April 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 22, 24 and 29, 2014 View Map Stay on the leading edge of Human Resources change Change is a constant in the human resources world – with new laws and court decisions and the evolution of best practices. Employers must take the lead in responding to these emerging challenges…
Industry: Government Ministries & Agencies (Federal and Provincial)
Federal Government Introduces 2014 Budget Bill
On March 28, 2014, the federal government introduced Bill C-31, the Economic Action Plan 2014 Act, No. 1, omnibus legislation intended to implement a number of initiatives first announced in the 2014 federal Budget, Economic Action Plan 2014. Bill C-31 contains a number of measures we previously reported in our February 13, 2014 FTR Now,…
OHSA Consultation on Implementation of Working at Heights Training
The Ministry of Labour is consulting on the implementation of the Working at Heights Training Program Standard released on December 19, 2013. Specifically, a regulatory proposal outlining amendments to O. Reg. 297/13 (Occupational Health and Safety Awareness and Training) under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (“OHSA”) would, if adopted, require employers subject to O. Reg. 213/91…
Ontario Introduces New BPS Accountability, Transparency Legislation (Bill 179)
On March 24, 2014, the Ontario government introduced Bill 179, the Public Sector and MPP Accountability and Transparency Act, 2014, proposed legislation intended to enhance oversight and increase transparency in the broader public sector (“BPS”). Proposed measures in the Bill identified in the government’s press release would, among other matters: authorize the government to control compensation…
Federal Government Implements Transitional Pension Funding Relief Regulations (Canada Post)
On March 12, 2014, the federal government published final pension funding relief regulations temporarily relieving Canada Post Corporation from the requirement to make special payments to its defined benefit employee pension plan, as ordinarily required under the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985 (“PBSA”). Under the Canada Post Corporation Pension Plan Funding Regulations (“Regulations”), the Corporation will only…
Canada Labour Code Amendments (Bill C-45) to Come into Force April 1, 2014
Effective April 1, 2014, much-anticipated amendments to the Canada Labour Code (“Code“) first outlined in Bill C-45, the Jobs and Growth Act, 2012, will come into force. The amendments will implement a statutory framework for complaints relating to unpaid wages and other alleged violations of the Code, its regulations or orders made under Part III….
Canada Labour Code Amendments (Bill C-45) Come into Force April 1, 2014
On March 12, 2014, the federal government published an order fixing April 1, 2014 as the date on which key amendments to Part III of the Canada Labour Code (“Code”) outlined in Bill C-45, the Jobs and Growth Act, 2012, come into force. In part, the Bill C-45 amendments will implement a statutory complaints framework…
Ontario Adopts “10% Rule” Exemption for U.S. Government Securities
On March 7, 2014, the Ontario government filed regulatory amendments to General Regulation 909 under the Pension Benefits Act. O. Reg. 51/14 (General) exempts investments in securities issued and fully guaranteed by the government of the United States of America (“U.S.”) from the so-called “10% rule” in respect of the quantitative investment limits applicable to…
OLRB Revisits the Scope of its Authority To Consider Workplace Harassment Reprisal Complaints
In two recent decisions, the Ontario Labour Relations Board (“Board”) signalled that its powers under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (“OHSA”) to consider complaints arising out of the OHSA’s workplace harassment provisions may be broader than the findings articulated in an earlier case, Confortia v. Investia Financial Services Inc. In Investia, the Board had…
Finding of Charter violation leads to $2 million award against the B.C. government
In British Columbia Teachers’ Federation v. British Columbia, the B.C. Supreme Court awarded $2 million in damages against the B.C. Government for its violation of the freedom of association guarantee found in section 2(d) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (“Charter“). The British Columbia Teachers’ Federation (“BCTF”) successfully argued that legislation enacted by…