Ontario has published changes to the qualifications of persons hired as personal support workers (PSWs) or to provide personal support services in long-term care homes. Ontario Regulation 246/22 (O. Reg. 246/22) under the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2001 prescribes, among other things, residents’ rights, plans of care, processes for reporting complaints and nursing and personal…
Publication Name: Human Resources Legislative Update
Ontario Government Announces Consultations Related to Occupational Health and Safety Regulations
Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) has announced two consultations on proposed changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and Regulations related to two occupational health and safety issues: protecting workers from heat stress and heat-related illnesses and poor outdoor air quality and workplace health and safety. The MLITSD…
Ontario Announces Legislative Review of the Police Record Checks Reform Act, 2015
The Ministry of the Solicitor General is conducting a legislative review of the Police Record Checks Reform Act, 2015 (PRCRA). The legislative review was announced on the government’s Regulatory Registry.
Municipalities Take Note: Ontario Regulation Expanding Strong Mayor Powers Comes into Effect
The Ontario government has announced it is expanding strong mayor powers to 26 additional municipalities in the province. The province originally granted strong mayoral powers to the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa with the passing of Bill 3, Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022 (Bill 3) on September 8, 2022 and the coming into force…
Employers Take Note: Incoming Changes to Competition Act
Employers are reminded that amendments made to the Competition Act by Bill C-19, Budget Implementation Act, 2022, No. 1 (Bill C-19) will come into force on June 23, 2023. Bill C-19 amends the existing criminal conspiracy provisions of the Competition Act to make it a criminal offence for an employer to conspire, agree or arrange…
Employers Take Note: Employees Entitled to Paid Time Off to Vote in Upcoming Toronto Mayoral By-Election
The Toronto mayoral by-election will be held on Monday, June 26, 2023, and voting hours will run from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Employers should be aware that under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 (Act), all employees who are eligible to vote in the election are entitled to three consecutive hours during voting hours on…
Reminder: Naloxone Kit Requirements Effective June 1, 2023
As we reported previously, amendments to the Occupational Health & Safety Act in Bill 88, Working for Workers Act, 2022, which require certain employers to have a naloxone kit in the workplace, have been proclaimed into force effective June 1, 2023. On December 9, 2022, the Ontario government filed O. Reg. 559/22: Naloxone Kits, which…
Ontario Announces Changes to Mandatory Working at Heights Training Requirements for Programs and Providers
On May 17, 2023, Ontario announced changes to the training requirements for working at heights. The province has updated both the program and provider standards for mandatory working at heights training, noting that falling from heights is one of the leading causes of workplace fatality in a number of industries including construction. Currently, workers on…
Ontario Introduces Bill 91, Less Red Tape, Stronger Economy Act, 2023 and Announces Additional Amendments to Reduce Red Tape
On April 3, 2023, the Ontario government announced a range of measures related to pensions and employment (amongst other matters) in the province. On the same day, the government introduced Bill 91, Less Red Tape, Stronger Economy Act, 2023 (Bill 91) to implement some of those measures. Bill 91 and the additional measures are of…
Ontario Minimum Wage to Increase October 1, 2023
On March 31, 2023, the Ontario government announced that the general provincial minimum wage will increase from $15.50 to $16.55 per hour on October 1, 2023. This minimum wage applies to most employees. Minimum wage rates will also increase on the same date for the following groups of employees: