Case In Point

Supreme Court Affirms Broad Public Sector Decision-Making Privilege

Below is a post I wrote for All About Information regarding a significant decision rendered by the Supreme Court of Canada last Friday on the scope of the “advice and recommendations” exemption from disclosure found in the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act: “Yesterday the Supreme Court of Canada held that the “advice and recommendations” exemption…

FTR Now

CAPSA Releases Guideline on Defined Contribution Pension Plans

On March 28, 2014, the Canadian Association of Pension Supervisory Authorities (“CAPSA”), the association which represents all Canadian pension regulators, released the final version of Guideline No. 8: Defined Contribution Pension Plans, (“DC Guidelines”) along with an accompanying reference document. The DC Guidelines were issued following the circulation of a draft version and extensive public…

Human Resources Legislative Update

Increased Cancer Coverage Under WSIA for Firefighters

On May 2, 2014, prior to the dissolution of the Legislature, the Ontario government published regulatory amendments to s. 4 of Ontario Regulation 253/07 made under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 (“WSIA”). O. Reg. 113/14 adds the following six cancers to the list of diseases that are prescribed for the purposes of the presumptive…

FTR Now

Minimum Wage Increase to Come Into Effect June 1, 2014

Employers are reminded that the minimum wage rate prescribed under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (“ESA”) will be increasing on June 1, 2014, notwithstanding the recent dissolution of the Legislature and subsequent election call. As previously reported on our legislative blog, the increase to the minimum wage rate was accomplished by regulation on February 14,…

FTR Now

Ontario Budget 2014 and the Provincial Election – Voting Requirements and More

Last week saw significant developments at Queen’s Park that will be of interest to all employers in Ontario. On Thursday, May 1, 2014, the Ontario government introduced its 2014 Budget, entitled Building Opportunity, Securing Our Future (the “Budget”). On the same day, the government introduced Bill 194, the Building Opportunity and Securing Our Future Act…

FTR Now

Federal Court of Appeal Upholds Johnstone, Clarifies Nature and Scope of Family Status Protections

On May 2, 2014, the Federal Court of Appeal unanimously upheld the findings of the Federal Court concerning an employer’s obligation to provide workplace accommodation for an employee’s childcare needs in Canada (Attorney General) v. Johnstone (“Johnstone“), a case that has garnered significant media attention. As the first decision from an appellate-level court on this…

Human Resources Legislative Update

Provincial Parliament Dissolved; General Election on June 12, 2014

On May 2, 2014, the 40th Parliament of Ontario was dissolved. As a result, all outstanding business before the Legislative Assembly, including all government and Private Members’ Bills, expired on the Order Paper. Parliament will reconvene following the general election, which has been set for June 12, 2014. More information is available in our FTR…

Case In Point

Employer Permitted to Define “Spouse” under Benefit Plan to Exclude Married but Separated Spouses

In a recent decision of the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal (“Tribunal”) in VanderLinde v. Oshawa (City)  (“VanderLinde”), the Tribunal found that it is not discriminatory for an employer to require that an employee’s legally married spouse be living with the employee as a condition of eligibility as a spouse under its group benefit plan. In…

Human Resources Legislative Update

Ontario Government Introduces Budget 2014

On May 1, 2014, the Ontario government tabled its Budget 2014: Building Opportunity, Securing Our Future. An FTR Now providing an analysis of proposals of interest to employers and plan administrators will be available shortly on our website.