914 Results

Federal Budget 2013

On March 21, 2013, the Minister of Finance, the Honourable James M. Flaherty, tabled the 2013 Federal Budget “Jobs, Growth and Long Term Prosperity – Economic Action Plan 2013.” In this FTR Now we review those Budget items that are of most interest to employers, human resources professionals and pension plan administrators. These include: Amendments…

Ontario Launches Consultation on Development of Occupational Health and Safety Strategy

The Ontario Ministry of Labour has launched a consultation process further to the development of its first province-wide integrated occupational health and safety strategy. It has issued a consultation paper, “An Integrated Occupational Health and Safety Strategy for Ontario”, for review and comment by stakeholders. Feedback is invited on issues such as: addressing the needs…

George Vuicic Quoted in Canadian HR Reporter

Hicks Morley’s George Vuicic was quoted in the March 11, 2013 edition of Canadian HR Reporter in an article entitled, “Employers have duty to accommodate child-care needs: Federal Court.”  The article discusses a recent landmark court decision that confirms employers have an obligation to try to provide accommodation for an employee’s child-care needs. In the…

OHSA Regulations Amended to Ensure Compliance with Ontario Colleges of Trades and Apprenticeship Act, 2009

On March 1, 2013, a number of amendments to regulations made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act were filed to bring those regulations into compliance with the Ontario College of Trades and Apprenticeship Act, 2009 (“Act”). The Act will be proclaimed in force, in part, on April 8, 2013. On that date, section 103…

Leaves to Help Families Act Introduced

On March 5, 2013, the Ontario government introduced Bill 21, Employment Standards Amendment Act (Leaves to Help Families), 2013. If passed, Bill 21 would allow eligible employees to take the following three unpaid leaves of absences: Family Caregiver Leave Employees would be entitled to take an unpaid leave of absence to provide care or support…

Accommodating Childcare Needs: Understanding Your Obligations

In a recent edition of FTR Now, we reported on two significant Federal Court decisions, Johnstone v. Canada and Seeley v. Canadian National Railway, which confirmed that employers have an obligation to accommodate their employees’ childcare needs. Since the date that FTR Now was published, these two decisions have continued to generate a considerable amount…

George Vuicic Quoted in The Lawyers Weekly

Hicks Morley’s George Vuicic was quoted in the February 22, 2013 edition of The Lawyers Weekly in an article entitled, “Fed Court rejects strict test for ‘family status’ claims.”  The article discusses two recent cases by the Federal Court which has affirmed that employers may be obliged to adjust their work demands in order to…

George Vuicic Mentioned in the Financial Post

Hicks Morley’s George Vuicic was quoted in the February 2015 edition of Canadian Lawyer InHouse in an article entitled, “Court releases ‘game-changing’ decision on federally regulated employees.” This article discusses the Federal Court of Appeal’s decision in Wilson v. Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. where it held that federally regulated employers may dismiss employees without…

Court of Appeal for Ontario Clarifies Obligation to Report Injuries to Non-Workers

The recent Blue Mountain Resorts decision of the Court of Appeal for Ontario has clarified the circumstances in which employers are required to report a critical injury or fatality suffered by a non-worker under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (“OHSA”). This FTR Now reviews the decision and its implications for employers. BACKGROUND On December…

Finding that Non-Worker Injury Reportable Under OHSA Overturned by Court of Appeal

Today, the Court of Appeal for Ontario rendered its long anticipated decision in Blue Mountain Resorts Limited v. Ontario (Labour). It overturned a finding of the Ontario Labour Relations Board, upheld on judicial review by the Divisional Court, that the drowning of a Blue Mountain hotel guest in the hotel’s swimming pool was reportable under…