On November 29, 2010, the amendments to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 in Schedule 9 of the Open for Business Act, 2010 were proclaimed into force. As previously reported, the Open for Business Act, 2010 is omnibus legislation and the amendments to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 will: allow the Director of Employment Standards to…
Industry: Financial Services
Bill C-28 Passes Third Reading
On November 23, 2010, Bill C-28 passed Third Reading in the House of Commons. It was indicated in the speeches at Third Reading that the short title of the Bill will be the Electronic Commerce Protection Act (formerly the Fighting Internet and Wireless Spam Act). As previously reported, the Bill would enact comprehensive anti-SPAM legislation….
Planning For a Safe Holiday Office Party
It is that time of year again when employers are planning their holiday festivities. Whether the festivity is large or small, it remains as important as ever that employers take proactive steps to ensure the health and safety of their employees who attend office parties or other celebrations. Over the years, a number of court…
WSIB temporary indexing factor of 0.5% extended to 2011 and 2012
On November 1, 2010, the Ontario government published O. Reg. 405/10, made under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997. The regulation amends O. Reg. 454/09, which established, for the purposes of subsections 51(5) and 52(1.3) of the Act, a temporary indexing factor of 0.5% for the year 2010. O.Reg. 405/10 extends the application of…
New OHSA Regulations Filed
On November 5, 2010, the Ontario government filed a number of regulatory amendments under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, including: O. Reg. 419/10, amending Table 1 of Regulation 833 of the Revised Regulations of Ontario, 1990 (Control of Exposure to Biological or Chemical Agents); and O. Reg. 420/10, amending Regulation 851 (Industrial Establishments). The…
WSIB Releases Work Reintegration Policies for Consultation
The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board has released interim Work Reintegration policies and a draft Work Reintegration NEER policy for stakeholder consultation. Stakeholders can submit their responses in writing until February 15, 2011. The interim Work Reintegration policies integrate Early and Safe Return to Work, Re-Employment and Labour Market Re-entry and are to become effective…
Pension Reform Bill Referred to Committee Under Accelerated Schedule for Consideration and Debate
On November 3, 2010, the Ontario government passed a special time allocation motion setting out an accelerated timetable for the full consideration and debate of Bill 120, the Securing Pension Benefits Now and for the Future Act, 2010, by December 2, 2010.
Ontario’s Good Government Bill Referred to Committee
On November 4, 2010, Bill 110, the Good Government Act, carried at Second Reading and was referred to the Standing Committee on General Government. As previously reported, Bill 110 is omnibus legislation that would, if passed, make a number of amendments to various Acts, including several employment-related statutes.
Federal Mandatory Reporting of Internet Child Pornography Bill Reported As Amended
On October 25, 2010, Bill C-22, the Protecting Children From Online Sexual Exploitation Act, was reported to the House of Commons as amended by the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. As previously reported, Bill C-22 would impose a mandatory duty on “persons” (defined to include individuals, corporations, partnerships, unincorporated associations or organizations) providing…
Ontario Releases Discussion Paper on Retirement Income System
On October 29, 2010, the Ontario government released a paper, “Securing our Retirement Future: Consulting with Ontarians on Canada’s Retirement Income System”, for public discussion, and reiterated its intention to amend the Pension Benefits Act in respect of employment-based defined benefit plans, among other matters.