On May 30, 2017, the Ontario government announced its intention to introduce The Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017 (Act), omnibus legislation proposing a series of broad ranging, significant amendments to Ontario’s Employment Standards Act, 2000 and Labour Relations Act, 1995. According to the government’s announcement, the Act will contain a package of proposed legislative…
Tag: Legislative Initiative
Ontario Announces Additional Funding to Reduce Class Sizes and to Support Students at Risk
The Ontario government has announced that nine central agreements have been reached between trustees’ associations and education workers’ unions and teachers’ federations. These agreements will be in force from September 1, 2017 to August 31, 2019. The government has also announced additional funding for the following: to hire approximately 875 teachers and 1600 education workers…
New Private Member Bill Proposes “Card Check” Unionization, First Contract Arbitration Model for Ontario
On April 4, 2017, the New Democratic Party (NDP) of Ontario introduced private member legislation that would amend the Labour Relations Act, 1995 (Act) to bring “card check” union certification back to Ontario for the first time since 1995, and to implement a new first contract arbitration process. It is important to note that private…
2017 Federal Budget Released
On March 22, 2017, the federal government tabled its 2017 Budget, Building A Strong Middle Class (#Budget2017)…
Hello 2017! New for Pension Plan Administration in Ontario
More change is coming to the administration of pension plans in Ontario. Reforms to pension legislation have been ongoing since 2009 – and with three recent developments under the Ontario Pension Benefits Act (PBA) effective in 2017…
Clarifying Pension Portability in Ontario for Retired Members
With the publication of draft regulations to support recent amendments to the Pension Benefits Act (PBA), the PBA will soon expressly permit…
Ontario Establishes Shared Health Services Agency for LHINs
The Ontario government has filed a new regulation under the Local Health System Integration Act, 2006 (Act) to further support recent reforms to the province’s frontline healthcare service delivery model. Now in effect, O. Reg. 456/16 formally establishes the “Health Shared Services Ontario” Agency (Agency) pursuant to the regulatory powers set out in section 39…
Federal Government Introduces Legislation to Establish Target Benefit Plans Framework
On October 19, 2016, the federal government introduced Bill C-27, An Act to amend the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985, legislation that would, if passed, provide a framework for the establishment, administration and supervision of target benefit plans (TBPs). TBPs provide for fixed or capped contributions, a targeted “defined benefit type” pension formula and flexibility…
Federal Government Introduces Amending Legislation to Support CPP Enhancement
On October 6, 2016, the federal government introduced Bill C-26, An Act to amend the Canada Pension Plan, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Act and the Income Tax Act, new omnibus legislation to support Canada Pension Plan (CPP) enhancement. If passed, Bill C-26 would, among other things, amend the CPP to: increase the maximum…
Ontario Consults on (Revised) Proposed Amendments to Advisory Committee Regulations
The Ontario government is consulting on a revised proposal for amending the Pension Benefits Act(PBA) regulations with respect to Pension Advisory Committees (PACs). The consultation is open only until September 12, 2016…