On June 18, 2014, Regulations Amending the Canada Pension Plan Regulations were published in the Canada Gazette. As previously reported, the Regulations amend the Canada Pension Plan Regulations to prescribe the meaning of “‘substantially gainful’, in respect of an occupation” in subsections 42(1) and 89(1) of the Canada Pension Plan, one of the factors relevant…
Publication Name: Human Resources Legislative Update
Ontario Amends “Letter of Credit” and BPS Solvency Funding Relief Regulations
On May 17, 2014, the Ontario government published regulatory amendments to Regulation 909 (General) under the Pension Benefits Act that: clarify that for purposes of determining the total amount of all letters of credit (“LOC”) held in trust for the pension fund for inclusion in the solvency asset adjustment, the value of any special payments…
Increased Cancer Coverage Under WSIA for Firefighters
On May 2, 2014, prior to the dissolution of the Legislature, the Ontario government published regulatory amendments to s. 4 of Ontario Regulation 253/07 made under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 (“WSIA”). O. Reg. 113/14 adds the following six cancers to the list of diseases that are prescribed for the purposes of the presumptive…
School Boards Collective Bargaining Act, 2014 (Bill 122) Now In Force
Bill 122 was proclaimed in force effective April 24, 2014. Detailed information about Bill 122, as it was amended and passed by the Legislature, is available in our FTR Now of April 10, 2014, “Bill 122 Passes Third Reading And Receives Royal Assent.”
Provincial Parliament Dissolved; General Election on June 12, 2014
On May 2, 2014, the 40th Parliament of Ontario was dissolved. As a result, all outstanding business before the Legislative Assembly, including all government and Private Members’ Bills, expired on the Order Paper. Parliament will reconvene following the general election, which has been set for June 12, 2014. More information is available in our FTR…
Ontario Government Introduces Budget 2014
On May 1, 2014, the Ontario government tabled its Budget 2014: Building Opportunity, Securing Our Future. An FTR Now providing an analysis of proposals of interest to employers and plan administrators will be available shortly on our website.
Ontario’s New Workforce Stabilization Strategy for Personal Support Workers
On April 29, 2014, the Ontario government announced the launch of a new Workforce Stabilization Strategy (“Strategy”) intended to enhance job security of publicly-funded personal support workers (“PSWs”) who work in home and community care settings. Specifically, this Strategy will involve, among other things: increasing the hourly PSW wage by $4.00 over the next three years;…
Bill 21, Leaves to Help Families Act, Coming Into Force October 29, 2014
On April 29, 2014, Bill 21, Employment Standards Amendment Act (Leaves to Help Families), 2014, as amended by the Standing Committee on General Government, passed Third Reading in the Ontario Legislature and received Royal Assent. As previously reported, the Bill will allow eligible employees to take the following job-protected unpaid leaves of absence: •Family Caregiver Leave…
Ontario Proposes Significant Regulatory Amendments under Pension Benefits Act
On April 25, 2014, the Ontario government announced a number of proposed amendments to Regulation 909 made under the Pension Benefits Act (“PBA”), further to its ongoing pension reform initiatives. The government is inviting comments from stakeholders on the following proposals: Proposed Amendment to Regulation 909 under the Pension Benefits Act: Disclosure of Environmental, Social…
Enforcement Blitzes Announced for Ontario Workplaces
The Ontario Ministry of Labour (“MOL”) has released a schedule for coordinated, proactive enforcement blitzes under both the Employment Standards Act, 2000 and the Occupational Health and Safety Act in 2014-2015. The MOL schedule sets out province-wide, sector-specific “Provincial Blitzes, as well as smaller-scale “Provincial Initiatives” and “Regional Initiatives.”