With COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations rising in Ontario at a concerning pace due to the rapid transmission of new variants, on April 1, 2021, the province filed Ontario Regulation 240/21 under the Reopening Ontario (A...more
On February 8, 2021, Ontario issued a news release announcing that it would be moving to a regional approach regarding its COVID-19 response. Most regions are maintaining the province’s shutdown, stay-at home order, and...more
In its January 2021 newsletter, What’s New, Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development provides new and updated guidance for businesses that are required to have a written safety plan, including all...more
On January 12, 2021, the Office of the Premier of Ontario announced that in response to modelling data showing the province is in a COVID-19 crisis and its hospitals’ Intensive Care Units will be overwhelmed in a few weeks, a...more
On January 6, 2021, Canada’s federal government issued a News Release announcing the issuance of an Interim Order by its Minister of Transport, the Honourable Marc Garneau....more
1/11/2021
/ Canada ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
International Travel ,
Public Health ,
Quarantine ,
Screening Procedures ,
Travel Restrictions ,
Traveling Employee ,
Virus Testing
On November 20, 2020, Ontario announced that in order to stop the spread of COVID-19, Toronto and Peel (including the cities of Mississauga and Brampton) will move to the maximum Lockdown level restrictions in the Keeping...more
In response to the COVID-19 crisis, the governments of a number of jurisdictions in Canada have amended their employment standards legislation to entitle employees to emergency unpaid job-protected leave when they are unable...more
On March 23, 2020, the Government of Ontario ordered the mandatory closure of all non-essential workplaces effective March 24, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. On April 3, 2020, in response to the advice of Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer...more
4/6/2020
/ Business Closures ,
Business Interruption ,
Canada ,
Construction Project ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Dispensaries ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Ontario ,
Operators of Essential Services ,
State and Local Government
In response to the escalating COVID-19 crisis, on March 17, 2020, the Government of Ontario declared an emergency under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. Two days later, Ontario’s Legislature held an...more
On March 16, 2020, Premier Doug Ford and Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development, announced that the Ontario government intends to introduce legislation that, if passed, would immediately provide...more
3/18/2020
/ Canada ,
China ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Crisis Management ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Public Health ,
Quarantine ,
Sick Leave ,
Workplace Safety
Given the rapid spread and implications of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), employers are confronting difficult questions regarding how to handle safety and health rules, travel restrictions, privacy of employees’ health...more
3/17/2020
/ Anti-Discrimination Policies ,
Business Continuity Plans ,
Canada ,
China ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Crisis Management ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Health and Safety ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Public Health ,
Risk Management ,
Sick Leave ,
Travel Restrictions ,
Traveling Employee ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Safety
At the time this Insight was prepared, there were eight reported cases of the coronavirus in Canada; three are in Ontario and five in British Columbia. The first of these cases was confirmed on January 25 and the last was...more
2/19/2020
/ Bereavement Leave ,
Best Practices ,
Canada ,
China ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Infectious Diseases ,
International Travel ,
Leave of Absence ,
Medical Leave ,
OHSA ,
Paid Family Leave Law ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Public Health ,
Risk Management ,
Sick Leave ,
Travel Restrictions ,
Traveling Employee ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Safety