On April 7, 2022, the federal government tabled its 2022 Budget, “A Plan to Grow Our Economy and Make Life More Affordable.” The Budget covers a wide array of initiatives, and while housing, defence and climate change are its key focus areas, the Budget includes some proposals that will be of specific interest to employers,…
Industry: Healthcare
Arbitrator Upholds Mandatory Vaccination Policy—Reduced Public Health Measures of No Consequence
In a “bottom line” decision in Extendicare Lynde Creek Retirement Home and United Food & Commercial Workers Canada, Local 175, Arbitrator Raymond upheld the mandatory COVID-19 Immunization Policy (Policy) of a retirement home, finding that the Policy is a reasonable workplace rule and consistent with the collective agreement, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the…
Ontario Revokes More COVID-19 Orders
On March 24, 2022, the Ontario government revoked certain Orders made under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020 (ROA), effective March 28, 2022. The remaining ROA Orders have been extended to April 27, 2022. This action is further to the province’s current plan to lift all remaining directives, Orders and measures…
Ontario Lifting Remaining COVID-19-Related Measures: What Employers Need to Know
On March 1, 2022, all regions of Ontario entered the Roadmap Exit Step of the province’s Reopening Plan. Since that date, the government has been steadily reducing its COVID-19-related measures in anticipation of a full reopening of the province. As we previously reported, the Chief Medical Officer of Health announced on March 9, 2022 that…
Ontario to Lift All Remaining COVID-19-Related Measures
On March 9, 2022, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health announced that by the end of April, all remaining COVID-19-related measures, directives and orders will be lifted. This decision comes as the province sees continued improvements in key health indicators and follows the government’s easing of most public health restrictions earlier this month (see our…
Changes are Coming to the Rules of Civil Procedure
On March 31, 2022, various amendments to the Rules of Civil Procedure with respect to pre-trial conferences, expert reports and admissibility of evidence will come into force. The changes have been brought about by Ontario Regulation 18/22 which amends R.R.O. 1990, Regulation 194: Rules Of Civil Procedure (Rules) made under the Courts of Justice Act….
Ontario Introduces Bill 88, Working for Workers Act, 2022
On February 28, 2022, the Ontario government tabled Bill 88, Working for Workers Act, 2022, omnibus legislation which, if passed, would enact the Digital Platform Workers’ Rights Act, 2022 and make amendments to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) and other employment-related legislation. In this FTR Now, we review some of the key features of…
Ontario Enters Roadmap Exit Step, Removes Proof of Vaccination Requirement
As announced by the Ontario government earlier this month, public health restrictions imposed in light of COVID-19 will be substantially eased on March 1, 2022. On that date, all regions in Ontario will be moved into the Roadmap Exit Step of the province’s Reopening Plan and almost all public health restrictions will be removed. Notably,…
Ministry Updates ESA Guide on Disconnecting from Work Policies and Non-Compete Agreements
On February 18, 2022, the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development (Ministry) updated its online guide to the Employment Standards Act (Guide) to include chapters on written policy on disconnecting from work and non-compete agreements. The chapters provide guidance on recent Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) amendments that require employers with 25 or…
Arbitrator Finds Part of LTC Homes’ Mandatory Vaccination Policy Violated Collective Agreement
On February 7, 2022, Arbitrator Misra issued her decision in Chartwell Housing REIT (The Westmount, The Wynfield, The Woodhaven And The Waterford) and Healthcare, Office And Professional Employees Union, Local 2220 in which she found that the termination consequences of a long-term care home employer’s mandatory vaccination policy violated the collective agreement. Background In late…