On October 2, 2020, the government of Ontario filed Ontario Regulation 546/20 (Regulation) made under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020. The Regulation came into force on October 3, 2020....more
10/9/2020
/ Canada ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Health and Safety ,
Human Rights Code ,
Infectious Diseases ,
International Labor Laws ,
Masks ,
Ontario ,
Personal Protective Equipment ,
Public Health ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Workplace Safety
In response to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in Ontario, the province has imposed health screening obligations on employers. On September 25, 2020, the province’s government filed Regulation 530/20, which was made...more
10/1/2020
/ Canada ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Infectious Diseases ,
International Labor Laws ,
Labor Regulations ,
Ministry of Health ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Risk Management ,
Screening Procedures
In Porcupine Opportunities Program Inc. v Cooper, 2020 SKCA 33 (Porcupine), the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal affirmed, among other things, that a trial court appropriately decided to award $20,000 in moral damages to an...more
Employers with employees in Ontario often ask about legislative requirements under various employment statutes, including mandatory policies, training and postings under the Employment Standards Act, 2000, the Workplace...more
The recent decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal in Manthadi v. ASCO Manufacturing, 2020 ONCA 485, analyzed the common law approach to the calculation of reasonable notice when a vendor terminates a worker’s employment in...more
8/20/2020
/ Asset Purchase Agreements ,
Asset Purchaser ,
Canada ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Contract ,
Employment Litigation ,
Hiring & Firing ,
International Labor Laws ,
Notice Requirements ,
Ontario ,
Successor Liability ,
Termination Clauses ,
Vendors
On July 24, 2020, Ontario’s new Bill 195, Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020, became law. In accordance with Bill 195, Ontario’s Emergency Declaration has ended (subject to the provincial...more
8/18/2020
/ Canada ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Orders ,
Employment Standards Act ,
Infectious Diseases ,
International Labor Laws ,
Layoffs ,
Leave of Absence ,
Ontario ,
Subsidies ,
Wage and Hour
Posting: Employment Standards Act, 2000 -
The poster is prepared by the Minister of Labour to help ensure employers understand their minimum obligations and employees know their rights.
Employers must:
• provide each...more
8/13/2020
/ Canada ,
International Labor Laws ,
Labor Regulations ,
OHSA ,
Ontario ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Posting Requirements ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Sexual Harassment ,
Training Requirements ,
Workplace Safety ,
Workplace Violence
The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) is a 75% wage subsidy designed to encourage employers to retain employees during the COVID-19 crisis....more
On July 16, 2020, Prime Minister Trudeau announced a federal investment of more than $19 billion that will provide support to Canadians through the Safe Restart Agreement....more
On June 17, 2020, in Waksdale v. Swegon North America Inc., the Ontario Court of Appeal rendered a decision pertaining to the enforceability of termination provisions in employment contracts. ...more
Canadian businesses have suffered severe financial distress due to COVID-19. Many employers have been forced to lay off their employees hoping they would only be required to do so temporarily. It has become clear that the...more
On May 29, 2020, the government of Ontario filed Ontario Regulation 228/20 (Regulation) under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA). The Regulation amends layoff and constructive dismissal rules exclusively under the ESA,...more
The federal government first announced its Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF) program on May 11, 2020. The goal of this program is to provide bridge financing to large Canadian employers affected by COVID-19...more
Cormier v. 1772887 Ontario Limited (St. Joseph Communications) (“St. Joseph”), 2019 ONCA 965, is an appeal from a summary judgment motion arising from the wrongful dismissal claim of a contractor who worked for St. Joseph for...more
2/26/2020
/ Appeals ,
Canada ,
Contract Terms ,
Employee Definition ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Contract ,
Employment Litigation ,
Employment Standards Act ,
Gig Economy ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Independent Contractors ,
International Labor Laws ,
Notice Requirements ,
