Bill 160 OHSA Amendments Receive Royal Assent

On June 1, 2011, Bill 160, the Occupational Health and Safety Statute Law Amendment Act, 2011, received Royal Assent. As previously reported, the Bill 160 amendments are intended to respond to the recommendations provided by the Expert Panel on Occupational Health and Safety and significantly amend the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The Bill should…

House of Commons Resumes Sitting

On June 2, 2011, the 41st Parliament commencement its first session. The government is expected to re-introduce its 2011 pre-election Budget, on June 6, 2011.

Bill 181, Mandatory Retirement Legislation For Firefighters, Passes Third Reading as Amended

On May 31, 2011, Bill 181, the Fire Protection and Prevention Amendment Act, 2011, passed at Third Reading as amended and is expected to receive Royal Assent shortly. As previously reported, Bill 181 amends the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997 to provide for the mandatory retirement at age 60 of firefighters regularly assigned to…

Pension Benefits Act JSPP Amendments Come Into Force June 1, 2011

June 1, 2011 has been named as the day on which subsections 1 (9) and 3 (3) and section 16 of Bill 120, the Securing Pension Benefits Now and for the Future Act, 2010, come into force. These provisions relate to the recently reported filing of O. Reg. 177/11, and specifically, the change affecting jointly-sponsored…

Ontario Files New JSPP and Phase II Funding Pension Regulations, BPS Solvency Funding Relief Regulations

On May 20, 2011, the Ontario government filed two new regulations under the Pension Benefits Act. O. Reg. 177/11 contains several amendments to the Pension Benefits Act General Regulation 909 (“Regulations”) relating to measures first introduced by the government when it tabled Bill 120, Securing Pension Benefits Now and for the Future Act, 2010, which…

Ontario Signs Multi-Jurisdictional Pension Plan Agreement

On May 20, 2011, the Ontario government announced that it has signed the Agreement Respecting Multi-Jurisdictional Pension Plans (the “MJPPA”) (PDF) with the government of Quebec. The MJPPA will be effective July 1, 2011 for multi-jurisdictional pension plans where the “major authority” (province of registration) is Ontario or Quebec, and the pension plans have Ontario and…

Mandatory Retirement Legislation For Firefighters Ordered for Third Reading as Amended

On May 19, 2011, Bill 181, the Fire Protection and Prevention Amendment Act, 2011, was ordered for Third Reading after being reported as amended by the Standing Committee on General Government. The Committee amended the “Reasonable Accommodation” provision found in section 2 of the Bill to provide as follows: 53.1(4) A firefighter shall not be…

Occupational Health and Safety Legislation Passes

On May 18, 2011, Bill 160, the Occupational Health and Safety Statute Law Amendment Act, 2011, passed at Third Reading, as amended by the Standing Committee on Social Policy. It is expected to receive Royal Assent shortly. As previously reported, the proposed Bill 160 amendments are intended to respond to the recommendations provided by the…

Retirement Homes Act Provisions Come Into Force

On May 17, 2011, provisions of Bill 21, the New Retirement Homes Act, 2010, dealing with patients’ rights, care and safety as well as enforcement were proclaimed in force. As previously reported, Bill 21 provides legislative protection for seniors living in retirement homes.

Ontario 2011 Budget Bill Receives Royal Assent

On May 12, 2011, Bill 173, the Better Ontario for Tomorrow Act (Budget Measures), 2011 received Royal Assent.  As previously reported, Bill 173 is omnibus legislation amending a variety of statutes to implement certain initiatives outlined in the 2011 Ontario Budget tabled on March 23, 2011. The Bill should be consulted for coming into force…