On May 21, 2008, the Ontario Ministry of Labour released a consultation paper entitled A Consultation Paper on Work through Temporary Help Agencies. The paper is seeking input on a number of issues specifically related to Temporary Help Agencies, including: barriers to permanent employment (whether through fees or contractual restrictions); fees charged to workers by…
Publication Type: Article
Supreme Court Speaks on School Searches
On April 25th the Supreme Court of Canada issued a much anticipated decision concerning a sniffer dog search of a high school that led to drug related charges against a student. A 6-3 majority of the Court held that the police violated the student’s Charter right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure and…
More Information on Family Status Accommodation
As many of you will know, we are currently presenting a series of client conferences across the province. One of the human rights issues we have been featuring in our conferences is the accommodation of family status. We have received some requests from attendees for case citations for some of the decisions referenced in our…
Tax-Free Savings Accounts: Potential Opportunities for Employer-Sponsored Retirement and Savings Plans
In the February 2008 Budget, the federal Minister of Finance announced a new initiative – tax free savings accounts (TFSAs). If the proposed legislation is passed, these new savings vehicles will be available to Canadian taxpayers starting in 2009. Key Features of a TFSA Canadian taxpayers will be allowed to contribute up to $5000 each…
OHRC Draft Policy on Mental Health Discrimination and Police Record Checks
In February 2008, the Ontario Human Rights Commission released a Draft Policy on Mental Health Discrimination and Police Records Check for public consultation. The draft Policy is aimed at addressing concerns that the requirements, policies and practices relating to police record checks can have a discriminatory impact on persons with mental health-related disabilities and those…
The Kajouji Case: A Recent Tragedy Focuses Renewed Attention on Managing Students at Risk
The tragic recent events involving 18-year old Carleton University student Nadia Kajouji have once again called attention to universities’ responsibilities when managing students who are at risk of harming themselves or others. As is now well known from media reports, Ms. Kajouji’s body was recovered from the Rideau River in Ottawa in late April, and…
Update on Family Day
Immediately following last year’s provincial election, the Ontario Government created a new public holiday under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (the “ESA”) – Family Day, which falls on the third Monday of each February. Shortly after the introduction of the new holiday, employers turned their mind to the question of whether they would be required…
Termination of Municipal Officers: The New Rules
This Client Update follows up on our March 2008 Update regarding the Supreme Court of Canada’s landmark decision in Dunsmuir v. New Brunswick, 2008 SCC 9 (CanLII). As discussed in the previous Update, the Supreme Court significantly reformed the law relating to the termination of public office holders. The Court clearly signalled that where office…
Information & Privacy Post – Volume-3, Number-1
In this issue Canadian e-discovery enters next era FREEDOM OF INFORMATION – EXCEPTIONS – PRIVILEGE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION – EXCEPTIONS – UNJUSTIFIED INVASION OF PERSONAL PRIVACY FREEDOM OF INFORMATION – FREEDOM OF THE PRESS PRIVACY – ACCESS TO PERSONAL INFORMATION PRIVACY – APPLICATION, EXCLUSIONS AND MATTERS OF JURISDICTION PRIVACY – COLLECTION USE AND DISCLOSURE –…
Ontario Budget 2008
INTRODUCTION Amid growing economic uncertainty, the Honourable Dwight Duncan, Ontario’s Minister of Finance, tabled the 2008 Ontario Budget, “Growing a Stronger Ontario” before the Ontario Legislature on March 25, 2008. A possible U.S. recession, a Canadian dollar hovering near parity with the U.S. greenback, soaring energy and resource costs, and relentless competition from overseas have…