Anti-Bullying Bill Receives Royal Assent

On June 19, 2012, Bill 13, the Accepting Schools Act, 2012, received Royal Assent. Section 7 (Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week) came into force upon Royal Assent. As previously reported, the remaining sections of the Bill will come into force on September 1, 2012.

Amended Ontario Anti-Bullying Bill Passes Third Reading

On June 5, 2012, Bill 13, the Accepting Schools Act, 2012, passed at Third Reading. As previously reported, Bill 13 was extensively amended by the Standing Committee on Social Policy. With the exception of the amendments outlined in section 7 (Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week), Bill 13 will come into force on September 1, 2012….

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…

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,…

New Education Act Amendments Introduced Relating to Concussions

On March 6, 2012, the Ontario government introduced Bill 39, Education Amendment Act (Concussions), 2012, new legislation that would, if passed, amend Part XIII.1 of the Education Act, and empower the Minister of Education to set policies and guidelines respecting head injuries and concussions suffered by pupils. We highlight a few key proposed amendments below….

Bill 119 – What You Need To Know

Bill 119, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Amendment Act, 2008, makes insurance coverage mandatory for certain categories of persons operating in the construction industry (independent operators, sole proprietors, partners in partnerships and executive officers of a corporation). This FTR Now outlines these significant new changes and suggests the next steps individuals contracting with contractors and…

Ontario Introduces Education Act Amendments Relating to Concussions

On March 6, 2012, the Ontario government introduced Bill 39, Education Amendment Act (Concussions), 2012. If passed, the Bill would rename Part XIII.1 of the Education Act “Pupil Health,” and create new provisions for concussions. These provisions would authorize the Minister to make policies and guidelines relating to the following: the distribution of head injury…

2012 Winter Edition

FOCUS ON OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY Boundaries expanding on occupational health and safety LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS The challenges of accommodating environmental sensitivities in the workplace Ontario WSIB: Tackling unfunded liability issues PROFILE Touching all the bases Download PDF

School Board Update – Anti-Bullying Legislation Tabled in Ontario Legislature

Last week, both the Ontario government and the Progressive Conservatives tabled legislation to put in place measures to combat the problem of bullying in schools. The government’s version, Bill 13 (the Accepting Schools Act, 2011), and the Progressive Conservatives’ version, Bill 14 (the Anti-Bullying Act, 2011), have the same broad goals but have established some…

Ontario Introduces Anti-Bullying Legislation

On November 30, 2011, the Ontario government tabled Bill 13, the Accepting Schools Act, 2011, legislation intended to address the issue of bullying in schools. This Bill, if passed, would amend the Education Act to include, among other things: a definition of bullying; a requirement that school boards implement policies promoting positive school environments that…