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FTR Now

Ontario Budget 2019: Protecting What Matters Most – Key Human Resources Highlights

· 16 min read
By: Natasha D. Monkman, Paul E. Broad, Sukhvinder K. Dulay, Tierney Read Grieve, Jordan Fremont

On April 11, 2019, the Ontario government tabled its 2019 Budget, Protecting What Matters Most (Budget), and introduced supporting implementation legislation, Bill 100, the Protecting What Matters Most Act (Budget Measures), 2019 (Bill 100).

The Budget outlines key initiatives around broader public sector compensation, reforms within the healthcare sector, registered pension plans, freedom of information, and more. In this FTR Now, we highlight the proposals that are of particular interest to employers, benefits plan administrators and human resources professionals.

Human Resources Legislative Update

Ontario Budget 2019 Tabled

· 1 min read
By: Tierney Read Grieve

On April 11, 2019, the Ontario government tabled its Budget 2019, “Protecting What Matters Most.” We are reviewing the Budget and an FTR Now highlighting initiatives of interest to employers, human resources professionals and pension plan administrators will be available shortly on our website.

FTR Now

The Outlook is More Change: Ontario Proposes Significant Reforms to Pension and Employment-Related Statutes

· 9 min read
By: Natasha D. Monkman, Paul E. Broad, Tierney Read Grieve, Paul Migicovsky, Alyson Frankie

The Ontario government’s Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review (Fiscal Review) and supporting omnibus legislation, Bill 57, the Restoring Trust, Transparency and Accountability Act, 2018 (Bill 57), propose a number of significant reforms and initiatives to pension, benefit, tax and employment-related legislation that will impact your workplace and pension plan administration. Bill 57 also contains proposals related specifically to fire services, which were outlined in our prior communication, Ontario Government Tables Legislation Impacting Bargaining and Interest Arbitration in the Fire Sector.

FTR Now

Ontario Budget 2018

· 14 min read
By: Natasha D. Monkman, Tierney Read Grieve, Paul Migicovsky, Jordan Fremont, Alyson Frankie

On March 28, 2018, the Ontario government tabled its 2018 Budget, A Plan for Care and Opportunity and introduced Bill 31, the Plan for Care and Opportunity Act (Budget Measures), 2018. The Budget outlines key initiatives around retirement security and pension reform, healthcare, education, further initiatives to specifically address gender equality issues, representation of women, and more…

Human Resources Legislative Update

2018 Ontario Budget Tabled

· 1 min read
By: Tierney Read Grieve

On March 28, 2018, the Ontario government tabled its Budget 2018, A Plan for Care and Opportunity. We are currently reviewing the Budget and an FTR Now highlighting initiatives of particular interest to employers, human resource professionals and pension plan administrators will be available shortly on our website.

FTR Quarterly

FTR Quarterly – Issue 8

· 12 min read
By: Amanda E. Lawrence-Patel, Tierney Read Grieve, Pamela M. Hillen

In This Issue 10 Top Developments in Human Resources Law in 2017 The Road Ahead: Key 2018 Implementation Dates Cross-Border Expertise Featured Articles 10 Top Developments in Human Resources Law in 2017 By: Amanda Lawrence-Patel 2017 was quite a year for news – with harassment revelations that have rocked institutions across North America, a new…

Human Resources Legislative Update

Ontario to Introduce Significant Amendments to Employment and Labour Laws

· 3 min read
By: Tierney Read Grieve

On May 30, 2017, the Ontario government announced its intention to introduce The Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017 (Act), omnibus legislation proposing a series of broad ranging, significant amendments to Ontario’s Employment Standards Act, 2000 and Labour Relations Act, 1995. According to the government’s announcement, the Act will contain a package of proposed legislative…

Human Resources Legislative Update

Federal Budget Implementation Legislation Introduced

· 1 min read
By: Tierney Read Grieve

On April 11, 2017, the federal government introduced Bill C-44, the Budget Implementation Act, 2017, No. 1, omnibus legislation that would enact various measures outlined in its 2017 Budget. The accompanying Department of Finance Backgrounder indicates that Bill C-44 would, among other things, amend the Employment Insurance Act to: allow parents to choose to receive Employment…

FTR Now

Federal Budget 2017

· 13 min read
By: Jodi Gallagher Healy, Tierney Read Grieve, Elizabeth Brown, Lisa Mills, Terra Klinck, John Prezioso, Adrian Scotchmer, Alyson Frankie

