1146 Results

WSIB to Enforce Mandatory Construction Coverage Starting January 1, 2014

Effective January 1, 2014, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (“WSIB”) will begin enforcing mandatory coverage for certain categories of persons operating in the construction industry and prosecuting those persons who are not in compliance. This FTR Now provides the background to the recent amendments to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act (“Act”) relating to…

Ontario Proposes Significant Changes to Workplace Laws

On December 4, 2013, the Ontario government introduced Bill 146, the Stronger Workplaces for a Stronger Economy Act, 2013 (“Bill 146”). If passed, Bill 146 would make significant changes to a number of employment-related statutes, including the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (“ESA”), the Occupational Health and Safety Act (“OHSA”) and the Workplace Safety and Insurance…

Significant ESA, WSIA, OHSA, LRA Amendments Proposed (Bill 146, Stronger Workplaces for a Stronger Economy Act)

On December 4, 2013, the Ontario government introduced Bill 146, the Stronger Workplaces for a Stronger Economy Act, omnibus legislation that would, if passed, amend several key employment-related statutes, including the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (“ESA”), the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 (“WSIA”), the Occupational Health and Safety Act (“OHSA”), the Labour Relations Act,…

Ontario Introduces Bill 141, Infrastructure for Jobs and Prosperity Act

On November 26, 2013, the Ontario government introduced Bill 141, the Infrastructure for Jobs and Prosperity Act, 2013, at First Reading. If passed, this legislation would establish legislative and regulatory mechanisms intended to “encourage principled, evidence-based and strategic long-term infrastructure planning that supports job creation and training opportunities, economic growth and protection of the environment,…

Ontario Imposes Mandatory Health and Safety Awareness Training

On November 14, 2013, the Ontario government filed O. Reg. 297/13 Occupational Health and Safety Awareness and Training, a new regulation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (“OHSA”) requiring employers to ensure workers and supervisors receive mandatory safety awareness training. In this FTR Now, we provide an overview of these new training obligations, and…

Supreme Court of Canada Hears Case Involving the Intersection of Privacy and Labour Relations Rights

The Supreme Court of Canada recently heard an appeal that involves the intersection of privacy rights with a union’s duty of representation to its membership. At issue was the request of the appellant that her employer not disclose her personal information to her union, to which she was obligated to pay dues but declined to…

School Board Client Update

The following represents a few notable decisions made by the Ontario Labour Relations Board, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario and arbitrators in 2013 that are relevant to school boards in Ontario. FACEBOOK POSTING BY TEACHER WARRANTS DISCIPLINE In Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation and Simcoe County District School Board, 2013 CanLII 62014 (CanLII), the…

Update on Ontario’s Retirement Reforms and Initiatives

On Thursday, November 7, 2013, Ontario’s minority government released its economic outlook and fiscal review, titled Creating Jobs and Growing the Economy (the “Economic Outlook”). The Economic Outlook updates and also expands upon legislative and other reform initiatives that had previously been announced. In this FTR Now, we review the key retirement-related updates and developments…