The Ontario government has released a consultation paper on proposed changes to the barrier-free design requirements of Ontario’s Building Code. The proposed Building Code changes arise from the development of built environment accessibility standards under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (“AODA”). The consultation process focuses on certain key accessibility requirements, including: Renovations…
Industry: Membership Associations
Proposed Anti-spam Regulations Published
On January 5, 2013, Electronic Commerce Protection Regulations (“ECP Regulations”), proposed under Canada’s Anti-spam Legislation (“CASL”*), were published. As previously reported, the CASL enacts comprehensive anti-spam legislation relating to the sending of commercial electronic messages (“CEMs”). The CASL has not yet been proclaimed into force, with the exception of certain Personal Information Protection and Electronic…
New Mandatory Health and Safety Training Regulation Proposed under OHSA
The Ontario government has proposed a new regulation to be made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (“OHSA”), further to the recommendation of the Expert Advisory Panel in 2010 that programs for mandatory health and safety awareness training be developed for Ontario workplaces. The proposed regulation would apply to all workplaces currently covered by…
Amendments to CIRB Regulations Now in Force
On December 18, 2012, the federal government registered Regulations Amending the Canada Industrial Relations Board Regulations, 2001 (“Regulations”), which amend the Canada Industrial Relations Board Regulations, 2001 (“CIRBR”) made under the Canada Labour Code (“Code”). As previously reported, the government had invited comments on the proposed Regulations in November 2012. The Regulations came into force…
Regulatory Amendments Enacted to Allow CPPIB/PSPIB to Rely on Prudent Person Standard
On December 14, 2012, Regulations Amending the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Regulations were registered. As previously reported and of particular note, this amendment repeals section 12 of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Regulations (“CPPIBR”) which established quantitative investment limits in respect of Canadian resource and real properties. The repeal of this section aligns…
Amendment to EI Act on Employer Repayment Obligations Proclaimed Into Force
Sections 605 and 607 of the Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act, which amend the Employment Insurance Act (“EI Act”) have been proclaimed into force effective January 6, 2013. Section 607 amends section 46 of the EI Act by adding a section which creates a time limit of 36 months on certain EI repayment obligations…
PBA Regulation Relating to HOOPP, CAAT/OPSEU Pension Plans Filed
On December 20, 2012, the Ontario government filed O. Reg. 447/12, which amends Regulation 909 made under the Pension Benefits Act. O. Reg. 447/12 adds a section to Regulation 909 that states the administrator of any of the Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology Pension Plan, the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan and the Ontario…
New AODA Built Environment Standards Regulations Filed
On December 17, 2012, the Ontario government filed two regulations amending the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service and the Integrated Accessibility Standards, regulations enacted under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 1995 (“AODA”). O. Reg. 413/12 adds new Built Environment Standards on the design of public spaces to the Integrated Accessibility Standards regulation (O….
First Aid Training Regulatory Amendments under Canada Labour Code Registered
On December 7, 2012, Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Made under the Canada Labour Code were registered. Among other things, the Regulations are intended to simplify the first aid training available to employees subject to federal jurisdiction through the following amendments to the Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations: the definition of “approved organization” will now…
New Brunswick Introduces Bill to Amend Pension Benefits Act
On December 11, 2012, Bill 20, An Act to Amend the Pension Benefits Act, received First Reading in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick. It received Second Reading on December 12, 2012. If passed, Bill 20 will, among other things, amend the Pension Benefits Act (“Act”) to make the following clarifications regarding shared risk pension…