FTR Now

CPP Deductions on Disability Payments: New Guidance from the Federal Court of Appeal

On January 28, 2010, the Federal Court of Appeal rendered its decision in Toronto Transit Commission v. Minister of National Revenue (“TTC”), which will be of interest to employers who provide long term disability (“LTD”) benefits to their employees through self-funded or administrative services only (“ASO”) arrangements.  According to the Court’s decision in TTC, Canada…

FTR Now

New Background Check Policies Squeezing Employers

Late last year, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (“RCMP”) issued a directive to agencies that facilitate national criminal background checks. The directive outlines significant changes to the process governing the dissemination of criminal record information, and the process by which such agencies may conduct name-based criminal record verifications. In this FTR Now, we discuss these…

School Board Update

School Board Update – Ontario’s 2010 Early Learning Program: Bracing for the Fallout

When was the last time your Board was involved in the legal “ins and outs” of a hotly contested certification drive before the Ontario Labour Relations Board? Ontario’s newly announced Early Learning Program could well provide you with an opportunity in the coming year. In this School Board Update, we discuss the ramifications and new…

FTR Now

Extending Access To Information Obligations To Ontario Hospitals: What Would It Mean?

In late October of last year, the Ontario Hospital Association asked the provincial government to extend coverage of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (“FIPPA”) to hospitals as a means of promoting transparency and public accountability. This bulletin outlines the basic features of Ontario’s access to information regime and raises questions about…

FTR Now

Municipalities Exposed To Construction Collective Agreements

In a recent decision, the Ontario Labour Relations Board (“OLRB”) held that key non-construction employer provisions of the Ontario Labour Relations Act, 1995 (the “Act”) were unconstitutional. In this FTR Now, we discuss how the decision could have an impact on the ability of municipalities to tender construction work. BACKGROUND The construction industry labour relations…

FTR Now

Ontario Introduces Draft Pension Reform Legislation

INTRODUCTION Following on the heels of the Report of the Ontario Expert Commission on Pensions (“OECP”), the Ontario Government released draft pension reform legislation on December 9, 2009. Bill 236, Pension Benefits Amendment Act, 2009 (“Bill 236”) marks the beginning of what the Government is calling a multi-stage pension reform process to modernize Ontario’s pension…

School Board Update

School Boards Exposed To Construction Collective Agreements

In a recent decision, the Ontario Labour Relations Board (“OLRB”) held that key non-construction employer provisions of the Ontario Labour Relations Act, 1995 (the “Act”) were unconstitutional.  In this FTR Now, we discuss how the decision could have an impact on school boards’ ability to tender construction work. Background The construction industry labour relations regime…

FTR Now

Ontario Releases New Pension Reform Legislation

Following swiftly on the heels of the Report of the Expert Commission on Pensions, the Ontario Government released draft pension reform legislation on December 9, 2009. The draft legislation marks the beginning of what the Government is calling a multi-stage pension reform process to modernize Ontario’s pension system. The legislation covers an array of issues,…

FTR Now

Ontario Government Passes Workplace Violence Legislation

On December 9, 2009, the Ontario Legislature passed Bill 168, the Occupational Health and Safety Amendment Act (Violence and Harassment in the Workplace), 2009. Bill 168 will come into effect on June 15, 2010. Bill 168, which requires employers to develop policies to address workplace violence and harassment and to assess the risk of violence…