On December 17, 2021, the Ontario government announced it is taking further public heath measures in light of the rapidly spreading Omicron variant. The new measures significantly expand upon the December 15 announcement reducing capacity limits to 50% in certain settings with a usual capacity of 1000 or more. Effective December 19, 2021, the following…
Publication Type: Blog Post
Ontario Reduces Certain Capacity Limits in Light of Omicron Variant
On December 15, 2021, the Ontario government announced that in light of the Omicron variant, it is reducing capacity limits to 50% for the following indoor venues with a usual capacity of 1000 persons or more: facilities used for sports and recreational fitness activities entertainment facilities such as concert venues, theatres and cinemas racing venues…
Reminder to Employers: General Minimum Wage to Increase January 1, 2022
On December 9, 2021, the Ontario government passed Bill 43, Build Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2021, which, among other things, amends the Employment Standards Act, 2000 to increase the general minimum wage from $14.35 per hour to $15.00 per hour, effective January 1, 2022. The following changes to other minimum wage rates also come into…
Ontario Releases Recommendations on the “Future of Work”
On December 9, 2021, the Ontario government released The Future of Work in Ontario, a report from the Ontario Workforce Recovery Advisory Committee that includes 21 recommendations on the future of work in the province. The recommendations focus on three key areas: economic recovery, strengthening the province’s competitive position and supporting workers. As we reported…
Bill 27, Working for Workers Act, Receives Royal Assent
On December 2, 2021, Bill 27, Working for Workers Act, 2021, received Royal Assent. We reviewed Bill 27 in detail in our FTR Now of October 26, 2021, Ontario Proposes Significant Changes to ESA and Other Employment-Related Legislation, as well as our FTR Now of December 1, 2021, Ontario Passes Bill 27, Working for Workers…
Federal Government Tables Bill to Provide 10 Days Paid Sick Leave and to Protect Healthcare Workers From Intimidation
On November 26, 2021, the federal government tabled Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Canada Labour Code. Amendments to the Canada Labour Code If passed, Bill C-3 would amend the Canada Labour Code (Code) to provide employees in federally regulated industries with up to 10 days of paid medical leave….
Federal Government Tables New COVID-19 Leaves Under the Canada Labour Code
On November 24, 2021, the federal government tabled Bill C-2, An Act to provide further support in response to COVID-19. Among other things, if passed, Bill C-2 would reintroduce COVID-19 leaves of absence (repealed on November 20, 2021), as amended, under the Canada Labour Code (Code). Under Bill C-2, the new COVID-19 leaves would provide:…
Federal COVID-19 Leaves Now Repealed
Effective November 20, 2021, the leaves relating to COVID-19 under the Canada Labour Code have been repealed. The first leave was up to four weeks to be taken in prescribed circumstances related to COVID-19. The second leave was up to 42 weeks where the employee was unable to work because they must care for a…
Arbitrator Upholds Mandatory Vaccination Policy
On November 9, 2021, Arbitrator Von Veh upheld the mandatory vaccination policy (Policy) implemented by a security company, finding the company acted reasonably in implementing the Policy and that it did not breach the collective agreement. The award provides some helpful guidance for employers that have implemented similar policies. In United Food And Commercial Workers…
Employment and Social Development Canada Extends Consultation on Modernizing Employment Insurance Program
In August 2021, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) initiated a consultation survey on how to modernize the nation’s Employment Insurance (EI) program. The need for the consultation survey was driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and the gaps it highlighted in the EI program. On November 9, 2021, ESDC extended the closing date of the…