2095 Results

Ontario 2011 Budget Bill Passes Third Reading as Amended

On May 10, 2011, Bill 173, the Better Tomorrow for Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2011, carried at Third Reading after being reported as amended by the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs. It is expected to receive Royal Assent shortly. The Committee amendments to Bill 173 with respect to the Pension Benefits Act relate…

Proposed Changes to OMERS Target Emergency Services Employees and High Income Earners

On May 4, 2011, the OMERS Sponsors Corporation (“SC”) made public seven proposed changes to the OMERS pension plans. The proposals have been put forward by various individual SC members in connection with the SC’s annual review of the OMERS pension plans. There are two main objectives: (1) improving the funded position of the top-up…

Ontario 2011 Budget Bill Ordered for Third Reading

On May 5, 2011, Bill 173, the Better Tomorrow for Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2011, was reported as amended by the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs. As previously reported, Bill 173 is omnibus legislation amending a variety of statutes to implement certain initiatives outlined in the 2011 Ontario Budget tabled on March 23,…

The Fraser Decision: The Supreme Court of Canada Revisits Scope of Charter-Protected Collective Bargaining Rights

On April 29, 2011, the Supreme Court of Canada issued its long-awaited judgement in the case of Ontario (Attorney General) v. Fraser, 2011 SCC 20 (“Fraser“). In a decision that has surprised many, the Court found, by an 8-1 margin, that the Agricultural Employees’ Protection Act, 2002 (“AEPA“) is constitutional. Moreover, while the majority of…

School Board Update – Arbitrator Rules in Board’s Favour in Lakehead DSB Prep Time Payback Case

In our School Board FTR Now of January 31, 2011, we traced a series of disappointing arbitration decisions concerning the issue of “prep time payback”, the supposed obligation of school boards to reschedule prep time periods that are “missed” due to mandatory professional development activities, the monitoring of EQAO testing, the participation at the direction…

Bill C-9 Pension Reforms Come Into Force

Effective April 1, 2011 and July 1, 2011, certain sections of the federal Jobs and Economic Growth Act (Bill C-9) and the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985 (“PBSA”) come into force. As previously reported, amendments to the PBSA which were brought into force effective April 1, 2011 include provisions: permitting plan sponsors to secure letters…

There is Nothing Common About a Constructive Dismissal

In the first case of its kind, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice has denied a motion for certification of a class action for constructive dismissal on the basis that it lacked the essential element of commonality. The decision has very significant implications for employers, particularly in the context of employers’ approaches to managing and…

PSLRTA Consultations Relating to Proposed Amalgamation of CASs Initiated by Ontario

On April 14, 2011, the Ontario Ministry of Labour announced public consultations relating to the proposed amalgamation of 13 Childrens’ Aid Societies (“CASs”). The initiative was proposed by the Commission to Promote Sustainable Child Welfare (the “Commission”), which the Ontario government established in 2009. In part, the Commission is tasked with supporting the financial sustainability…