Ontario ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Summary Judgment ,
Termination Clauses ,
Wrongful Termination
Canada saw significant developments in labour and employment law in 2019. As we embark on a new decade, we will undoubtedly see the landscape in this ever-changing area of law continue to evolve....more
1/9/2020
/ Amended Legislation ,
Appeals ,
Canada ,
Employee Misconduct ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Employment Litigation ,
Hiring & Firing ,
International Labor Laws ,
Labor Regulations ,
Labor Relations ,
Labour Code ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Medical Marijuana ,
Sexual Harassment ,
Substance Abuse ,
Tort ,
Undue Hardship
A massive overhaul of the Canada Labour Code (CLC) is pending, with significant amendments coming into force on September 1, 2019, just prior to the Canadian federal election in October....more
7/24/2019
/ Canada ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Equal Pay ,
Flexible Work Arrangements ,
Independent Contractors ,
International Labor Laws ,
Labor Code ,
Labor Regulations ,
Leave of Absence ,
Maternity Leave ,
Misclassification ,
Over-Time ,
Parental Leave ,
Vacation Leave ,
Wage and Hour
Employers with employees in Ontario often ask about legislative requirements under various employment statutes, including mandatory policies, training and postings under the Employment Standards Act, 2000, the Workplace...more
6/25/2019
/ Accessibility Rules ,
Canada ,
Employee Training ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Health and Safety ,
International Labor Laws ,
Labor Regulations ,
OHSA ,
Ontario ,
Posting Requirements ,
Sexual Harassment ,
Workplace Safety
The Court of Appeal for Ontario recently rendered a decision in Ruston v. Keddco MFG. (2011) Ltd., 2019 ONCA 125, which serves as a cautionary tale for employers whose termination conduct reveals that they do not take their...more
Bill 66, Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act, 2018 (“Bill 66”) received Royal Assent on April 3, 2019. Amendments to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (“ESA”) made by Bill 66 have not changed since we first reported on...more
Employers with employees in Ontario often ask about legislative requirements under various employment statutes, including mandatory policies, training and postings under the Employment Standards Act, 2000, the Workplace...more
3/8/2019
/ Canada ,
Employee Rights ,
Employee Training ,
Employer Mandates ,
Employment Standards Act ,
International Labor Laws ,
Ontario ,
OSHA ,
Posting Requirements ,
Sexual Harassment ,
Strict Compliance ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Safety
Canada saw significant developments in labour and employment law in 2018. As we embark on a new year, we will undoubtedly see the landscape in this ever-changing area of law continue to evolve. ...more
1/15/2019
/ #MeToo ,
Canada ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Criminal Background Checks ,
Decriminalization of Marijuana ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Human Rights ,
International Labor Laws ,
Labor Code ,
Labor Regulations ,
Labor Relations ,
New Legislation ,
Pay Equity Laws ,
Pay Transparency ,
Popular ,
Sexual Harassment ,
Termination Clauses ,
Wage and Hour
The Ontario Ministry of Labour has released a new employment standards poster to coincide with recent legislative changes due to Bill 47, Making Ontario Open for Business Act, which effectively reverses certain changes made...more
On December 6, 2018, Bill 66, Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act, 2018 (“Bill 66”), passed First Reading. If Bill 66 is passed in its current form, it will impact several statutes in the province. ...more
12/13/2018
/ Administrative Authority ,
Canada ,
Employee Rights ,
Employment Standards Act ,
International Labor Laws ,
Labor Regulations ,
Labor Relations ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Ontario ,
Over-Time ,
Posting Requirements ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Wage and Hour
On November 21, 2018, Bill 47, Making Ontario Open for Business Act, received Royal Assent, repealing a number of amendments made to Ontario labour and employment law. ...more
On October 23, 2018, the Ontario government announced its intent to repeal amendments made by Bill 148, The Fair Workplaces Better Jobs Act, 2017 (Bill 148). Bill 148, which received Royal Assent on November 27, 2017, made...more
10/29/2018
/ Canada ,
Equal Pay ,
International Labor Laws ,
Labor Regulations ,
Labor Relations ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Minimum Wage ,
Ontario ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Recordkeeping Requirements ,
Unpaid Leave ,
Wage and Hour ,
Work Schedules