Human Resources Legislative Update

Bill 181, Mandatory Retirement Legislation For Firefighters, Receives Royal Assent

On June 1, 2011, Bill 181, Fire Protection and Prevention Amendment Act, 2011, received Royal Assent. As previously reported, Bill 181 amends the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997 to provide for the mandatory retirement at age 60 of firefighters regularly assigned to fire suppression duties, in certain circumstances, and impose a duty of fair…

Human Resources Legislative Update

Application of PSLRTA Extended by Regulation to Amalgamations of Children’s Aid Societies

On June 27, 2011, the Ontario government filed O. Reg. 314/11 under the Public Sector Labour Relations Transition Act, 1997 (“Act”). O. Reg 314/11 extends the application of the Act to the amalgamations of any two or more of the children’s aid societies designated in the regulation. O. Reg. 314/11 came into force on July…

Human Resources Legislative Update

Bill 133 Regulations (Asset Division on Marriage Breakdown) Filed Under Pension Benefits Act

On June 24, 2011, the Ontario government filed long-anticipated regulations in support of amendments to the Pension Benefits Act effected by Bill 133, the Family Statute Law Amendment Act, 2009. O. Reg. 287/11 (Family Law Matters) follows the previously reported March 2011 release of draft regulations and a related Consultation Paper, and reflects that consultation…

Human Resources Legislative Update

FSCO Releases Guidance Note on Revised CIA Standards of Practice

The Financial Services Commission of Ontario (“FSCO”) released its Guidance Note (PDF) with respect to how it expects plans to apply the revised Canadian Institute of Actuaries’ (“CIA”) Practice-Specific Standards for Pension Plans (the “Standards”). The Guidance Note expressly states that the application of some of the CIA revisions to the Standards, which became effective…

News

Broader Public Sector Perquisites Directive Issued by the Ontario Government

Management Board of Cabinet has issued the Broader Public Sector Perquisites Directive (the Directive), dated August 2, 2011, which will apply to any person in a designated broader public sector (BPS) organization, including appointees, board members, elected officials (e.g. school trustees) and employees. The Directive has been issued under the provisions of the Broader Public…

Human Resources Legislative Update

Education Act Regulations Filed: Extended Day and Third Party Programs

On June 7, 2011, the Ontario government filed the following two regulations under the Education Act: O. Reg. 221/11, Extended Day and Third Party Programs, which revokes O. Reg. 225/10 (“Extended Day Programs” for schools subject to section 259 of the Act); and O. Reg. 220/11, Full Day Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten, which revoked Schedule…

FTR Now

Ontario Government Releases Final Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation Under the AODA

On June 3, 2011, the Ontario government released the final Integrated Accessibility Standards regulation (the “Final Regulation”) under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (the “AODA” or the “Act“). The Final Regulation combines accessibility standards in three areas – information and communication, employment, and transportation – and comes into force July 1, 2011….

Human Resources Legislative Update

“Publicly Funded Organization” Exclusions Designated Under BPS Act

On June 7, 2011, the Ontario government filed a regulation under the Broader Public Sector Accountability Act, 2010, expressly designating (1) district social services administration boards established under the District Social Services Administration Boards Act, and (2) “First Nations” as defined in the Indian Act as excluded “Publicly Funded Organizations” for the purposes of the…

Human Resources Legislative Update

Pension Agreements With “Designated Jurisdictions,” Aggregate Funding of AbiBow Pension Plan Regulations Filed

On June 3, 2011, the Ontario government filed two regulations under the Pension Benefits Act. O. Reg. 195/11 amends General Regulation 909 by creating a new section, “Designated Jurisdictions and Agreements with Designated Jurisdictions”, and a Table listing multi-jurisdictional agreements entered into under section 100 of the Act, and the date on which the agreement…

News

Canada Revenue Agency Provides Further Information about New Volunteer Firefighter Tax Credit

As originally announced in March of 2011 and confirmed with the re-introduction of the Federal Budget on June 6, the Budget proposes a non-refundable tax credit for volunteer firefighters for 2011 and future tax years. This credit will be available to volunteer firefighters who perform at least 200 hours of service for their communities during…