Insights

FTR Now

Ontario Government Provides Temporary Relief from ESA Termination and Severance Provisions in Response to COVID-19

· 9 min read
By: Paul E. Broad, Simon E. C. Mortimer, George G. Vuicic, Mark H. Mason, Craig S. Rix

On Friday, May 29, 2020, the Ontario government published a new regulation under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) that is intended to provide temporary relief from the ESA’s termination and severance provisions for employers whose operations have been shut down or otherwise curtailed by COVID-19 – O. Reg. 228/20, Infectious Disease Emergency Leave (IDEL Regulation).

Federal Post

Federal Government Proposes Significant Workplace Law Reforms

· 20 min read
By: Simon E. C. Mortimer, Lauri A. Reesor, Jodi Gallagher Healy, Alyson Frankie

On October 29, 2018, the federal government tabled Bill C-86, the Budget Implementation Act, 2018, No. 2, omnibus legislation giving effect to certain initiatives in its 2018 Federal Budget. If passed, the Bill will make substantial changes to the Canada Labour Code and enact a federal Pay Equity Act, among other things. For federally regulated…

FTR Now

End of the Bill 148 Era: Ontario Bill to Reverse Employment and Labour Reforms

· 17 min read
By: Paul E. Broad, Craig S. Rix, Simon E. C. Mortimer, Amanda Hunter

On October 23, 2018, the Ontario government introduced Bill 47, the Making Ontario Open for Business Act, 2018 (Bill 47), new legislation that if passed in its present form would effectively “undo” many of the key changes to workplace laws implemented by Bill 148. The range of changes to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA)…

FTR Now

More Changes to Bill 148 after Second Committee Review

· 16 min read
By: Paul E. Broad, Simon E. C. Mortimer, Craig S. Rix, Amanda Hunter, Elizabeth Winter

On November 16, 2017, the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs (the Committee) adopted significant amendments to Bill 148, the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017 (Bill 148). These amendments are in addition to amendments the Committee made in August of this year after First Reading of Bill 148, and are expected to be adopted by the Legislature in the near future.

FTR Quarterly

FTR Quarterly – Issue 6

· 16 min read
By: Simon E. C. Mortimer

In This Issue Gender Identity and Gender Expression: Best Practices for Employers and Service Providers FTRQ&A – Bill C-45, the Cannabis Act Quick Hit – Changing Workplaces Review: A Bill 148 Timeline The Dos & Don’ts of Employment Reference Letters: Best Practices for Employers Featured Lawyer – Simon Mortimer Featured Group – Pay Equity Featured Articles…

FTR Now

Ontario Proposes Legislative Overhaul of Labour Relations Act, 1995 in Bill 148 – Are you Prepared?

· 17 min read
By: Michael S. Smyth, Simon E. C. Mortimer, Craig S. Rix

The provincial government has wasted little time in responding to the Final Report of the Special Advisors under Ontario’s Changing Workplaces Review (Final Report). On June 1, 2017, the government introduced Bill 148, the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017, legislation that if passed, will implement significant reforms to both the Employment Standards Act, 2000…

FTR Now

Focus Le rapport final de l’examen portant sur l’évolution des milieux de travail – Analyse de la Loi de 1995 sur les relations de travail

· 15 min read
By: Simon E. C. Mortimer, Michael S. Smyth

Dans cette mise à jour relative au Rapport final des conseillers spéciaux de l’examen portant sur l’évolution des milieux de travail (le « Rapport final »), nous nous concentrons sur les recommandations des conseillers relativement aux modifications proposées à la Loi de 1995 sur les relations de travail (LRT)…

FTR Now

Changing Workplaces Review Final Report – Focus on the Labour Relations Act, 1995

· 11 min read
By: Simon E. C. Mortimer, Michael S. Smyth

In this update related to the Final Report of the Special Advisors under Ontario’s Changing Workplaces Review (Final Report), we focus on the recommendations made by the Special Advisors regarding changes to the Labour Relations Act, 1995 (LRA). While some of the key issues we identify in our discussion overlap with recommendations relating to the…

Human Resources Legislative Update

New Private Member Bill Proposes “Card Check” Unionization, First Contract Arbitration Model for Ontario

· 4 min read
By: Simon E. C. Mortimer, Craig S. Rix

On April 4, 2017, the New Democratic Party (NDP) of Ontario introduced private member legislation that would amend the Labour Relations Act, 1995 (Act) to bring “card check” union certification back to Ontario for the first time since 1995, and to implement a new first contract arbitration process. It is important to note that private…

Federal Post

Federal Post – Third Edition

· 22 min read
By: Jodi Gallagher Healy, George G. Vuicic, Frank Cesario, Simon E. C. Mortimer, Lisa Mills, Gabrielle Fortier-Cofsky

Along with the arrival of spring, we are pleased to bring you the first Federal Post edition of 2016, our newsletter designed exclusively for federally regulated employers…

Federal Post

Federal Post – First Edition

· 19 min read
By: Simon E. C. Mortimer, Jodi Gallagher Healy, Gregory J. Power, Sean P. Porter, Joseph Cohen-Lyons, Lisa Mills, Alyson Frankie

Dear Friends, We are excited to bring to you our first edition of the Federal Post, a newsletter designed exclusively for federally regulated employers. The Federal Post discusses issues that are topical, timely and important. It will cover the gamut of matters which impact your workplace, from human rights to minimum standards to labour relations…