On September 12, 2013, Bill 211 The Personal Information Protection and Identity Theft Prevention Act, a Private Member’s Bill, passed Third Reading in the Manitoba Legislature. It received Royal Assent on September 13, 2013. Subject to specified exemptions, Bill 211 will apply to all organizations in the province (including private sector organizations) and will govern…
Publication Name: Human Resources Legislative Update
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…
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…
Regulatory Amendments made under Immunization of School Pupils Act
On September 18, 2013, two regulations were filed under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (“Act”). O. Reg. 260/13 amends Regulation 645 of R.R.O. 1990 (General). It includes, among other things, a requirement that schools provide reports containing records for each pupil in the school to the medical officer of health for the health unit…
Ontario Introduces Bill to Protect Students
On September 18, 2013, the Ontario government introduced Bill 103, Protecting Students Act, 2013. If passed, Bill 103 would amend the Ontario College of Teachers Act, 1996 (“Act”) and would, among other things: add definitions of “professional misconduct’ and “sexual misconduct” to the Act establish an investigation stage complaint resolution process and a disciplinary stage…
Parliament Prorogues until October 16th
Upon the request of the Prime Minister, the Governor General officially prorogued Parliament today. The next session of Parliament is scheduled to begin on October 16, 2013, with a Speech from the Throne. As described in our previous post – Parliament to be Prorogued – all Government Bills have “died on the Order Paper,” and…
Government Announces Three-Year EI Premium Freeze
On September 9, 2013, the federal Government announced that it would be cancelling its planned EI premium hike for 2014. Instead, EI premiums will be frozen at the 2013 level of $1.88 per $100 of insurable earnings. The Government also stated that the rate would not exceed $1.88 for 2015 or 2016. On the same date,…
Regulatory Amendments Made Under Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007
On August 28, 2013, the Ontario government filed O. Reg. 246/13, amending O. Reg. 79/10 (General) made under the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007 (“Act”). Among other things, O. Reg. 246/13 amends the qualification requirements for certain persons working or employed in a long-term care home prior to the day the Act and O. Reg….
Parliament to be Prorogued
The Prime Minister has announced that he will ask the Governor General to prorogue Parliament until October 2013. Parliament was previously set to resume sitting on September 16, 2013. With prorogation, the unfinished business of Parliament will “die” on the Order Paper, including government bills which have not yet received Royal Assent. These bills can…
Regulatory Amendments Relating to Independent Health Facilities Proposed
The Ontario government has proposed an amendment to O. Reg. 264/07 (General) made under the Local Health System Integration Act, 2006 (“LHSIA”). The proposed regulation would make independent health facilities (“IHFs”) prescribed health service providers for the purpose of the LHSIA. Subject to certain specified exceptions, an IHF is defined in the Independent Health Facilities…