On May 3, 2024, the Ontario government announced it will table legislation that, if passed, would amend the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) to increase fines for ESA violations and impose obligations on larger employers with respect to their publicly advertised job postings. Increased Fines Amendments to the ESA would increase the maximum fine for…
Publication Name: Human Resources Legislative Update
The College of Nurses of Ontario Seeks Feedback on Proposed Amendments to the Educational Requirements for Registered Nurses and Registered Practical Nurses
The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) has announced a public consultation on proposed amendments to O. Reg. 275/94 under the Nursing Act, 1991 that would amend the educational requirements for registration as a registered nurse (RN) or registered practical nurse (RPN). These proposed amendments were developed based on feedback received during an initial public…
Firefighter and “Super Indexing” Amendments to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 in Force May 1, 2024, and More
On May 1, 2024, the following amendments made to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 (WSIA) by Bill 149, Working for Workers Four Act, 2024, will come into force. Additional Indexing Factor The WSIA currently permits annual adjustments to Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) benefits on the basis of an indexing factor, as…
Ontario Seeks Feedback on the Introduction of a Leave of Absence for Long-Term Illness
Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development has announced a consultation on the potential introduction of an unpaid leave of absence under the Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) of up to 27 weeks for employees experiencing serious or critical illness. This would arise either through the creation of a new leave or…
Ontario Seeking Comments on Proposed Regulations Under the Connecting Care Act, 2019
On March 28, 2024, the Ontario government posted Proposed New Regulations and Amendments to Regulations under the Connecting Care Act, 2019 and other Acts for comment from stakeholders. The proposed regulations would support changes to the Connecting Care Act, 2019 (CCA) as amended by the Convenient Care at Home Act, 2023, which have not yet…
Ontario to Increase Minimum Wage Effective October 1, 2024
On March 28, 2024, the Ontario government announced that the general minimum wage will increase to $17.20 an hour (from $16.55 an hour) effective October 1, 2024. This minimum wage applies to most employees. The minimum wage for the following groups also increases on October 1, 2024:
Ontario Announces Public Hearings on Bill 166
The Standing Committee on Social Policy (Committee) will hold public hearings to consider Bill 166, Strengthening Accountability and Student Supports Act, 2024, on Monday, April 15, 2024 and Tuesday, April 16, 2024. For an overview of the changes proposed by Bill 166, see our FTR Now Ontario Tables Bill Introducing Policy Requirements for Colleges and…
Ontario Budget 2024 Tabled
On March 26, 2024, the Ontario government tabled its 2024 budget, “Building a Better Ontario” (Budget). Among other things, the Budget describes developments in the province’s plan to release a new legislative framework for multi‐employer pension plans that provide target benefits. Bill 180, Building a Better Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2024 was introduced on the…
Employers Should Plan Now for the April 8 Eclipse
On Monday, April 8, 2024, a solar eclipse will be visible in many parts of Eastern Canada. This will be a unique experience, but one that also has the potential to pose a health and safety risk to outdoor workers and any other workers who have work-related reasons to be outdoors at the time of…
Federal Minimum Wage to Increase April 1, 2024
The federal government has announced that, effective April 1, 2024, the federal minimum wage will increase from $16.65 to $17.30 per hour. The increase applies to the federally regulated private sectors, including banks, postal and courier services, telecommunications, and interprovincial air, rail, road and marine transportation. The federal minimum wage is adjusted on an annual…