Publication Type: Article

Extending Access To Information Obligations To Ontario Hospitals: What Would It Mean?

· 4 min read

In late October of last year, the Ontario Hospital Association asked the provincial government to extend coverage of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (“FIPPA”) to hospitals as a means of promoting transparency and public accountability. This bulletin outlines the basic features of Ontario’s access to information regime and raises questions about…

Municipalities Exposed To Construction Collective Agreements

· 3 min read

In a recent decision, the Ontario Labour Relations Board (“OLRB”) held that key non-construction employer provisions of the Ontario Labour Relations Act, 1995 (the “Act”) were unconstitutional. In this FTR Now, we discuss how the decision could have an impact on the ability of municipalities to tender construction work. BACKGROUND The construction industry labour relations…

Ontario Introduces Draft Pension Reform Legislation

· 31 min read

INTRODUCTION Following on the heels of the Report of the Ontario Expert Commission on Pensions (“OECP”), the Ontario Government released draft pension reform legislation on December 9, 2009. Bill 236, Pension Benefits Amendment Act, 2009 (“Bill 236”) marks the beginning of what the Government is calling a multi-stage pension reform process to modernize Ontario’s pension…

Ontario Releases New Pension Reform Legislation

· 2 min read

Following swiftly on the heels of the Report of the Expert Commission on Pensions, the Ontario Government released draft pension reform legislation on December 9, 2009. The draft legislation marks the beginning of what the Government is calling a multi-stage pension reform process to modernize Ontario’s pension system. The legislation covers an array of issues,…

School Boards Exposed To Construction Collective Agreements

· 3 min read

In a recent decision, the Ontario Labour Relations Board (“OLRB”) held that key non-construction employer provisions of the Ontario Labour Relations Act, 1995 (the “Act”) were unconstitutional.  In this FTR Now, we discuss how the decision could have an impact on school boards’ ability to tender construction work. Background The construction industry labour relations regime…

Alcohol and the Office Party

· 4 min read

With the holiday season approaching, employers are once again planning their holiday festivities. Whether the festivity is large or small, it remains as important as ever that employers take proactive steps to ensure the health and safety of their employees who attend office parties or other celebrations. Over the years, a number of court decisions…

Firefighters’ Presumptive Legislation Now Applies To Volunteers

· 7 min read

Effective November 4, 2009, the Ontario Government has expanded its presumptive occupational disease coverage legislation for firefighters to volunteer and part-time firefighters and to fire inspectors. This coverage will apply on the same terms and for the same diseases, in accordance with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act (“WSIA”). This change will have very significant…

ESA Amendments Now In Force, Others Proposed

· 5 min read

In our FTR Now of April 24, 2009, “Amendments Made to Temporary Help Agencies”, we discussed important new amendments to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (“ESA, 2000”) outlined in Bill 139, the Employment Standards Amendment Act (Temporary Help Agencies), 2008 (“Bill 139”). Today, Bill 139 comes into force. As anticipated, the government of Ontario has…