Ontario Passes Open for Business Act, 2010

On October 21, 2010, the Ontario government passed Bill 68, the Open for Business Act, 2010.  As previously reported, Bill 68 is omnibus legislation that includes amendments to Ontario’s Employment Standards Act, 2000. These amendments will come into force on a date to be proclaimed. Bill 68 also amends the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act,…

Ontario Introduces Accountability Legislation for Broader Public Sector

On October 20, 2010, the Ontario government introduced Bill 122, the Broader Public Sector Accountability Act, 2010. The proposed legislation is intended to impose new rules and higher accountability standards for the broader public sector around the use of external lobbyists, consultants and expenses. The proposed legislation would apply to hospitals and Local Health Integration…

Federal Government to Set Limits On EI Premium Rate Increase for 2011

On September 30, 2010, the federal government announced plans to limit the Employment Insurance (“EI”) maximum premium rate increase for 2011 to five cents per $100 of insurable earnings, and ten cents per $100 of insurable earnings for subsequent years. The rate increase is set by the Canada Employment Insurance Financing Board, which by November…

Municipal Elections 2010: Employers’ Obligation to Provide Paid Time Off to Vote

Province-wide municipal elections will be held on October 25, 2010, and voting hours will run from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, all employees who are eligible to vote in the election are entitled to three consecutive hours during voting hours on election day to cast their vote. To be…

Bill Amending Employment Standards Act, 2000 Ordered for Third Reading

On September 13, 2010, Bill 68, the Open For Business Act, 2010, was reported as amended by the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs and ordered for Third Reading. As previously reported, Bill 68 is omnibus legislation that would amend Ontario’s Employment Standards Act, 2000 as follows: to allow the Director of Employment Standards…