On April 7, 2021, the Ontario government declared its third emergency under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act and issued its second Stay-at-Home Order under that Act, effective April 8 at 12:01 a.m. Stay-at-Home Order (Order) The Order is similar in wording to the Stay-at-Home Order issued in January 2021, with some minor modifications….
Industry: Universities
Larissa V. J. Putt
Larissa Putt is a labour and employment lawyer in Hicks Morley’s Waterloo office. She provides advice and representation to employers in both the private and public sectors on a wide range of labour and employment issues including grievance arbitration, labour disputes, collective bargaining and human rights advocacy work. She also provides employers with practical guidance on a wide array of statutory compliance related matters including employment standards compliance.
Stephen Shamie featured in Queen’s Law article on Mentorship and Self-Discovery Start Students on Planning Career Paths
One of the best ways for someone to find out about a profession they may be interested in is to talk to somebody already in it. First-year students have that opportunity thanks to the Shadow Program at Queen’s Law, which is run by the Career Development Office. The initiative pairs students with legal professionals working…
Benefits Canada Publishes an Article by Rayaz Khan on CEWS
Rayaz Khan, an associate at Hicks Morley has authored “Expert panel: The ins and outs of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy one year on” published in Benefits Canada Magazine on March 30, 2021. The article covers Canada’s initial reaction to the pandemic, the introduction of the wage subsidy, and an update on the current state of…
Ontario Tables 2021 Budget
On March 24, 2021, the Ontario government tabled its 2021 Budget, Ontario’s Action Plan: Protecting People’s Health and Our Economy (Budget), and introduced supporting implementation legislation, Bill 269, Protecting the People of Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2021. In this FTR Now, we highlight certain aspects of the Budget that are of broad interest to…
Public Input Regarding Exemptions From The Police Record Checks Reform Act, 2015 Requested
On February 10, 2021, the Ontario government published a consultation paper seeking stakeholder input regarding possible changes to the exemptions from the Police Record Checks Reform Act, 2015 (Act). Because the information disclosed as a result of police record checks is often used to assist in determining suitability for employment, employers may wish to offer their…
Changes Proposed to Sexual Harassment and Violence Policies of Colleges, Universities and Private Career Colleges
On January 27, 2021, the Ontario government announced proposed changes to the sexual harassment and violence policies of colleges, universities and private career colleges. These policies are required by legislation. The government states the proposed changes are designed to increase campus safety and to encourage victims to report instances of sexual violence and harassment without…
Ontario Publishes Updated Tool for Screening Workers
The Ontario government has updated its COVID-19 tool for screening workers before they go to work each day. The “COVID-19 Screening Tool for Businesses and Organizations (Screening Workers),” issued by the Chief Medical Officer of Health, contains several changes of note to employers. These include: a reference to the regulatory screening requirement under O. Reg….
Ontario Court of Appeal Finds Anti-SLAPP Motions Can Apply To Causes of Action Beyond Defamation
The Ontario Court of Appeal recently released two decisions which consider the Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (SLAPP) provisions of the Courts of Justice Act. The provisions are aimed at discouraging actions that have the harmful effect of chilling individuals and organizations from speaking out on matters of public interest. The first decision of the…
Ontario Declares Emergency, Issues Stay-at-Home Order
On January 12, 2021, the Ontario government declared a second emergency under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA) in light of the surging COVID-19 cases in Ontario. The emergency declaration took effect immediately. At the same time, the government announced that it would be issuing a range of other orders to enhance the…