Publication Name: Human Resources Legislative Update

Ontario Makes Further Amendments to COVID-19 Rules

· 2 min read

On January 9, 2021, the Ontario government filed three regulations made under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020 amending the Rules for Areas in Stages 1, 2 and 3, which set out the restrictions in light of COVID-19.   Among other things, Ontario Regulation 6/21 makes the following amendments to the…

Lockdown Extended in Northern Ontario; On-Line Learning for Elementary Students in Southern Ontario Extended to January 25, 2021

· 1 min read

On January 7, 2021, the Ontario government announced that it is extending the current provincial lockdown an additional 14 days for the 7 public health unit regions in Northern Ontario. This will align the length of their lockdown with the length of the lockdown for the regions in Southern Ontario. The government also announced that…

Ontario Seeking Input on Temporary Help Agency Consultations

· 2 min read

The Ontario government is seeking input from interested parties on a broad range of questions relating to temporary agencies and their obligations under the Employment Standards Code, 2000 (ESA). In this regard, it has posted Temporary Help Agency Consultations. The consultations focus on the non-compliance of those temporary help agencies that operate “underground”, putting “law-abiding…

Rules of Civil Procedure Amended to Provide for Virtual Proceedings and Electronic Processes

· 4 min read

The Ontario government has filed regulatory amendments to the Rules of Civil Procedure (Rules) which come into effect on January 1, 2021. Many of the amendments update the Rules to provide for virtual proceedings and electronic processes. Ontario Regulation 689/20 amends numerous provisions of the Rules relating to hearings by videoconference, electronic certified copies, electronic…

Ontario Government Launches Workplace Education and Enforcement Campaigns to Ensure COVID-19 Health and Safety Compliance

· 2 min read

On November 19, 2020, the Ontario government announced that it is launching a series of education and enforcement campaigns (“inspection blitzes”) to ensure Ontario businesses are taking the necessary steps for the safety of employees, consumers and the public in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaigns have been developed in consultation with local health…

Deadlines under Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act are Approaching

· 2 min read

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) sets out the process for developing and enforcing accessibility standards in Ontario. Its purpose is to achieve accessibility standards for Ontarians with physical and mental disabilities by 2025. All levels of government, private sector organizations and non-profit organizations must comply with this legislation. Compliance deadline dates depend…

Ontario Moves Forward with Amendments to the Class Proceedings Act, 1992

· 2 min read

Recent reforms to Ontario’s class action regime will come into effect on October 1, 2020. Ontario’s Smarter and Stronger Justice Act, 2020 (Act), which received Royal Assent on July 8, 2020, amends various statutes related to the province’s courts and justice system. Schedule 4 of the Act makes significant revisions to the Class Proceedings Act,…

COVID-19 Update: Restrictions Imposed Across Ontario, and Orders Extended to October 22

· 3 min read

Note: this post has been modified from its original publication on September 18, 2020 The Ontario government has imposed restrictions on the number of people who can attend unmonitored social gatherings and public events across all Ontario regions in light of the increase of COVID-19 cases in these areas. These restrictions are directed to private…