On March 22, 2017, the federal government tabled its 2017 Budget, Building A Strong Middle Class (#Budget2017). The Budget provides an economic and fiscal overview and introduces a series of programs, reforms and spending initiatives which focus on…

FTR Quarterly

FTR Quarterly – Issue 5, Volume 1

· 8 min read
By: Stephen J. Shamie, Siobhan M. O’Brien, Tierney Read Grieve, Mireille Khoraych

This year, 2017, marks an important milestone in the history of our firm. In 1972, Bob Hicks, Colin Morley, Fred Hamilton, Bruce Stewart, Tom Storie, Chris Riggs, Harvey Beresford and John Murray were the founding members of our firm and started their practice as Hicks, Morley, Hamilton, Stewart, Storie…

FTR Quarterly

FTR Quarterly – Issue 4, Volume 1

· 14 min read
By: Thomas W. Agnew, Amy R. Tibble, Tierney Read Grieve, Craig Lawrence

This issue features articles on; Human Resources Trends and Issues to Watch in 2017, the Top 10 Developments in Human Resources Law in 2016 and the Featured Lawyer is Amy R. Tibble…

FTR Quarterly

FTR Quarterly – 2016, Issue 3

· 15 min read
By: Nadine S. Zacks, Tierney Read Grieve, Samantha Seabrook

This issue features; Bill 132 Workplace Sexual Harassment Legislation – What’s Next? and WSIB Rate Group Reform: Five Ways it Will Impact Your Business. The featured lawyer is Nadine S. Zacks and the featured group is Occupational Health…

FTR Now

WSIAT Finds WSIB’s Fatal Claim Premium Adjustment Policy Contrary to WSIA

· 8 min read
By: Jodi Gallagher Healy, Edward J. O’Dwyer, David J. Bannon, Tierney Read Grieve

In a recent decision, the majority of a Workplace Safety and Insurance Tribunal (Tribunal) Panel ruled that the WSIB’s Fatal…

Human Resources Legislative Update

New ESA “Tips and Gratuities” Exemption for Prescribed Credit Card Charges

· 1 min read
By: Tierney Read Grieve

On May 6, 2016, the Ontario government prescribed a regulatory exemption for certain credit card payment processing fees in connection with pending reforms to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) enacted by Bill 12, Protecting Employees’ Tips Act, 2015. Ontario regulation 125/16 (Tips and Other Gratuities) provides that the definition of “tips and gratuities” in…

Human Resources Legislative Update

Federal Government Consults on PIPEDA Data Breach Regulations

· 2 min read
By: Tierney Read Grieve, Daniel Michaluk

On March 4, 2016, the federal government posted Data Breach Notification and Reporting Regulations (Regulations) for public discussion. Amendments to the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) enacted by the Digital Privacy Act (Bill S-4) will, upon proclamation, require private sector organizations to notify the public in circumstances where security safeguards involving their…

FTR Now

Federal Budget 2016

· 8 min read
By: Tierney Read Grieve, Lisa Mills, Terra Klinck, Gabrielle Fortier-Cofsky, Jordan Fremont

On March 22, 2016, the federal government tabled its 2016 Budget, Growing the Middle Class (Budget). While certain key legislative initiatives are already underway in respect of reforms to the federal labour regime…

Human Resources Legislative Update

Ontario Proposes Elimination of the “30% Rule” for Pension Investment

· 2 min read
By: Tierney Read Grieve

Further to announcements made in its 2015 Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review, the Ontario government is soliciting feedback on proposed regulatory reforms that would eliminate the current investment rule that prohibits plan administrators from making investments that result in pension funds owning more than 30% of the voting shares of a corporation. The so-called “30% rule”…

FTR Now

ORPP Implementation Delayed to January 1, 2018

· 3 min read
By: Natasha D. Monkman, Tierney Read Grieve, Jordan Fremont

On February 16, 2016, the Ontario government announced that the first wave of Ontario Registered Pension Plan (“ORPP”) implementation has been delayed by one year to January 1, 2018. This change, which impacts certain large employers with more than 500 employees, is one of several significant developments outlined in this FTR Now. THE ANNOUNCEMENT The…

Human Resources Legislative Update

New Proposed Federal Bill to Reverse Canada Labour Code Certification and Decertification Reforms, C-377 Union Disclosure Obligations

· 2 min read
By: Tierney Read Grieve

Further to its election platform, on January 28, 2016, the federal government introduced Bill C-4, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code, the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act, the Public Service Labour Relations Act and the Income Tax Act. Among other things, this legislation would, if passed, amend the Canada Labour Code (“CLC”) to effectively repeal…

