With the holiday season just around the corner, many of us are preparing for the seasonal festivities, which may include workplace celebrations. It is important that employers, whether large or small, take proactive steps to ensure the health and safety of their employees who attend office parties or other workplace celebrations.
Industry: Municipalities & Municipal Agencies
Bill 47 Referred to Committee with Public Hearings to be Held on November 15: Note Quick Deadline for Request to Make Submissions
On November 12, 2018, Bill 47, the Making Ontario Open for Business Act, 2018, was carried on division at Second Reading and was referred to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs. The Committee will be holding public hearings on the Bill in Toronto on Thursday, November 15, 2018. For those parties who wish…
Government Proposes Changes to ESA Regulations in Support of Bill 47
On November 7, 2018, the government of Ontario posted proposed changes to regulations made under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) in support of the ESA amendments introduced by Bill 47, Making Ontario Open for Business Act, 2018. Proposed Changes to O. Reg. 502/06 (Terms and Conditions of Employment in Defined Industries – Automobile Manufacturing,…
Increased Penalties for Cell Phone Use While Driving In Force January 1, 2019
Changes to the Highway Traffic Act enacted by Bill 174, the Cannabis, Smoke Free Ontario and Road Safety Statute Law Amendment Act, 2017 which relate to cell phone use while driving are coming into force on January 1, 2019. Beginning on January 1, 2019, penalties will increase as set out below for conviction of the…
Regulatory Exemption for Record Check Process under Police Record Checks Reform Act, 2015 Filed
As discussed in our previous post, the Police Record Checks Reform Act, 2015 (Act) creates new procedural requirements for requesting and obtaining criminal record, judicial matters and vulnerable sector backgrounds checks. The Act creates a requirement for a two-stage consent process where: (1) the individual must consent to the type of check being conducted; and…
New ESA Regulations Exempt Crown Employees from Hours of Work/Overtime Provisions of ESA; Reduce Penalties for Notices of Contravention
On October 24, 2018, the Ontario government filed two regulations made under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA). O. Reg. 448/18 amends O. Reg. 285/01 (When Work Deemed to be Performed, Exemptions and Special Rules) to exempt Crown employees from the hours of work/eating periods and overtime provisions of the ESA. Specifically, the exemption applies…
Ontario Posts New Sign Requirements under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017
The prescribed signs that employers, proprietors and others will be required to post under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 are now available on an Ontario government website.
Signs Required to be Posted under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 Now Available on Government Website
Further to our FTR Now of October 18, 2018, Employers Take Note: Provincial Cannabis Legislation and Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 (Including New Poster Requirements) Now in Force, the government of Ontario has now posted information regarding the new rules under the Act as well as the signs required to be posted by employers and others…
End of the Bill 148 Era: Ontario Bill to Reverse Employment and Labour Reforms
On October 23, 2018, the Ontario government introduced Bill 47, the Making Ontario Open for Business Act, 2018 (Bill 47), new legislation that if passed in its present form would effectively “undo” many of the key changes to workplace laws implemented by Bill 148. The range of changes to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA)…
Ontario Introduces Legislation to Reverse Key Bill 148 Employment and Labour Reforms
On October 23, 2018, the Ontario government announced that it will be introducing proposed legislation today to repeal many of the significant employment and labour law reforms enacted by Bill 148 – including provisions with respect to equal pay, paid personal emergency (PEL) days, scheduling, card-based certification for certain industries and eliminating the requirement that employers provide unions with contact information for employees where they demonstrate that they have 20% support. Learn more in this FTR Now.