On June 13, 2012, a Private Member Bill with three-party support passed at Third Reading, as amended by the Standing Committee on Social Policy. Bill 33, Toby’s Act (Right to be Free from Discrimination and Harassment Because of Gender Identity or Gender Expression), 2012 amends the Human Rights Code to specify that every person has…
Publication Type: Blog Post
Ontario Employers Required to Post New OHSA Poster
The Ontario government has announced that employers are now required to post a new workplace poster, “Health & Safety at Work – Prevention Starts Here,” pursuant to their obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. This requirement will be enforced by Ministry of Labour inspectors beginning on October 1, 2012. The poster was developed…
Changes to WSIB Insurance Fund to Come into Force January 2013
The Ontario government has proclaimed subsections 1(2), 2(2), 3(2) and 5(1) of Schedule 21 of the Helping Ontario Families and Managing Responsibly Act, 2010, which amends the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997, into force on January 1, 2013. Among other things, the amendments provide for changes to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board’s insurance…
ESA Compliance Blitz to Target Temporary Workers, Agencies
Throughout June, July and August of 2012, the Ontario government will be conducting targeted inspections of temporary employee agencies across the province to ensure compliance with the Employment Standards Act, 2000. The blitz will focus on the following: minimum wage; vacation pay; public holidays, including time off and public holiday pay; and rules related to…
Bill 77, Labour Relations Amendment Act (Fairness for Employees), 2012
On May 3, 2012, Bill 77, Labour Relations Amendment Act (Fairness for Employees), 2012, a Private Member’s Bill, passed at Second Reading and was referred to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs; the Bill was considered on June 7, 2012. Bill 77 proposes a number of amendments to the Labour Relations Act, 1995…
New WSIB Insurance Fund, Temporary Indexing Regulations Filed
On June 5, 2012, the Ontario government filed O. Reg 141/12 “Insurance Fund,” made under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act (“Act”). In part, the regulation requires the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (“WSIB”) to ensure the insurance fund meets the following sufficiency ratios by the following dates: 60 per cent on or before December…
Amended Ontario Anti-Bullying Bill Passes Third Reading
On June 5, 2012, Bill 13, the Accepting Schools Act, 2012, passed at Third Reading. As previously reported, Bill 13 was extensively amended by the Standing Committee on Social Policy. With the exception of the amendments outlined in section 7 (Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week), Bill 13 will come into force on September 1, 2012….
Ontario Establishes New Class Size Limits
On June 4, 2012, the Ontario government filed a new class size regulation under the Education Act. O. Reg. 132/12 (Class Size) defines a number of terms, including: “class size” in relation to elementary and secondary schools; co-operative education class; course; cycle; instructional day; part-time; and transfer course. As outlined in the Ministry of Education’s…
Ontario Government Launches Safety Blitzes
On June 1, 2012, the Ontario government launched a month-long safety blitz targeted at improving the safety of workers at road work and construction sites. Inspectors from the Ministry of Labour will ensure proper traffic control measures are in place when vehicles and large pieces of mobile equipment are on site. Specifically, inspectors will check…
Ontario Announces Consultations to Enhance BPS Pension Fund Investment Efficiencies
Further to initiatives first announced in its 2012 Budget, the Ontario government has appointed a special Pension Investment Advisor, Bill Morneau, to develop recommendations for the government’s consideration through a public consultation process in anticipation of a new legislative framework that will facilitate the pooling of pension fund assets in the broader public sector (“BPS”)….