Recent legislative changes in Ontario will have a significant impact on school boards. First, school boards will now be required to adopt a code of conduct that applies to trustees. Second, as of January 1, 2018, entitlement to benefits for chronic mental stress is compensable under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997…
Tag: Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA)
Ontario Announces Health, Safety and Employment Standards Blitzes
The Ontario government has announced that it will be conducting more than 24 health, safety and employment standards inspection blitzes in 2018-2019 targeted at certain sectors in Ontario, with a view to ensuring statutory compliance. A number of workplaces will be visited, including those in the retail, manufacturing, construction and health care sectors, as well…
Canadian Employment Safety and Health Guide Publishes an Article by Allison MacIsaac on the Scope of Occupational Health and Safety Obligations
Hicks Morley’s Allison MacIsaac authored an article in Canadian Employment Safety and Health Guide titled “Appellate Court Considers Scope of an Employer’s OHSA Obligations to Protect Workers.” The article discusses the Ontario (Labour) v. Quinton Steel (Wellington) Limited case where an appellate court recently overturned a decision acquitting a company which had been charged following a workplace fatality, where they found that employer should have done more to protect its workers than what is prescribed under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Appellate Court Upholds Criminal Conviction of Project Manager for Deaths/Injury Resulting from Swing Stage Collapse
In R. v. Kazenelson, the Ontario Court of Appeal recently upheld the conviction and the sentence imposed on a project manager who had been found guilty under the Criminal Code for criminal negligence causing death and criminal negligence causing bodily harm, arising from the collapse of a swing stage in 2009. The appellant project manager…
Appellate Court Considers Scope of an Employer’s OHSA Obligations to Protect Workers
An appellate court recently overturned a decision acquitting a company which had been charged following a workplace fatality, holding that there may be circumstances where an employer is required to do more to protect its workers than what is prescribed under the regulations to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). In Ontario (Labour) v….
Bill 177 Receives Royal Assent, Amends WSIA, OHSA, PBA and BPSECA
On December 14, 2017, Bill 177, Stronger, Fairer Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2017, received Royal Assent. Bill 177 is omnibus legislation which amends several statutes, including the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Pension Benefits Act and the Broader Public Sector Executive Compensation Act. Workplace Safety and Insurance…
Bill 177 Introduces Transitional Provisions for WSIB Mental Stress, Increased Fines under OHSA
On November 14, 2017, the Ontario government introduced Bill177, the Stronger, Fairer Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2017, omnibus legislation which, if passed, would amend several employment-related statutes. In this FTR Now, we discuss the proposed changes to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 and the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Ontario Proposes Significant Reforms to the Pension Benefits Act and other Employment-Related Statutes
On November 14, 2017, the Ontario government introduced Bill 177, the Stronger, Fairer Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2017 (Bill 177), omnibus legislation supporting key reforms outlined in the 2017 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review (Fiscal Review), which was also released on that date.
Ontario Introduces Cannabis, Smoke-Free Ontario and Road Safety Legislation
On November 1, 2017, the Ontario government tabled Bill 174, Cannabis, Smoke-Free Ontario and Road Safety Statute Law Amendment Act, 2017 omnibus legislation which would, if passed, regulate the cultivation, sale, distribution and consumption of cannabis in Ontario, enact the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 and make amendments to the Highway Traffic Act relating to impairment by cannabis and road safety. Among other things, the Bill provides the provincial framework for the federal Bill C-45, Cannabis Act.
Back to School Edition – Student-Focused Case Law and Legislative Update
Welcome back to school! We hope everyone enjoyed a restful summer season. To kick off the school year, we bring you the latest edition of our School Board Update with particular emphasis on legislation and decisions involving the student body…