FTR Now

Planning For a Safe Holiday Office Party

It is that time of year again when employers are planning their holiday festivities. Whether the festivity is large or small, it remains as important as ever that employers take proactive steps to ensure the health and safety of their employees who attend office parties or other celebrations. Over the years, a number of court…

Human Resources Legislative Update

WSIB temporary indexing factor of 0.5% extended to 2011 and 2012

On November 1, 2010, the Ontario government published O. Reg. 405/10, made under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997. The regulation amends O. Reg. 454/09, which established, for the purposes of subsections 51(5) and 52(1.3) of the Act, a temporary indexing factor of 0.5% for the year 2010. O.Reg. 405/10 extends the application of…

FTR Now

Arbitrator Upholds Right of Fire Department to Alter Service Levels During Statutory Freeze

On November 8, 2010, Arbitrator Chauvin issued a significant award which confirmed a fire department’s right to manage its operations by determining staffing levels. Arbitrator Chauvin also concluded that the statutory freeze imposed by the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997 (“FPPA“) preserved this right and permitted the City to make changes to service levels…

Human Resources Legislative Update

New OHSA Regulations Filed

On November 5, 2010, the Ontario government filed a number of regulatory amendments under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, including: O. Reg. 419/10, amending Table 1 of Regulation 833 of the Revised Regulations of Ontario, 1990 (Control of Exposure to Biological or Chemical Agents); and O. Reg. 420/10, amending Regulation 851 (Industrial Establishments). The…

Human Resources Legislative Update

WSIB Releases Work Reintegration Policies for Consultation

The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board has released interim Work Reintegration policies and a draft Work Reintegration NEER policy for stakeholder consultation. Stakeholders can submit their responses in writing until February 15, 2011. The interim Work Reintegration policies integrate Early and Safe Return to Work, Re-Employment and Labour Market Re-entry and are to become effective…

Human Resources Legislative Update

Pension Reform Bill Referred to Committee Under Accelerated Schedule for Consideration and Debate

On November 3, 2010, the Ontario government passed a special time allocation motion setting out an accelerated timetable for the full consideration and debate of Bill 120, the Securing Pension Benefits Now and for the Future Act, 2010, by December 2, 2010.

Human Resources Legislative Update

Ontario’s Good Government Bill Referred to Committee

On November 4, 2010, Bill 110, the Good Government Act, carried at Second Reading and was referred to the Standing Committee on General Government. As previously reported, Bill 110 is omnibus legislation that would, if passed, make a number of amendments to various Acts, including several employment-related statutes.

FTR Now

Government Introduces Public Sector Accountability Legislation

On October 20, 2010, the Ontario government introduced Bill 122, the Public Sector Accountability Act, 2010. The basic purpose of the new Act is to regulate the spending of public funds by the broader public sector in a variety of areas, including the use of lobbyists, expense accounts and procurement. In addition, the Bill would…