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Ontario Launches Consultation on Development of Occupational Health and Safety Strategy

The Ontario Ministry of Labour has launched a consultation process further to the development of its first province-wide integrated occupational health and safety strategy. It has issued a consultation paper, “An Integrated Occupational Health and Safety Strategy for Ontario”, for review and comment by stakeholders. Feedback is invited on issues such as: addressing the needs…

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…

B.C. PRPP Legislation Does Not Proceed Past First Reading

As previously reported, the British Columbia government tabled Bill 16, Pooled Registered Pension Plans Act on February 28, 2013. With the adjournment of the Legislature on March 14, 2013 in anticipation of the May 14, 2013 provincial election, Bill 16 did not proceed past First Reading. Once the Legislature dissolves prior to the election, Bill…

HRTO Considers Whether University’s Response to Potentially Volatile Situation Was Discriminatory

The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario recently provided helpful guidance for employers and educational institutions which are faced with potential unrest due to competing opinions or political views, the genesis of which might be one’s place of origin or ethnic origin. In the case at hand, which involved the removal by a university of controversial…

Employer’s Use of Video Surveillance in Fire Station Reasonable When Addressing a Serious Safety Concern

Arbitrator Sheehan has affirmed that an employer may install and operate video surveillance in a workplace where it has legitimate and serious concerns about safety issues. In this arbitration, a firefighters’ Association grieved the installation of cameras at two fire stations. It argued, among other things, that the requirement that the employees be subject to…

OLRB Dismisses Duty of Fair Representation Applications Against OECTA

On February 26, 2013, the Ontario Labour Relations Board (“OLRB”) released a decision dismissing four different duty of fair representation applications filed by members and local leaders of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (“OECTA”) against OECTA relating to OECTA’s negotiation of its Memorandum of Understanding dated July 5, 2012 with the provincial government (“MOU”)….

George Vuicic Quoted in Canadian HR Reporter

Hicks Morley’s George Vuicic was quoted in the March 11, 2013 edition of Canadian HR Reporter in an article entitled, “Employers have duty to accommodate child-care needs: Federal Court.”  The article discusses a recent landmark court decision that confirms employers have an obligation to try to provide accommodation for an employee’s child-care needs. In the…

Municipal Monitor Publishes an Article by Craig Rix and David Ross

An article by Hicks Morley’s Craig Rix and David Ross was published in the Spring 2013 edition of Municipal Monitor. In the article entitled, “Making the Case for a Better Interest Arbitration System,” Craig and David discuss the need for greater accountability and transparency within Ontario’s arbitration system. View Article

Altering Vested Retiree Benefits Found to be Unlawful by Arbitrator

A recent arbitration decision serves as an important reminder that if an employer wishes to negotiate changes to retiree benefit entitlements in a unionized workplace for employees who have already retired, it can only do so where the applicable collective agreement contains clear and unambiguous language allowing for such changes. In this case, the employer…

OHSA Regulations Amended to Ensure Compliance with Ontario Colleges of Trades and Apprenticeship Act, 2009

On March 1, 2013, a number of amendments to regulations made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act were filed to bring those regulations into compliance with the Ontario College of Trades and Apprenticeship Act, 2009 (“Act”). The Act will be proclaimed in force, in part, on April 8, 2013. On that date, section 103…