Legislation Reversing Parts of Bill 148 Passes

On November 21, 2018, Bill 47, the Making Ontario Open for Business Act, 2018, as amended by the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, passed Third Reading…

The Law Regarding Service Animals [Video]

Failing to accommodate guide dogs or service animals is potentially a failure to accommodate a disability. There may also be competing rights or obligations to consider when such situations arise in your organization. In this video, Elizabeth Winter takes us through the law regarding service animals – an important area of human rights law – with a focus on best practices for identifying a service animal and your organization’s responsibility to accommodate staff and clients.

The Outlook is More Change: Ontario Proposes Significant Reforms to Pension and Employment-Related Statutes

The Ontario government’s Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review (Fiscal Review) and supporting omnibus legislation, Bill 57, the Restoring Trust, Transparency and Accountability Act, 2018 (Bill 57), propose a number of significant reforms and initiatives to pension, benefit, tax and employment-related legislation that will impact your workplace and pension plan administration. Bill 57 also contains proposals related specifically to fire services, which were outlined in our prior communication, Ontario Government Tables Legislation Impacting Bargaining and Interest Arbitration in the Fire Sector.

Ontario Proposes Significant Reforms to Pension and Employment-Related Statutes

On November 15, 2018, the Ontario government introduced Bill 57, the Restoring Trust, Transparency and Accountability Act, 2018, omnibus legislation supporting key reforms outlined in the 2018 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review (Fiscal Review), titled, “A Plan For the People,” which was also released on that date.

Ontario Government Tables Legislation Impacting Bargaining and Interest Arbitration in the Fire Sector

On November 15, 2018, the Ontario government introduced Bill 57, Restoring Trust, Transparency and Accountability Act, 2018 (Bill 57), omnibus legislation giving effect to initiatives found in its 2018 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review. If passed, Schedule 18 of Bill 57 will amend the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997 (FPPA) to, among other things, address collective bargaining and interest arbitration in the sector, and enhance protections for volunteer firefighters engaged in “two hatting.”

FTR Quarterly – Issue 11

In This Issue Considering Cannabis Coverage under Benefits Plans Recreational Cannabis and Your Workplace: Five Steps to Consider Featured Topic – Cannabis Expertise Featured Articles Considering Cannabis Coverage under Benefits Plans By: Natasha D. Monkman With the legalization of recreational cannabis on October 17, 2018, employers across Canada have been preparing to answer questions about whether…

Bill 47 Referred to Committee with Public Hearings to be Held on November 15: Note Quick Deadline for Request to Make Submissions

On November 12, 2018, Bill 47, the Making Ontario Open for Business Act, 2018, was carried on division at Second Reading and was referred to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs. The Committee will be holding public hearings on the Bill in Toronto on Thursday, November 15, 2018. For those parties who wish…

Government Proposes Changes to ESA Regulations in Support of Bill 47

On November 7, 2018, the government of Ontario posted proposed changes to regulations made under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) in support of the ESA amendments introduced by Bill 47, Making Ontario Open for Business Act, 2018. Proposed Changes to O. Reg. 502/06 (Terms and Conditions of Employment in Defined Industries – Automobile Manufacturing,…