Raising the Bar – Year-End Edition

As we welcome the holidays, we thought it would be a perfect time to share our latest edition of Raising the Bar. We hope you enjoy it and have some well-deserved time off over the holiday break. In this issue, we review i) the threshold Ontario courts expect employers to meet in justifying terminations for…

Regulatory Amendment Sets Out Criteria Regulated Professions Are to Consider as Alternatives to Canadian Experience

O. Reg. 378/23 (Amending Regulation), amending O. Reg. 261/22 made under the Fair Access to Regulated Professions and Compulsory Trades Act, 2006 (Act), prescribes the criteria for alternatives to Canadian experience that may be accepted by regulated professions. The Amending Regulation is made further to the changes to the Act enacted by the Working for…

Ontario Announces Public Hearings on Bill 149

The Standing Committee on Social Policy (Committee) will be holding public hearings to consider Bill 149, Working for Workers Four Act, 2023 on Monday, February 12 and Tuesday, February 13, 2024. Interested parties who wish to be considered to make an oral submission before the Committee must register by 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 1,…

Ontario Seeking Input on Regulations Related to Personal Support Workers

The Ontario government is inviting comments on a proposed regulatory framework to be made under the Health and Supportive Care Providers Oversight Authority Act, 2021 (HSCPOA Act) and proposed amendments to a regulation made under the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021 (FLTC Act). Comments on these proposals are due by January 15, 2024. Proposed Regulatory…

Highlights From the Federal Government’s 2023 Fall Economic Statement and Corresponding Bill

On November 30, 2023, the federal government introduced Bill C-59, Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2023 (Bill C-59). Bill C-59 follows the tabling of a Notice of Ways and Means Motion, and would give effect to various initiatives set out in the 2023 Fall Economic Statement (Statement). In this FTR Now, we highlight proposals contained…

Reminder: Significant Amendments to the Termination Provisions of the Canada Labour Code Are Coming Into Effect on February 1, 2024

Amendments to the Canada Labour Code (Code) which come into effect on February 1, 2024 will require employers to provide individual employees with a graduated notice of termination based on their consecutive years of continuous employment. The amendments will also require employers to provide individual employees with a statement of benefits upon termination. These Code…

Advantage CPD: R. v. Greater Sudbury (City) – Where Do Construction Companies Go From Here?

On November 9, 2023, the Supreme Court of Canada issued the long-awaited decision in R. v. Greater Sudbury (City). The outcome of the decision is that site owners will be considered to be “employers” with respect to health and safety obligations on construction projects. As a result, construction companies need to ensure they are adequately protected when entering into contracts for future projects.

Federal Government Publishes Draft Amendments to Pay Equity Regulations

The federal government recently published proposed regulations which would amend the Pay Equity Regulations (Regulations) made under the federal Pay Equity Act (Act). The Act addresses systemic gender discrimination in compensation practices and pay systems as well as the portion of the wage gap attributable to the undervaluation of work traditionally done by women. The…