New ESA “Tips and Gratuities” Exemption for Prescribed Credit Card Charges

On May 6, 2016, the Ontario government prescribed a regulatory exemption for certain credit card payment processing fees in connection with pending reforms to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) enacted by Bill 12, Protecting Employees’ Tips Act, 2015. Ontario regulation 125/16 (Tips and Other Gratuities) provides that the definition of “tips and gratuities” in…

Ontario Budget Bill 2016 Passes

On April 13, 2016, the Ontario government passed Bill 173, Jobs for Today and Tomorrow Act (Budget Measures), 2016, omnibus legislation giving effect to initiatives contained in the Ontario Budget 2016. See our FTR Now of February 29, 2016, Ontario Budget 2016, for a detailed discussion of those initiatives of interest to employers, human resources professionals and…

Ontario Safety Blitzes To Target Workplaces and Sectors with Vulnerable Workers

The Ontario Ministry of Labour has announced that it will do over 20 targeted blitzes at Ontario workplaces from May 2, 2016 to March 31, 2017. The Ministry will investigate potential violations of employment standards and occupational health and safety laws at targeted workplaces which include food services, retail stores, construction sites, mines and, in…

2016 Ontario Budget and Budget Bill Released

On February 25, 2016, the Ontario government tabled its 2016 Budget “Jobs for Today and Tomorrow” (“Budget”) and the corresponding Budget Bill, Bill 173, Jobs for Today and Tomorrow Act (Budget Measures), 2016 (“Bill 173”), supporting omnibus legislation designed to implement some of the proposals contained in the Budget. Our FTR Now of February 29, 2016, “Ontario Budget 2016”…

Ontario Budget 2016

On February 25, 2016, the Ontario government tabled its 2016 Budget “Jobs for Today and Tomorrow” (“Budget”) and the corresponding Budget Bill, Bill 173, Jobs for Today and Tomorrow Act (Budget Measures), 2016 (“Bill 173”). In this FTR Now, we highlight some of the key proposals that are of particular interest to employers, human resources…

Ontario Tables Budget 2016

On February 25, 2016, the Ontario government tabled its 2016 Budget “Jobs for Today and Tomorrow” and the corresponding Budget Bill, Bill 173, Jobs for Today and Tomorrow Act (Budget Measures), 2016.

Legislation Expanding Ombudsman Jurisdiction to Municipalities, Universities and School Boards Now In Force

On January 1, 2016, provisions of Schedule 9 of the Public Sector and MPP Accountability and Transparency Act, 2014 came into force. These provisions amend the Ombudsman Act (“Act“) to expand the jurisdiction of the Ontario Ombudsman to investigate matters related to publicly-funded universities and municipal sector entities (defined as municipalities, local boards and municipally-controlled corporations). On September 1, 2015, provisions…

Construction Project Manager Sentenced to 3.5 Years for Christmas Eve Fatalities

The Metron Construction Corporation (“Metron”) project manager who oversaw the construction project on which a swing stage collapsed, resulting in the deaths of four workers and injury to a fifth, has been sentenced to 3.5 years in jail. In this FTR Now, we discuss the background to this important decision and its significance. On Christmas…