On September 1, 2025, the Ontario government announced significant steps to break down interprovincial barriers for certified professionals, effective January 1, 2026. The new “As of Right” framework, a key part of the Protect Ontario through Free Trade within Canada Act, 2025, is designed to streamline the certification process for qualified workers from other provinces…
Practice Area: Employment Law
No Takebacks: Ontario Court Rejects Employee’s Attempt to Rewrite Settlement Terms in Johnstone v. Loblaw
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has delivered a clear message about the binding nature of settlement agreements in employment disputes, emphasizing that acceptance of settlement terms creates legally binding obligations that cannot be unilaterally modified after the fact.
In Johnstone v. Loblaw, Justice Brownstone enforced a settlement despite the employee’s subsequent attempts to introduce new conditions, stating emphatically that “Buyer’s remorse, a change of heart, or even growing concern about his ability to close his house purchase do not entitle him to renege on a settlement.”
Ontario Launches the Protect Ontario Financial Program with $1 Billion in Support to Sectors Impacted by Ongoing Tariff Disputes
How does Ontario’s new program look out for your business in the face of ongoing U.S. tariffs? In this FTR Now, Hicks Morley’s Mornelle Lee discusses the implication of the program in today’s economic context and actions employers can take now to be ready for the program.
Arbitrator Upholds For-Cause Termination of Tenured University Professor for Sexual Harassment of Graduate Student
In a significant decision for post-secondary institutions, Arbitrator Leslie Reaume has upheld the for-cause termination of a tenured university professor at Brock University for the sexual harassment of a graduate student. The ruling sends a clear message that the power imbalance in supervisory relationships is not an invitation for inappropriate conduct. Sexually charged and personally…
Ontario Superior Court Upholds Termination Clause Limiting Employee to ESA Minimums in Li v. Wayfair Canada Inc.
Is ‘At Any Time’ Still Enforceable Post-Dufault? The Ontario Superior Court says “yes” in Li v. Wayfair Canada Inc. In our latest FTR Now, Hicks Morley’s Edward O’Dwyer and Kelly Brennan review the case and provide key takeaways for employers.
Facebook Canada’s Equity Forfeiture Provision Receives a “Like” From an Ontario Court
Employers using equity-based compensation should take note of this recent decision by the Ontario Superior Court in Wigdor v. Facebook Canada Ltd. In this FTR Now, Hicks Morley’s Alex Lemoine provides three key takeaways around termination provisions in employment and compensation agreements.
Federal Government Launches Consultation on Proposed Regulatory Amendments to New Leave Provisions Under the Canada Labour Code
The #federalgovernment published proposed regulatory amendments that would implement significant changes to leave entitlements for federally regulated employees. The proposed regulations support the implementation of the three new leave provisions introduced in the Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2023, which received royal assent on June 20, 2024.
Ontario Court of Appeal Grants Leave to Appeal Acquittal in Benevides Decision, Opening Door to Expanded Workplace Safety Liability for Incidental Construction Workers
On June 9, 2025 the Ontario Court of Appeal released its decision in Ontario (Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development) v. Benevides, granting leave to appeal the provincial offences appeal judge’s decision to the Court of Appeal. Background This case stems from a construction site incident that occurred in April of 2020 where eight spools…
Summer 2025 Updates for Social Services Employers
It has been a few unsettling months, and it looks like there will be more to come. We hope that you are able to find some time this summer to relax and recharge. Before you do, we wanted to bring to your attention some developments that may be important for your social services organization in the hopes it will make managing workplace issues easier.
Employers Have a Statutory Duty to Investigate Claims of Harassment and Authority to Discipline Off-Duty Conduct When It Manifests in the Workplace
The Ontario Court of Appeal rules that employers have a statutory duty to investigate claims of harassment and have the authority to discipline off-duty conduct when it manifests in the workplace.