The Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development (Ministry) is seeking input from interested parties in respect of regulatory proposals to modernize the Notice of Project and worker head protection requirements for workplaces in Ontario that fall under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). Proposed Changes to Notice of Project Requirements The intention…
Practice Area: Occupational Health
Important Updates Regarding the Federal Pay Equity Act, the Canada Labour Code and CLC Regulations
In this Federal Post, we cover recent developments with respect to the federal Pay Equity Act, amendments to the Canada Labour Code (CLC) and highlight the proposed amendments to the CLC Regulations that are currently open for public consultation. Federal Pay Equity Act In Force on August 31, 2021 By: Lucy Wu The federal Pay…
Appellate Court Upholds Jury Award of $150,000 Punitive Damages Against Employer
In a recent decision, Eynon v. Simplicity Air Ltd., the Ontario Court of Appeal upheld a punitive damages award of $150,000 against an employer for the actions of two of its supervisors after an employee’s workplace injury. The appeal to the Court of Appeal was from a jury award of punitive damages. The respondent employee…
Amendments Made to Notice and Reporting Requirements under OHSA
On June 7, 2021, the Ontario government filed amendments to a number of regulations made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). Most of the amendments relate to the reporting of workplace accidents, which consolidate the notice of death or critical injury reporting requirements found in several regulations under the OHSA into one regulation—Ontario…
Ontario’s Declared Emergency and Stay-at-Home Order End on June 2, 2021
The declared emergency and the Stay-at-Home Order, both made under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA) on April 7, 2021, terminate today, June 2, 2021. Note that a Declared Emergency Leave (DEL) taken under the Employment Standards Act, 2000, generally ends on the date the declared emergency terminates, subject to exceptions. By motion…
Ontario Enacts Legislation to Provide Paid Leave for Reasons Related to COVID-19
On April 29, 2021, the Ontario government tabled and passed Bill 284, COVID-19 Putting Workers First Act, 2021 (Bill). The Bill amends the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) to provide eligible employees with up to three days of paid emergency leave in circumstances of absences relating to a designated infectious disease (Paid IDEL). As readers…
Ontario Court of Appeal Holds “Owner” of a Construction Project Can Be Considered an “Employer” Under OHSA
A recent decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal has significant implications under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) for owners and employers responsible for construction projects. In Ontario (Labour) v. Sudbury (City), the Court of Appeal held that an “owner” of a construction project can also be considered an “employer” with obligations to…
Ontario Announces Paid Sick Leave for Reasons Related to COVID-19
On April 28, 2021, the Ontario government announced that it will be introducing legislation to provide up to three sick paid leave days to eligible employees if they are taken for reasons related to COVID-19. The program would be retroactive to April 19, 2021 and remain in effect until September 25, 2021, the date the…
New COVID-19 Restrictions on Masks/Face Coverings in the Workplace; Exceptions To Border Closure Restrictions Related to Students
On April 23, 2021, the Ontario government filed a number of regulations with respect to the Rules for Areas in Stage 1, Stage 2 and Stage 3. The General Rules for each Zone have been amended to require that persons responsible for a business or organization shall ensure that every person who works for those…
Ontario Amends Rules for Shutdown Zone Regarding School Closures and Limited Circumstances in Which They May Operate
The Ontario government has amended the Rules for Areas in Stage 1 to give effect to its recent announcement regarding the closure of public and private elementary and secondary schools, among other things. As a general rule, Ontario Regulation 278/21 amends the Shutdown Zone rules to require closure of all public and private schools within…