On November 6, 2013, Bill 32, the Registered Human Resources Professionals Act, 2013, passed Third Reading and received Royal Assent, as amended by the Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills. The Committee amendments add “Certified Human Capital Professional” and “Certified Human Capital Leader” to the Designations in Table 1. As previously reported, Bill 32…
Practice Area: Employment Law
Reaching Out – Fourth Edition
Dear Friends, It is that time of year again, and after a summer hiatus and a relatively warm fall there is no doubt the air now feels a little crisper and autumn is in full swing. This weekend we gain an extra hour (theoretically at least) as the clocks fall back and it is our…
2013 Federal Budget No. 2 (Bill C-4)
On October 22, 2013, the federal government introduced the Economic Action Plan 2013 Act, No. 2, omnibus legislation that would, if passed, implement measures from the Economic Action Plan 2013 (the 2013 Budget), as well as certain previously announced tax measures. Budget Bill items of interest to employers, human resources professionals and pension plan administrators…
Ontario Court of Appeal Decision Underscores Importance of Properly Drafted Restrictive Covenants
A recent decision of the Court of Appeal for Ontario reinforces the importance of carefully drafting restrictive covenants and considering what evidence is necessary to succeed on a summary judgment motion. The claim arose when individual employees left their employer to work for a competitor. The former employees were all subject to the same “non-competition”…
Federal Government Announces Budget Bill No. 2
On October 22, 2013, the federal government announced the introduction of the Economic Action Plan 2013 Act, No. 2. The Bill would, if passed, implement key measures from Economic Action Plan 2013 (the Budget), as well as certain previously announced tax measures. Among other things, the Bill would: freeze Employment Insurance premium rates for three…
Ontario Introduces New Healthcare Legislation to Enhance Patient Care, Pharmacy Safety
On October 10, 2013, the Ontario government introduced Bill 117, Enhancing Patient Care and Pharmacy Safety (Statute Law Amendment) Act, 2013. If passed, this legislation would, among other things: amend the Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act to allow premises associated with hospitals and health and custodial institutions to be considered “pharmacies” for the purposes of…
Nursing Act Amendment Comes into Force January, 2014
Effective January 1, 2014, section 4.5 of the Nursing Act, 1991 will come into force, adding “dispensing a drug” to the list of authorized acts a member, other than a member described in section 5.1 of the Act (“certain authorized nurses”), is conditionally authorized to perform in the course of engaging in the practice of…
Is Drinking and Driving Cause for Dismissal?
In some circumstances, yes. In the recent decision of Dziecielski v. Lighting Dimensions Inc., the employee drove a company vehicle while intoxicated. He was returning to the workplace from a customer visit and a lunch where he drank four beers, when he was involved in a car accident which destroyed the vehicle and left him…
Ontario Introduces Bill to Amend the Employer Health Tax Act
On September 24, 2013, the Ontario government introduced Bill 105, Supporting Small Businesses Act, 2013. Among other things, the Bill would, if passed, amend the Employer Health Tax Act to increase the exemption amount for eligible employers to $450,000 for the calendar years 2014 to 2018, after which an exemption amount would be adjusted every…
Leaves to Help Families Act Passes Second Reading
On September 25, 2013, Bill 21, Employment Standards Amendment Act (Leaves to Help Families), 2013 passed Second Reading in the Ontario Legislature and was referred to the Standing Committee on General Government. As previously reported, if passed, Bill 21 would allow eligible employees to take the following job-protected unpaid leaves of absence: Family Caregiver Leave…