Further to its Economic Action Plan 2012, the federal government has announced the creation of a Panel on Labour Market Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities. The Panel has been charged with identifying private sector successes and best practices regarding labour market participation of persons with disabilities. It will also identify barriers and disincentives to employment…
Insights
Hicks Morley publishes a number of materials, both electronic and print, on issue-specific and sector-specific topics of interest to our clients. Our insights section has links to all of our various publications, updates and blogs, both current and historical, to keep you informed of developments in the law that impact human resources.
Human Resources Legislative Update
Letters of Credit Regulation Proposed to Implement Pension Reform Measures
On July 30, 2012, the Ontario Ministry of Finance posted details of a proposed, supporting regulation to implement the new framework for letters of credit under the yet to be proclaimed section 55.2 of the Pension Benefits Act (“PBA”). As noted in our “Pension Reform Measures in Ontario Have Arrived” FTR Now of July 27,…
FTR Now
Pension Reform Measures in Ontario have Arrived
Until recent years, the statutory framework governing occupational pension plans for Ontario employees had remained largely unchanged for 20 years. Then, in 2010 the Ontario government passed two significant pension reform Bills: Bill 236 and Bill 120. There have been four subsequent Bills which made further changes to the Pension Benefits Act (“PBA”). On July…
Human Resources Legislative Update
Temporary solvency relief extended for specified Ontario MEPPs
The Ontario government filed regulatory amendments extending temporary solvency relief another five years for specified Ontario multi-employer pension plans (“SOMEPPs”). O. Reg. 203/12 amends sections 6.01(2), 6.0.3(2) and 6.04(1)(b) of General Regulation 909 to extend the solvency funding relief to valuations dated on or before August 31, 2017, and is now in force. We anticipate…
Human Resources Legislative Update
House of Commons Adjourns Until September 17, 2012
On Thursday, June 21, 2012, the federal House of Commons adjourned until 11:00 a.m. (EDT) on Monday, September 17, 2012.
Human Resources Legislative Update
EI Regulations Giving Effect to Federal Budget 2012 Initiatives Now in Force
On June 20, 2012, Regulations Amending The Employment Insurance Regulations (“Regulations”) were registered and are now in force. Pilot Project No. 14, Pilot Project for Calculating Benefit Rate Based on Claimant’s 14 Highest Weeks of Insurance Earnings (Best 14 Weeks), previously scheduled to end on June 23, 2012, is extended by the Regulations and will…
FTR Now
Divisional Court Affirms Pay Equity Wage Grids and Restricts Tribunal’s Use of Human Rights Code
In a recent decision that will have implications for employers and service providers across Ontario, the Ontario Divisional Court has upheld an important 2010 ruling of the Pay Equity Hearings Tribunal (“PEHT”). In Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 1999 v. Lakeridge Health Corporation, the Court held that the decision of the PEHT regarding the…
Human Resources Legislative Update
Regulatory Amendments Proposed to Allow CPPIB/PSPIB to Rely on Prudent Person Standard
On June 23, 2012, the federal government published a proposed amendment to the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Regulations which would repeal section 12 of the Regulations. That section establishes quantitative investment limits in respect of Canadian resource and real properties. Repeal of this section would align the Regulations with the Pension Benefits Standards Regulation,…
Human Resources Legislative Update
MOL Safety Blitz Targets Construction Sites and Surface Mines
The Ontario government has announced that during the months of July and August 2012, the Ministry of Labour (“MOL”) will perform safety blitzes of construction sites and surface mines across Ontario. MOL inspectors will: check construction sites for hazards involving tower and mobile cranes; target activities involving the transportation of stone, sand, gravel and other…
FTR Now
Overtime Class Action Update
On June 26, 2012, the Court of Appeal for Ontario released three decisions in proposed overtime class actions in the latest development respecting claims for overtime by current and former employees. This FTR Now discusses these decisions. The first two cases were heard by the Court of Appeal consecutively and involve proposed class proceedings against…