MOL’s ESA Guide Update for Equal Pay Provisions

We recently reported on the coming into force of the equal pay for equal work changes under Bill 148, Reminder: Equal Pay for Equal Work Provisions in Force April 1, 2018. The Ministry of Labour has recently updated its online Guide to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (Guide) to address equal pay for equal work…

2018 Ontario Budget Tabled

On March 28, 2018, the Ontario government tabled its Budget 2018, A Plan for Care and Opportunity. We are currently reviewing the Budget and an FTR Now highlighting initiatives of particular interest to employers, human resource professionals and pension plan administrators will be available shortly on our website.

OSFI Publishes Guidance Note for Member Choice DC Plan Default Investments

The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) has published a new Guidance Note providing its interpretation and expectations relating to the requirements for the default investment selected by the administrator. The Guidance Note (Default Option for Member Choice Defined Contribution Plans) relates to defined contribution (DC) accounts or additional voluntary contribution accounts in…

WSIA Amendments Imposing Costs for Workplace Accidents on Clients of Temporary Help Agencies Still Awaiting Proclamation

In 2014, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 (WSIA) was amended by Bill 18, the Stronger Workplaces for a Stronger Economy Act, 2014, to enact a broad regulation-making power with respect to injuries incurred by temporary help agency assignment employees who are injured while working for a client of the agency. Specifically, the injury…

Court Finds Employer Took Appropriate Steps to Change Terms of Employment – No Constructive Dismissal

In Lancia v. Park Dentistry, the Ontario Superior Court found that an employer who wished to change the terms of employment did not constructively dismiss a long-term employee because she was provided with 18 months’ working notice as well as a new contract with a signing bonus. The plaintiff worked as dental hygienist for the…

Ontario Re-Introduces Pay Transparency Legislation 

On March 20, 2018, the Ontario government reintroduced its pay transparency legislation in the form of Bill 3, Pay Transparency Act, 2018. See our post of March 6, 2018, Ontario Introduces Pay Transparency Legislation, for more information about the Bill. The earlier iteration of this Bill had died on the order paper when the Legislature…

Ontario Publishes Description of Proposed Variable Benefits Regulations for DC Plans

The Ontario government posted a description of proposed regulations on March 20, 2018 enabling it to implement the variable benefit (VB) provisions applicable to defined contribution (DC) plans under the Ontario Pension Benefits Act (PBA). Background – DC Decumulation Currently, Ontario members of DC plans who have terminated their employment with the plan sponsor and…

Reminder: Equal Pay for Equal Work Provisions in Force April 1, 2018

On April 1, 2018, amendments to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 regarding equal pay for equal work will come into force. Among other things, the provisions prohibit employers from paying different rates of pay to their employees because of a difference in employment status, where the employees perform substantially the same kind of work in…

Human Resources Professionals of Ontario (HRPAO) Conference: A New Beginning: The Intelligence Revolution

Overview New and Evolving Issues in Workplace Accommodation Workplace accommodation is one of the most challenging issues facing both employers and service providers. Legal developments emerging from human rights tribunals, arbitration boards and courts across Canada have imposed additional challenges, expanded obligations, and the need to think “outside the box” as employers and service providers…