Federal Post

Federal Government Passes Legislation to Ban Replacement Workers

On June 20, 2024, Bill C-58, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code and the Canada Industrial Relations Board Regulations, 2012 (Bill C-58) received royal assent. Among other things, Bill C-58 bans the use of replacement workers in federally regulated workplaces, subject to certain exceptions. This legislation will take effect on June 20, 2025….

Human Resources Legislative Update

Federal Pay Equity Commissioner May Now Impose Monetary Penalties for Violations of the Pay Equity Act

Recent amendments to the federal Pay Equity Act (PEA) regulations establish a framework for the imposition of administrative monetary penalties (AMPs) for violations of the PEA. This is a significant development that may result in an employer being penalized if it fails to comply with its obligations, including the requirement to establish a pay equity…

Human Resources Legislative Update

Certain Employment Standards Act, 2000 Amendments Take Effect June 21, 2024

On March 21, 2024, Ontario’s Bill 149, Working for Workers Four Act, 2024 (Bill 149) received Royal Assent. Our FTR Now of that date provided an overview of this legislation. A number of the amendments to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) contained in Bill 149 take effect June 21, 2024 and are outlined below. Effective June 21, 2024:…

Human Resources Legislative Update

Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario Releases Guidance on Information-Sharing in Situations of Intimate Partner Violence

In May 2024, the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario released Sharing Information in Situations Involving Intimate Partner Violence: Guidance for Professionals (the Guidance). The Guidance was developed as a result of a 2022 coroner’s inquest into three deaths caused by intimate partner violence (IPV). The Guidance is helpful for organizations, service providers and staff…

Raising the Bar

Federal Court Issues Updated Notice Regarding the Use of AI in Court Proceedings

In light of the increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the legal profession, the Federal Court has issued an updated notice regarding the use of AI in Court proceedings (Notice). The Notice implements procedural safeguards for the use of AI in legal proceedings and imposes certain duties on counsel with respect to AI use….

Common Ground? Class Action Updates

Court Stays Employee Misclassification Class Action in Favour of Arbitration

In Wasylyk v. Lyft, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice issued a stay of a proposed employee misclassification class action in favour of private arbitration. The case provides an illustration of the factors that may support the enforceability of an arbitration clause in disputes related to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA). The plaintiff filed…

Human Resources Legislative Update

Update on Federal Pay Equity Plan Posting Extension Requests

As discussed in our March 11, 2024 Human Resources Legislative Update, federally regulated employers are required to post their final pay equity plans and notices of pay increases by September 3, 2024. An employer may file a request for authorization to extend this posting deadline, and guidance documents related to this authorization process are available…

Case In Point

Student Violence May Form Basis for a Teacher’s Lawful Work Refusal

A recent Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) decision found that two teachers engaged in a lawful work refusal when they refused to return to work following a classroom incident where a student engaged in a violent episode against another staff member. In Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association v Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, three teachers…

Human Resources Legislative Update

Ontario Budget Bill Receives Royal Assent

As discussed in our April 3, 2024 FTR Now, on March 26, 2024, the Ontario government tabled its 2024 Budget and introduced Bill 180, Building a Better Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2024 (Bill 180). Bill 180 received Royal Assent on May 16, 2024. Employers, human resources professionals and pension plan administrators should be aware of…