On May 2, 2024, the federal government introduced Bill C-69, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 16, 2024, for first reading. Bill C-69 contains legislation that, if passed, would enact certain measures outlined in the 2024 Budget, “Fairness for Every Generation” (Budget) that was previously tabled on…
Publication Type: Article
Important Amendments Made to the Temporary Help Agency and Recruiter Licensing Framework in Ontario
On July 1, 2023, a new licensing regime was introduced under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 for any temporary help agency (THA) or recruiter operating in Ontario. Of significant concern to many recruiters and THAs was the requirement to provide a $25,000 irrevocable line of credit in order to be licensed. While the new regime…
Ontario Proposes Changes to Sick Leave Under the Employment Standards Act, 2000
The Ontario government has announced it is proposing changes that would restrict an employer from requiring a medical note to substantiate an unpaid sick leave day under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA). Currently, an employee who has been employed for at least two consecutive weeks is entitled to up to three days of unpaid…
Federal Budget 2024 Tabled
On April 16, 2024, the federal government tabled its 2024 Budget, “Fairness for Every Generation” (Budget). While much of the Budget is focused on topics such as housing, strengthening the economy and making the cost of living more affordable, it also includes a number of initiatives that will have implications for employers, pension plan administrators…
Understanding “Safe Sport” Sanctions and Disciplinary Issues Under the Universal Code of Conduct
Introduction Disciplinary issues and related sanctions can arise in any organization, but they can be especially challenging to navigate in relation to safe sport. The federal government has committed to addressing harassment, discrimination and abuse in sport by requiring all federally funded sport organizations to adopt the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address…
Highlights of the 2024 Ontario Budget
On March 26, 2024, the Ontario government tabled its 2024 budget, “Building a Better Ontario” (Budget) and Bill 180, Building a Better Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2024 (Bill 180). In this FTR Now, we highlight information contained in the Budget and Bill 180 that is of broad interest to employers, human resources professionals and pension…
More on the Interplay Between CLC Paid Leaves and Collective Agreement Entitlements
In Teamsters Local Union 987 of Alberta v Purolator Inc., Arbitrator Robertson considered the interplay between the entitlement to five days of paid personal leave found in two collective agreements and the entitlement under the Canada Labour Code (CLC) to 10 days of paid medical leave (CLC Medical Leave) and five days of personal leave,…
Working for Workers Four Act, 2024 Receives Royal Assent
On March 21, 2024, Ontario’s Bill 149, Working for Workers Four Act, 2024 (Bill 149) received Royal Assent. Bill 149 amends several statutes including the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA), Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 (WSIA), Digital Platform Workers’ Rights Act, 2022 (DPWRA), and Fair Access to Regulated Professions and Compulsory Trades Act, 2006…
Key Legal Issues on “Safe Sport” in Canada: Latest Developments on Policy and the Law
Executive Summary Creating and protecting a respectful sport culture is an important priority for governments and public policy-makers in Canada and, increasingly, it is an important legal issue for employers and organizations in the sector as well. A review of any number of recent news articles makes this point clear. This year, the federal government…
Ontario Tables Bill Introducing Policy Requirements for Colleges and Universities
Bill 166, Strengthening Accountability and Student Supports Act, 2024 (Bill 166) was tabled by the Ontario Minister of Colleges and Universities (Minister) on February 26, 2024. If passed, Bill 166 will require every college of applied arts and technology (College) and publicly assisted university (University) to have a student mental health policy and a policy…