FTR Now

Changes to the Federal Pension Investment Rules

· 7 min read
By: Tierney Read Grieve, Terra Klinck

In March 2015, the federal government published final regulations amending investment rules under the Pension Benefits Standards Regulations, 1985 (“Regulations”). These reforms apply to federally registered pension plans and to pension plans registered in provincial jurisdictions that have adopted Schedule III of the Regulations, as amended (the “Federal Investment Rules” or “FIR”). As we previously…

FTR Now

Ontario Budget 2015

· 14 min read
By: Natasha D. Monkman, Tierney Read Grieve, John Prezioso, Jordan Fremont

On April 23, 2015, the Ontario Minister of Finance tabled the 2015 provincial Budget, “Building Ontario Up” (“Budget”), and Bill 91, Building Ontario Up Act (Budget Measures), 2015 (“Bill 91”), omnibus legislation designed to implement some of the proposals contained in the Budget. In this FTR Now, we highlight some of the key proposals that…

FTR Now

Federal Budget 2015

· 13 min read
By: Stephanie J. Kalinowski, Tierney Read Grieve, Jennifer Del Vecchio, Lisa Mills

On April 21, 2015, the Minister of Finance tabled the 2015 Federal Budget, “Strong Leadership: A Balanced-Budget, Low-Tax Plan for Jobs, Growth and Security.” This FTR Now focuses on some of the key proposals that are of particular interest to employers, human resources professionals and pension plan administrators. These include: changes to registered retirement income…

FTR Now

Hicks Morley Introduces Case Law Blog

· 3 min read
By: Tierney Read Grieve, Pamela M. Hillen, Heather Colman

Hicks Morley is pleased to announce the launch of Case In Point, a blog designed to provide human resources professionals with timely information about interesting case law developments in a range of employment-related areas. In this FTR Now, we highlight the features of this new service. BACKGROUND In 2010, Hicks Morley launched Human Resources Legislative…

FTR Now

Hicks Morley Introduces Legislative Update Blog

· 3 min read
By: Tierney Read Grieve, Heather Colman

Hicks Morley is pleased to announce the launch of Human Resources Legislative Update, a blog designed to provide human resources professionals with timely information about developments in a range of employment-related areas. In this FTR Now, we highlight the features of this new service. To access the blog click here. BACKGROUND Since 1997, Hicks Morley…

FTR Now

Ban on Hand-Held Devices And Display Screens Starts In October

· 5 min read
By: Tierney Read Grieve

In our FTR Now of September 24, 2009, “Cell Phone and Blackberry Restrictions For Drivers Are Coming Into Force: Is Your Workplace Ready?,” we provided you with a detailed overview of the new legislation restricting the use of hand-held mobile technology devices and presence of display screens while driving. Yesterday, the Ontario Government announced that…

FTR Now

Cell Phone And Blackberry Restrictions For Drivers Are Coming Into Force: Is Your Workplace Ready?

· 5 min read
By: Tierney Read Grieve

CLICK HERE FOR UPDATED INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMING INTO FORCE OF BILL 118 Earlier this year, the Ontario Government passed legislation restricting the use of cell phones and mobile technology devices while operating motor vehicles. In anticipation of its coming into force later this fall, this FTR Now addresses the precautionary measures employers should implement…

FTR Now

The Supreme Court Rules on the Enforcement of Restrictive Covenants

· 5 min read
By: Tierney Read Grieve, Stephen Gleave

In an important decision released today, the Supreme Court of Canada has found that restrictive covenants in employment contracts intended to limit an employee’s right to compete against its employer after the employment relationship ends will be unenforceable if they contain ambiguous language or unreasonable terms, subject only to very limited exceptions. This case sends…

FTR Now

Responding to Disclosure Demands at the Bargaining Table: Employer Rights and Obligations

· 4 min read
By: Tierney Read Grieve

As we enter 2009, many Social Services organizations are looking ahead to upcoming negotiations with unions for the renewal of their collective agreements. Some of our clients have already reported an increasing trend among unions to initiate broad disclosure requests well in advance of actual bargaining. However, employers in Ontario are not necessarily obliged to…

FTR Now

New Job-Protected Leave for Military Reservists

· 4 min read
By: Tierney Read Grieve

In this issue: Background A New Job-Protected Leave Employee Obligations Employer Obligations On December 3, 2007, the Ontario government introduced and passed Bill 2, the Fairness for Military Families Act (Employment Standards and Health Insurance), 2007. In part, this legislation amends the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (the “ESA”) to create a new job-protected leave for…