The Treasury Board Secretariat has announced that it will begin consultations this year on a new benefits pooling model for broader public sector participants. The government consulted with public sector employers and bargaining agents in the spring and summer of this year about how to achieve reasonable public sector compensation growth, and a centralized benefits…
Tag: Benefits
Appellate Court Considers Sale of Business and Duty to Mitigate
In Dussault v Imperial Oil Limited, the Ontario Court of Appeal found that two employees did not fail to mitigate their damages when they refused offers of employment from the purchaser of a former employer, as the employment that was offered was not “comparable.” Background In 2016, Imperial Oil sold its retail business to Mac’s…
Accurate Design Benefits and Insurance Agencies Inc. Workplace Webinar – FocusOn: Medical Cannabis
Overview The legalization of cannabis for recreational use and the exponential growth of people using medicinal cannabis gives rise to challenges for employers and service providers. Our speakers will provide insights into legal developments related to medical and recreational cannabis for those working in employee benefits and human resources, including the impact of cannabis on…
Tribunal Finds that Denial of Coverage for Medical Cannabis under Employer’s Benefit Plan is not Discriminatory
The Ontario Human Rights Tribunal (the Tribunal) recently held that the decision to deny coverage for medical cannabis coverage under an employer’s benefit plan is not discrimination under the Ontario Human Rights Code (Code) when the decision to deny coverage is unrelated to an applicant’s disability or another protected ground. In Rivard v. Essex (County),…
Nova Scotia Court of Appeal Finds Benefit Plan Can Exclude Medical Marijuana
The Nova Scotia Court of Appeal recently confirmed that an administrator of a benefit plan may choose what specific drugs and medications will be covered by a plan, and in particular, held that the exclusion of medical marijuana is not discriminatory under human rights legislation. In Canadian Elevator Industry Welfare Trust Fund v. Skinner, an…
Spring 2018 Pension & Benefits Update
Overview In the last few years, reforms to pension and employment legislation have been coming at a break neck speed. More pension and benefit related cases than ever are working their way through the system. In the face of such change, employers and plan administrators must be ready to act, making adjustments to plan design…
Ontario Municipal Human Resources Association (OMHRA) One-Day Seminar: Combating Benefits Fraud
Several topics will be covered at this informative and interactive session including a discussion on Benefits Fraud Management, “Uncovering The Fraud”, Case Law Updates, the TTC Experience, Benefits Law/Governance and more!
Natasha Monkman Quoted in Canadian HR Reporter on the Ontario Government Covering Prescription Drugs for Residents Under 25
Canadian HR Reporter quoted Hicks Morley’s Natasha Monkman in a May 29, 2017 article titled “Ontario to cover prescription drugs – with no co-pays – for residents under 25”. The article reviews the latest budget announcement where Ontario will be covering prescription medicines for residents age 24 and under as of. January 1, 2018, and how this new measure could save employers 10 per cent on claim costs…
Craig Rix Quoted in Benefits Canada on the Latest Report Released by the Ontario Ministry of Labour
Benefits Canada quoted Hicks Morley’s Craig Rix in a May 23, 2017 article titled “Ontario urged to consider minimum standard for health benefits”. The article talks about the latest report released by the Ontario Ministry of Labour, and how these changes would affect employers…
Successfully representing a municipality in a grievance regarding the termination of an employee for benefits fraud.
Successfully representing a municipality in a grievance regarding the termination of an employee for benefits fraud.