On December 12, 2017, Bill 174, Cannabis, Smoke-Free Ontario and Road Safety Statute Law Amendment Act, 2017 received Royal Assent. As we previously reported, Bill 174 is omnibus legislation enacting the Cannabis Act, 2017 and the Ontario Cannabis Retail Corporation Act, 2017 which will regulate the cultivation, sale, distribution and consumption of cannabis in Ontario. It also…
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.
FTR Now
Bill 175: Restructuring Policing in Ontario
The Ontario government has introduced a package of legislative measures intended to significantly restructure the way policing is governed in the province. The proposed legislation, Bill 175, the Safer Ontario Act, 2017, will repeal and replace the existing Police Services Act (PSA) and introduce several new statutes designed to improve accountability, oversight and community safety. Learn more in this FTR Now.
Case In Point
Ontario Court Confirms that “Location Matters” in Charter Claims
In Thain v. Pattison Outdoor Advertising LP, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice stayed an Ontario resident’s freedom of expression claim under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (Charter), finding that the Court lacked jurisdiction over the subject matter of the litigation and that “[t]he interests of justice overwhelmingly favour Manitoba as the appropriate and…
FTR Now
Colleges and Universities: Who is the Health Information Custodian under PHIPA?
This is a short note to our college and university clients – all of whom provide various services to their communities that are properly characterized as “health care” and therefore governed by the Personal Health Information Protection Act. Recent amendments to PHIPA give rise to questions about personal health information governance and the proper identity…
FTR Nexus
Setting up Shop in Canada? What U.S. Employers Need to Know About Canadian Human Rights Law
While Canada and the United States are alike in many respects, there are a few key differences in human rights law that U.S. employers should be aware of if you are considering buying, selling or operating a business in Canada.
FTR Now
The Road Ahead: Are You Prepared for Bill 148?
Bill 148, the Fair Workplaces, Betters Jobs Act, 2017 is now in force, having received Royal Assent on November 27, 2017. With it comes substantial changes to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) and the Labour Relations Act, 1995 (LRA), as well as changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). In this FTR Now, we have consolidated and summarized the information provided to clients previously in a series of updates that tracked the development of Bill 148…
Case In Point
CRTC Decision Provides Important Guidance on Anti-Spam Legislation
A recent compliance and enforcement decision of the Canada Radio-television and Communications Commission (Decision 2017-368) under Canada’s Anti Spam legislation (Act) provides useful guidance for organizations seeking to rely on the Act’s “business-to-business” exclusion, or implied consent, to send commercial electronic messages (CEMs). It also has significant implications for any organization making representations to the…
Human Resources Legislative Update
Deadline for Submissions on Exemptions under ESA Extended
As we previously reported, the Ontario government is seeking input on the following occupations currently exempted under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA): Architects Domestic Workers, Homemakers and Residential Care Workers IT Professionals Managerial and Supervisory Employees Pharmacists Residential Building Superintendents, Janitors and Caretakers The exclusion of domestic workers under the Labour Relations Act, 1995…
Human Resources Legislative Update
WSIB Rate Framework Policy Consultation Extended (Again)
As we previously reported, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board launched a public consultation on draft policies for the new Rate Framework, which is scheduled to be implemented on January 1, 2020. In October 2017, the deadline for submissions for the Rate Framework Policy Consultation was extended to December 5, 2017. The deadline for submissions…
FTR Now
AODA Compliance: Are You Ready to File Your Report?
All organizations in Ontario employing at least one employee are required to comply with a series of requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) standards and regulations. For organizations with 20 or more employees, the next mandatory reporting deadline is December 31, 2017. Learn more about your pending and future AODA compliance obligations and our AODA Compliance Checklist for employers in this FTR Now.