Arbitrator Finds Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policy and Discipline for Non-Compliance Reasonable in Ontario Nurses’ Association v. Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital

Are mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policies in hospitals reasonable? Arbitrator says “yes” in Ontario Nurses’ Association v. Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital. In this FTR Now, Hicks Morley’s Andrew Zabrovsky and Amanda Cohen discuss the reasoning of each party and review the decision.

Ontario Tables Bill to Create Integrated Community Health Services Centres, and More

On February 21, 2023, the Ontario government tabled Bill 60, Your Health Act, 2023 for First Reading. The government states that the objective of the Bill is to reduce wait times for surgeries, procedures and diagnostic imaging ‘while enabling its new “As of Right” rules to automatically recognize the credentials of health care workers registered in other provinces and territories.’ If passed, Bill 60 would enact the Integrated Community Health Services Centres Act, 2023 (Proposed Act) which would create integrated community health services centres, among other things.

Redeployment Ability of Health Service Providers (Including Hospitals) Expanded

On January 18, 2021, the Ontario government amended Ontario Regulation 74/20, Work Redeployment For Certain Health Service Providers (Regulation), made under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020. The amendments – which came into effect January 18, 2021 – are intended to help alleviate the increasing staffing and capacity issues faced by…