2311 Results

Ontario Consults on Mandatory LTD Insurance Regulations

On January 16, 2015, the Ontario Ministry of Finance launched a public consultation on regulations to support the new requirement to insure long-term disability benefits. As previously reported, the Ontario government passed as yet unproclaimed amendments to the Insurance Act requiring employers who provide their employees with long-term disability (“LTD”) plan benefits to insure the…

Court Upholds Two-Year Limit on LOE Benefits for Workers Age 63 or Older

The Ontario Divisional Court’s recent decision upholding the two-year limitation on loss of earnings (“LOE”) benefits for workers age 63 and older should reassure employers that Ontario courts take notice that LOE benefits are not meant to be paid for life. Section 43(1)(c) of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act (“WSIA”) limits LOE entitlement for…

Alberta Extends Important Pension Reform Deadlines

As we previously reported, Alberta’s new Employment Pension Plans Act (the “EPPA”) and the accompanying Employment Pension Plans Regulation (“EPPA Regulations”) came into force on September 1, 2014. The new EPPA and the EPPA Regulations completely overhauled the existing pension legislation in Alberta, requiring significant alterations to pension plan terms and administrative practices of pension…

Alberta Amends Deadlines Relating to EPPA Reforms

On December 18, 2014, the Alberta government implemented a number of amendments to its Employment Pension Plans Regulation (“EPPA Regulations”), which came into force on September 1, 2014. Among other matters, the amendments provide the following: Extended Deadline – File EPPA Plan Amendments by June 30, 2015. Pension plans registered in Alberta and plans registered elsewhere…

Update on Ontario ORPP and PRPP Legislation

On December 8, 2014 the Ontario government introduced Bill 56, the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan Act, 2014 proposed legislation intended to institute the new Ontario Retirement Pension Plan (“ORPP”). That same day, the government also introduced Bill 57, the Pooled Registered Pension Plans Act, 2014, legislation that will, if passed, provide the legal framework for…

Elimination of Federal Card Check Union Certification and a Lower Threshold for Union Decertification Votes

Effective June 16, 2015, significant reforms to the existing federal union certification and decertification processes will come into effect as a result of key amendments to the Canada Labour Code, the Parliamentary Employee and Staff Relations Act and the Public Service Labour Relations Act. These amendments were enacted by Bill C-525, Employees’ Voting Rights Act, Private…

Significant Reforms to Federal Union Certification and Decertification Regime

On December 16, 2014, Bill C-525, Employees’ Voting Rights Act, received Royal Assent. This omnibus legislation amends the Canada Labour Code (“Code”), the Parliamentary Employee and Staff Relations Act and the Public Service Labour Relations Act to significantly reform the existing federal union certification and decertification processes under these three statutes. Of particular note to…

Ontario Releases ORPP Consultation Paper

On December 17, 2014, the Ontario government released a consultation paper inviting feedback on key design details and essential components of the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan (“ORPP”), including: defining a “comparable workplace pension plan,” to clarify membership in the ORPP; a minimum earnings threshold below which low-income workers would be exempt from contributions; and retirement…

Stephanie Jeronimo and Julia Nanos Publish an Article in the Winter Edition of OMHRA’s Newsletter ECHO

Hicks Morley’s Stephanie Jeronimo and Julia Nanos co-authored an article in the winter edition of ECHO, a newsletter published by the Ontario Municipal Human Resources Association. In the article, entitled “Off-Duty Social Media Posts by Employees can be Cause for Discipline – Including Discharge” three recent arbitrations are examined, where the grievors had been discharged for off-duty posts…

Maintaining a Workplace Free of Sexual Harassment

Over the past several months, the issue of workplace sexual harassment has been in the spotlight and the subject of considerable discussion. In response to recent media attention, the Ontario Human Rights Commission recently issued a statement reiterating the legal duty of employers to prevent sexual harassment and to respond to any complaints in the…