Ontario Announces Health, Safety and Employment Standards Blitzes

The Ontario government has announced that it will be conducting more than 24 health, safety and employment standards inspection blitzes in 2018-2019 targeted at certain sectors in Ontario, with a view to ensuring statutory compliance. A number of workplaces will be visited, including those in the retail, manufacturing, construction and health care sectors, as well…

PIPEDA Breach of Security Safeguards Regulations Published

Beginning November 1, 2018, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) will require private sector organizations to provide notice to affected individuals and the federal Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) when a security incident involving personal information results in a “real risk of significant harm.” The supporting regulations, Breach of Security Safeguards…

Pension Funding Reform Continues: Taking Aim at Target Benefit Multi-Employer Pension Plans

Pension plans that meet the definition of specified Ontario multi-employer pension plans (SOMEPPs) are one step closer to having the option to convert accrued defined benefits (DB) to target benefits (TB) – and one step closer to a permanent exemption from solvency funding. If your organization participates in a SOMEPP, find out what this could mean for your organization in this FTR Now.

Mandatory Breach Notification Comes to Canada: What To Do About It

It’s been a long time coming, but we finally know that mandatory breach notification is coming to Canada. Beginning November 1, 2018, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) will require notification to affected individuals and the federal Privacy Commissioner when a security incident involving personal information results in a “real risk of significant…

Bill Requiring Diversity Disclosure by Federal Corporations Passes Third Reading in Senate

Diversity on corporate boards has been widely discussed in recent years. On March 22, 2018, Bill C-25, An Act to amend the Canada Business Corporations Act, the Canada Cooperatives Act, the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act, and the Competition Act, passed its third reading in the Senate. Part 1 of Bill C-25 imposes obligations on federal…

Regulations Filed Supporting Discharge of Pension Plan Administrator Upon Purchase of Annuities

On April 3, 2018, the government filed O. Reg. 193/18 (Purchase of Pension Benefits From an Insurance Company – Section 43.1 of the Act) under the Pension Benefits Act (PBA), which complements the recent funding reforms announced for defined benefit pension (DB) plans (the Regulation). As previously discussed, the government proposed rules to support a discharge…

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…