On November 30, 2020, the Department of Finance released Supporting Canadians and Fighting COVID-19: Fall Economic Statement 2020 (Fall Economic Statement). In this FTR Now, we focus on two key proposals contained in the Fall Economic Statement that will be of interest to employers and human resources professionals: (i) proposed amendments to the employee stock…
Tag: Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Ontario Expands Testing for COVID-19 – What Employers Need to Know
On November 20, 2020, the Ontario government filed two regulations that allow point-of-care testing for COVID-19 to take place outside of laboratories and permit an expanded list of healthcare professionals to perform COVID-19 testing. The regulations came into effect on November 20.
Ontario Places Toronto and Peel Region into Lockdown, Changes Made to Other Regions
On November 20, 2020 the Ontario government announced that it will be moving certain regions of the province to new levels of the Keeping Ontario Safe and Open Framework (Framework). This included moving the City of Toronto and Peel Region to the Grey Zone – Lockdown of the Framework, effective earlier today, November 23 at 12:01 a.m. These restrictions will be in effect for at least 28 days.
Ontario Government Launches Workplace Education and Enforcement Campaigns to Ensure COVID-19 Health and Safety Compliance
On November 19, 2020, the Ontario government announced that it is launching a series of education and enforcement campaigns (“inspection blitzes”) to ensure Ontario businesses are taking the necessary steps for the safety of employees, consumers and the public in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaigns have been developed in consultation with local health…
NFP: Emerging Legal Issues and Considerations in the Workplace
On November 25, 2020, Stephen Goodwin and Evon Gayle will be discussing emerging legal issues across Canada since the start of COVID-19 as businesses return to the workplace. This is the final session of a three-part fall series hosted by NFP on key topics in the group benefits sector. Agenda: Topics: Emerging Canadian Legal Issues…
Southwest Central Human Resources Group: COVID and Labour Laws
On November 5, 2020, Evon Gayle presented the topic of “COVID and Labour Laws” at the Southwest Central Human Resources Group Virtual Webinar. Agenda: Topics: Employment contracts & termination clauses Return to work during COVID Family status & accommodations Resignations & retirements ESA for hours worked during staff shortages
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Legal Conference 2020
On September 25, 2020, Andrew McCreary co-presented the topic of “Employment Litigation Arising from COVID-19” at the Kingston and the 1000 Islands Legal Conference 2020. The agenda for the conference can be found here.
Adjusting to Ontario’s New Colour-Coded COVID-19 Zones
The Ontario government has enacted new regulations that amend the Rules for Areas in Stage 2 and 3. The regulations aim to implement the recently announced reopening framework. The regulations:
Ontario Releases New Framework for COVID-19 Public Health Restrictions
On November 3, 2020, the Ontario government released its COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open (Framework) which the government states “will serve as an early warning system allowing [it] to scale up and scale back public health restrictions on a regional or community basis in response to surges and waves of COVID-19.” The Framework will apply to businesses and organizations that operate within the applicable public health units, and it also contains sector-specific health and safety measures.
Ontario Tables Bill to Protect Persons from COVID-19-Related Liability
On October 20, 2020, Ontario introduced Bill 218, Supporting Ontario’s Recovery and Municipal Elections Act, 2020. If passed, it would enact The Supporting Ontario’s Recovery Act, 2020 (Act) which provides protection for persons from liability for actions related to COVID-19. It would also remove the framework in the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 providing for ranked ballot elections for municipal council officers. As of today’s date, the Bill is at Second Reading in the Ontario legislature.