1149 Results

Ontario Announces Consultations to Enhance BPS Pension Fund Investment Efficiencies

Further to initiatives first announced in its 2012 Budget, the Ontario government has appointed a special Pension Investment Advisor, Bill Morneau, to develop recommendations for the government’s consideration through a public consultation process in anticipation of a new legislative framework that will facilitate the pooling of pension fund assets in the broader public sector (“BPS”)….

Amended Ontario Anti-Bullying Bill Ordered for Third Reading

On May 30, 2012, Bill 13, the Accepting Schools Act, 2012, was reported back to the House as amended by the Standing Committee on Social Policy. The proposed Committee amendments are extensive. Of particular note, Bill 13 now: contains a revised definition of “bullying”; adopts a definition of “cyber-bullying” that essentially tracks the definition proposed…

Small Biz Advisor Publishes an Article by Nadine Zacks

An article by Hicks Morley’s Nadine Zacks was published in the May 22, 2012 edition of Small Biz Advisor. In the article entitled, “Benefits for independent contractors: a legal perspective,” Nadine discusses the distinction between an independent contractor and an employee and the various factors the courts will consider in making this determination. View Article

Ontario Proposes Plan Administrator Disclosure Obligations, Proclamation Dates

On May 14, 2012, the Ontario government published additional draft amendments to General regulation 909 under the Pension Benefits Act (“Act”), and further proposed a proclamation date of July 1, 2012 in respect of certain amendments to the Act. The regulatory amendments would specifically outline the information plan administrators are required to disclose, including: “prescribed…

Implementation of Key Ontario Pension Reform Measures is Imminent

On April 30, 2012 and May 3, 2012, the Ontario Ministry of Finance issued two separate draft regulations that propose changes to the general Regulation 909 under the Ontario Pension Benefits Act (the “PBA Regulations”). Together, these two draft regulations are referred to in this FTR Now as the “Draft Regulations.” As discussed in our…

Ontario Anti-Bullying Bill Referred to Committee

On May 3, 2012, Bill 13, the Accepting Schools Act, 2011, passed at Second Reading and was ordered referred to the Standing Committee on Social Policy. As previously reported, Bill 13 is intended to address the issue of bullying in schools, and would, if passed, amend the Education Act to include a definition of bullying,…

Ontario Releases Proposed Grow-In Benefit Regulations

Further to the release of pension reform proposals, on Thursday, May 3, 2012 the Ontario government published additional draft amendments to General regulation 909 under the Pension Benefits Act (“Act”). As anticipated, the draft regulations prescribe additional “activating events” or circumstances that would trigger grow-in benefits for the purpose of s. 74(1), paragraph 3 of…

Long-Awaited Grow-In, Regulatory Pension Reforms Released

On Monday, April 30, 2012, the Ontario Ministry of Finance published long-awaited, proposed regulatory amendments under the Pension Benefits Act (“Act”), including additional, proposed prescribed “activating events” for the purposes of grow-in benefits that come into force on July 1, 2012, for public commentary.

Ontario Announces Consultations on Public Sector Pension Plans

The Ontario government has announced that it will begin consultations on a new legislative framework for jointly sponsored public sector pension plans. Further to its 2012 Budget reform proposals, the proposed framework will include as follows: in case of a new funding deficit, plans would be required to reduce future benefits or ancillary benefits before…