The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) sets out the process for developing and enforcing accessibility standards in Ontario. Its purpose is to achieve accessibility standards for Ontarians with physical and mental disabilities by 2025. All levels of government, private sector organizations and non-profit organizations must comply with this legislation.
Industry: Membership Associations
Adjusting to Ontario’s New Colour-Coded COVID-19 Zones
The Ontario government has enacted new regulations that amend the Rules for Areas in Stage 2 and 3. The regulations aim to implement the recently announced reopening framework. The regulations:
Ontario Tables Fall Budget 2020
On November 5, 2020, the Ontario government tabled its 2020 Budget, Ontario’s Action Plan: Protect, Support, Recover (Budget), and introduced supporting implementation legislation, Bill 229, Protect, Support and Recover from COVID-19 Act (Budget Measures), 2020(Bill 229).
Ontario Releases New Framework for COVID-19 Public Health Restrictions
On November 3, 2020, the Ontario government released its COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open (Framework) which the government states “will serve as an early warning system allowing [it] to scale up and scale back public health restrictions on a regional or community basis in response to surges and waves of COVID-19.” The Framework will apply to businesses and organizations that operate within the applicable public health units, and it also contains sector-specific health and safety measures.
Introduction to the Duty to Accommodate Training Workshop
There’s no such thing as “textbook” accommodation. Whether your employee has a challenging physical or mental disability that impacts their ability to do the job, childcare problems that interfere with their performance, faith-related obligations or is in the process of transitioning, how you respond to that individual’s request – or don’t – can mean significant liability for your organization. Are you prepared?
Ontario Tables Bill to Protect Persons from COVID-19-Related Liability
On October 20, 2020, Ontario introduced Bill 218, Supporting Ontario’s Recovery and Municipal Elections Act, 2020. If passed, it would enact The Supporting Ontario’s Recovery Act, 2020 (Act) which provides protection for persons from liability for actions related to COVID-19. It would also remove the framework in the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 providing for ranked ballot elections for municipal council officers. As of today’s date, the Bill is at Second Reading in the Ontario legislature.
Supreme Court Finds Inability of Pension Plan Members to “Buy Back” Full Pension Credit for Job-Sharing Service to be Unconstitutional
On October 16, 2020, the Supreme Court of Canada released its decision in Fraser v. Canada (Attorney General). Justice Abella, writing for the majority, held that the inability of members who participated in a job-sharing program to “buy back” pension credits under the employer’s pension plan amounted to discrimination on the basis of sex, contrary to s. 15(1) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In separate dissenting reasons, Justices Brown and Rowe on the one hand and Justice Côté on the other held that the appeal ought to have been dismissed, although for different reasons.
Workplace Investigation Training Workshop
This session focuses on essential investigation skills required by HR Professionals who are charged with investigating workplace incidents including: workplace harassment and violence complaints, discrimination and harassment complaints under the Human Rights Code, employee misconduct, such as suspected sick leave abuse or time theft, health and safety complaints.
Important Updates Regarding the Extension of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)
On October 14, 2020, the Department of Finance Canada released its latest backgrounder regarding the CEWS. The Extending the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy backgrounder (Backgrounder) summarizes a number of new and recently announced changes to the CEWS, including the extension of the CEWS to June 2021.
Advantage CPD: Coping with Change – Constructive Dismissal Considerations in the Time of COVID-19
COVID-19 has impacted many aspects of our lives, including employment. In this ever-changing world, employers must respond to the terms and conditions of their employees’ employment. The extent and consequences of change requires strategies which are critical to this assessment. This program aims to provide employers with tools to mitigate risk of a constructive dismissal claim.