretakers The exclusion of domestic workers under the Labour Relations Act, 1995…
AODA Compliance: Are You Ready to File Your Report?
All organizations in Ontario employing at least one employee are required to comply with a series of requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) standards and regulations. For organizations with 20 or more employees, the next mandatory reporting deadline is December 31, 2017. Learn more about your pending and future AODA compliance obligations and our AODA Compliance Checklist for employers in this FTR Now.
Bill 148 Receives Royal Assent – What You Need to Know
On November 27, 2017, Bill 148, the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017 (Bill 148) received Royal Assent. Bill 148 makes significant changes to the workplace laws of Ontario. Read more to learn critical coming into force information.