As we reported previously, the Ontario Government introduced Bill 98, Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act, 2023 (Bill 98) on April 17, 2023. On June 8, 2023, Bill 98 received Royal Assent and is now law. As a result, a number of significant amendments to the Education Act, the Ontario College of Teachers Act, 1996…
Industry: School Boards
Successfully represented a large school board in a labour arbitration where the union sought compensation for expenses employees incurred as a result of switching to remote work at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. All grievances were dismissed.
Successfully represented a large school board in a labour arbitration where the union sought compensation for expenses employees incurred as a result of switching to remote work at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. All grievances were dismissed.
Successfully resolved an appeal before the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario for a large school board where the complainant challenged the reasonableness of the board’s search efforts in satisfying an access request under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
Successfully resolved an appeal before the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario for a large school board where the complainant challenged the reasonableness of the board’s search efforts in satisfying an access request under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
Provided strategic advice to school board clients during in-camera board meetings, and to municipal clients during closed-session council meetings.
Provided strategic advice to school board clients during in-camera board meetings, and to municipal clients during closed-session council meetings.
Recent Cases of Note
Welcome to our latest edition of the School Board Update. In this update we discuss two significant decisions. The first is an arbitration decision where the grievor alleged the Ottawa Catholic School Board failed to accommodate her and discriminated against her on the basis of her age by requiring her to teach on site rather…
Ontario Proposes Significant Amendments Impacting School Board Sector
On April 17, 2023, the Ontario government introduced Bill 98, Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act, 2023 for First Reading. If passed, Bill 98 would amend the Education Act, the Ontario College of Teachers Act, 1996 and the Early Childhood Educators Act, 2007. The government has invited interested stakeholders to comment on the proposed amendments…
Did You Ask to Share That? Arbitrator Comments on School Board’s Ability to Share Medical Information with Third Party
In Toronto Catholic District School Board v Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 1328, Arbitrator Goodfellow recently issued a local arbitration decision concerning the administration of the Board’s sick leave and short-term disability plans. The hearing related to multiple grievances all touching on similar issues. Arbitrator Goodfellow specifically answered two questions: (i) Could the Board…
Stephanie J. Savoni
Stephanie Savoni is counsel to Hicks Morley in its Toronto office, and has been working in the field of workplace safety and insurance law for over 22 years. Her practice has been dedicated exclusively to representing employers in workplace safety and insurance law matters for the past 19 years.
Ontario Human Rights Commission Strategic Plan and the Right to Read
On January 17, 2023, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) released a new strategic plan for 2023 to 2025, entitled Human Rights First: A plan for belonging in Ontario. It centres around five priorities which include Indigenous reconciliation, the criminal justice system and the education system. In this School Board Update, we focus on the OHRC’s priorities with respect to the education system.
Beyond COVID-19: 2022 Year in Review – Cases and Legislation of Note
Employers and human resource professionals will undoubtedly remember 2022 as another year shaped by the pandemic.
But…there were also legal developments in 2022 that were not related to COVID-19. In this FTR Now, we look at some of the past year’s notable “non-pandemic” cases and legislative developments.