We are back with another edition of Reaching Out. With 2021 drawing to a close, we thought it appropriate to update you on some non-COVID-19-related developments.
Practice Area: Employment Law
Federal Bill C-3 Passes, Includes Amended Medical Leave Provisions
We reported on Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Canada Labour Code when it was tabled in late November: Federal Government Tables Bill to Provide 10 Days Paid Sick Leave and to Protect Healthcare Workers From Intimidation. Bill C-3 has now passed, with amendments made at Committee to the Canada…
Federal Government Publishes Exemptions to New Hours of Work and Notice of Schedule Requirements under Canada Labour Code
The federal government recently published Exemptions from and Modifications to Hours of Work Provisions Regulations (Regulations) made under the Canada Labour Code (CLC). The Regulations provide certain exemptions and modifications to the CLC provisions requiring employers to provide 96 hours’ notice of work schedule, 24 hours’ notice of shift change, 30-minute breaks every 5 hours…
Reminder to Employers: General Minimum Wage to Increase January 1, 2022
On December 9, 2021, the Ontario government passed Bill 43, Build Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2021, which, among other things, amends the Employment Standards Act, 2000 to increase the general minimum wage from $14.35 per hour to $15.00 per hour, effective January 1, 2022. The following changes to other minimum wage rates also come into…
Ontario Announces Further Extension of Paid and Deemed Infectious Disease Emergency Leaves
On December 7, 2021, the Ontario government announced that it would be extending the program that provides eligible employees with up to three days of paid infectious disease emergency leave (Paid IDEL) until July 31, 2022 (previously set to expire December 31, 2021). The government also announced that it would be extending the temporary relief…
Ontario Releases Recommendations on the “Future of Work”
On December 9, 2021, the Ontario government released The Future of Work in Ontario, a report from the Ontario Workforce Recovery Advisory Committee that includes 21 recommendations on the future of work in the province. The recommendations focus on three key areas: economic recovery, strengthening the province’s competitive position and supporting workers. As we reported…
Bill 27, Working for Workers Act, Receives Royal Assent
On December 2, 2021, Bill 27, Working for Workers Act, 2021, received Royal Assent. We reviewed Bill 27 in detail in our FTR Now of October 26, 2021, Ontario Proposes Significant Changes to ESA and Other Employment-Related Legislation, as well as our FTR Now of December 1, 2021, Ontario Passes Bill 27, Working for Workers…
Federal Government Announces COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for Federally Regulated Workplaces
On December 7, 2021, the federal government announced that it will propose regulations under Part II of the Canada Labour Code to make vaccination against COVID-19 mandatory in all federally regulated workplaces. The government stated that it will be consulting with key stakeholders on these new regulations, which it anticipates will come into force in…
Ontario Passes Bill 27, Working for Workers Act, As Amended at Committee
On November 30, 2021, the Ontario government passed Bill 27, Working for Workers Act, 2021.
The Bill will amend a number of statutes, including the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA), the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997….
Federal Government Tables Bill to Provide 10 Days Paid Sick Leave and to Protect Healthcare Workers From Intimidation
On November 26, 2021, the federal government tabled Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Canada Labour Code. Amendments to the Canada Labour Code If passed, Bill C-3 would amend the Canada Labour Code (Code) to provide employees in federally regulated industries with up to 10 days of paid medical leave….