On April 22, 2022, the Ontario government announced that the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health (OCMOH) will be maintaining existing masking requirements in select higher-risk indoor settings, as well as all remaining directives issued by the OCMOH in response to COVID-19, until June 11, 2022. This marks a change from the government’s…
Practice Area: Employment Law
Remaining COVID-19 Orders to be Revoked
The Ontario government has filed a regulation which will revoke all remaining COVID-19 regulations (Orders) made under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020, effective April 27, 2022. This action is further to the government’s previous announcement of its intention to lift all remaining COVID-19 measures, directives and Orders by this date….
Ontario Introduces Firefighter Certification Standards
On April 14, 2022, the Ontario government filed O. Reg. 343/22: Firefighter Certification, under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997. The regulation comes into force on July 1, 2022. The regulation sets out the mandatory minimum certification standards and corresponding job performance requirements of firefighters delivering specific fire protection services, together with a compliance…
Bill 88, Working for Workers Act, 2022, Passes – Key Dates to Watch For
On April 11, 2022, Bill 88, Working for Workers Act, 2022, received Royal Assent and is now law. Bill 88 enacts the Digital Platform Workers’ Rights Act, 2022 and makes amendments to the Employment Standards Act, 2000, the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Fair Access to Regulated Professions and Compulsory Trades Act, 2006….
Federal Budget 2022 Tabled
On April 7, 2022, the federal government tabled its 2022 Budget, “A Plan to Grow Our Economy and Make Life More Affordable.” The Budget covers a wide array of initiatives, and while housing, defence and climate change are its key focus areas, the Budget includes some proposals that will be of specific interest to employers,…
Updated Guidelines for Employers Subject to the Employment Equity Act
The federal government has updated the following interpretations, policies and guidelines (IPGs) for employers subject to the Legislated Employment Equity Program (LEEP), under the Employment Equity Act (Act). “Communication, Consultation, Collaboration” (IPG 115 ) provides that employers must inform their employees about the purpose of, measures undertaken or planned to implement, and progress made in…
Ontario Minimum Wage to Increase October 1, 2022
On April 5, 2022, the Ontario government announced that the general minimum wage in Ontario will increase from $15.00 to $15.50 per hour on October 1, 2022. This minimum wage applies to most employees. Minimum wage rates will also increase on the same date for the following employees: students under age 18: from $14.10 to…
Ontario Revokes More COVID-19 Orders
On March 24, 2022, the Ontario government revoked certain Orders made under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020 (ROA), effective March 28, 2022. The remaining ROA Orders have been extended to April 27, 2022. This action is further to the province’s current plan to lift all remaining directives, Orders and measures…
New Record-Keeping Requirements under Amended Canada Labour Code Regulations, and More
On March 16, 2022, the federal government published regulations amending the Canada Labour Standards Regulations, the Standards for Work-Integrated Learning Activities Regulations, and the Administrative Monetary Penalties (Canada Labour Code) Regulations to align them with certain amendments made to Part III of the Canada Labour Code (Code) on September 1, 2019. The Code amendments related…
Appellate Court Confirms 26 Month Reasonable Notice Period in Case with Exceptional Circumstances
On March 14, 2022, in Currie v. Nylene Canada Inc., the Ontario Court of Appeal upheld the decision of a trial judge to award a 26-month reasonable notice period to an employee following her without cause dismissal by the employer. The employer had appealed the trial judge decision to the Ontario Court of Appeal on…