In A Flash
On May 3, 2024, the Government of Ontario announced that it would be introducing legislation which, if passed, would increase fines under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (the “ESA”) and create further obligations on employers during the recruitment and hiring process.
Read more
In A Flash
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (“IRCC”) has announced that it will not extend the temporary public policy which allowed certain international students to work more than 20 hours per week. This fall, IRCC intends to roll-out a new allowance for international students to work up to 24 hours per week off-campus.
Read more
OHS & Workers’ Compensation Advisor
The case involving a workplace explosion and Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) prosecution against Eastway Tank, Pump and Meter Limited of Ottawa, Ontario and its owner and Director Neil Greene, wrapped on Friday April 5, 2024 with guilty pleas and penalties for both the company and its Director. The terrible incident, which occurred in January 2022, resulted in fatal injuries to 6 workers, and catastrophic ones to a 7th worker, one of the worst losses of life and injury in a workplace accident in Canadian history. In addition to imposing a high OHSA corporate fine, the case has sent a chilling message about future OHS prosecution risk to Canadian corporate directors and officers.
Read more
Employers' Advisor
In this issue: 1) Well, Gosh: Weilgosh Confirms the HRTO’s and Labour Arbitrators’ Shared Jurisdiction over Human Rights Claims 2) Employers Beware, Your Termination Clause Could be Struck at “Any Time”, in the Court’s “Sole Discretion” 3) Working for Workers, One, Two, Three, Now Four – Employers Can Probably Expect More
Read more
In A Flash
On October 1, 2024, the general minimum wage in Ontario will be increasing from $16.55 to $17.20 per hour, representing an approximate 3.9% increase. This follows a previous increase to the minimum wage last year from $15.50 to $16.55 per hour effective October 1, 2023.
Read more
In A Flash
On March 21, 2024, the Government of Ontario announced that it had passed the Working for Workers Four Act, 2023 (the “Act”), which implements a number of legislative amendments to several workplace laws creating further protections for workers in Ontario, as well as further obligations for employers. The changes expand on employee protections provided by a number of other Working for Workers Acts which have been passed by the Government of Ontario since 2021
Read more
In A Flash
In Spears v. Canada (Attorney General), 2024 FC 329, the employee, a public servant, was dismissed for misconduct after failing to comply with her employer’s Covid-19 Vaccination Policy, despite her status as a remote worker. Her subsequent application for employment insurance (“EI”) benefits was denied. After two failed appeals, the employee brought the matter before the Federal Court on judicial review. On February 28, 2024, the Federal Court dismissed her application, thereby affirming the original decision to deny her EI benefits.
Read more