224 Results

Supreme Court of Canada Hears Case Involving the Intersection of Privacy and Labour Relations Rights

The Supreme Court of Canada recently heard an appeal that involves the intersection of privacy rights with a union’s duty of representation to its membership. At issue was the request of the appellant that her employer not disclose her personal information to her union, to which she was obligated to pay dues but declined to…

New Privacy Legislation in Manitoba

Organizations with operations in Manitoba need to be aware that the Manitoba Legislature has recently passed new privacy legislation that will apply to the private sector and, to a lesser degree, to the not-for-profit sector – The Personal Information Protection and Identity Theft Prevention Act (“PIPITPA” or the “Act”). PIPITPA will establish rules for the…

Ontario Introduces Electronic Personal Health Information Protection Bill

On May 29, 2013, the Ontario government introduced Bill 78, Electronic Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2013. If passed, Bill 78 would amend certain statutes with respect to electronic health records. Such amendments would, among other things, add Part V.1, “Electronic Health Records” to the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (“PHIPA”) which includes: requiring…

Changes to Temporary Foreign Worker Program Announced

On April 29, 2013, the federal government announced significant reforms to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (“TFWP”). Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, commented that the “reforms will require that greater efforts be made to recruit and train Canadians to fill available jobs … [and to] help ensure the Temporary Foreign Worker Program…

Arbitrator Finds Video Surveillance Reasonable in Light of Safety Issues in the Workplace

A recent arbitration award has confirmed that where an employer has legitimate concerns regarding safety in the workplace, it may install and operate video surveillance. This decision, which involved surveillance in a fire station to ensure equipment was not tampered with, engaged privacy considerations, the reasonableness of such surveillance and whether the surveillance was conducted…

College Update – Second Edition

Dear Friends, Spring is just around the corner and with the changing of the season, what better time for us to welcome our second edition of College Update! Hicks Morley’s College Practice Group is pleased to periodically provide our College clients with specific information relevant to your particu­lar interests. In this edition we discuss labour…

AODA Accessible Built Environment: Consultation Paper on Proposed Changes to Building Code Released

The Ontario government has released a consultation paper on proposed changes to the barrier-free design requirements of Ontario’s Building Code. The proposed Building Code changes arise from the development of built environment accessibility standards under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (“AODA”). The consultation process focuses on certain key accessibility requirements, including: Renovations…

New AODA Built Environment Standards Regulations Filed

On December 17, 2012, the Ontario government filed two regulations amending the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service and the Integrated Accessibility Standards, regulations enacted under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 1995 (“AODA”). O. Reg. 413/12 adds new Built Environment Standards on the design of public spaces to the Integrated Accessibility Standards regulation (O….

An Aging Workforce and Hiring Practices

In a time where the workforce is aging, employers must ensure that their recruitment and interview processes involve objective criteria for assessing a job candidate’s qualifications, and do not discriminate against a candidate on the basis of age, either directly or indirectly. The jurisprudence of the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario is clear that age…