It has been a busy time for Ontario legislators who have proposed a number of employment-related changes that, if passed, would increase obligations for employers. This article briefly identifies a number of initiatives that...more
The federal government of Canada recently introduced legislation that would ban using replacement workers during strikes or lockouts....more
The Budget Implementation Act 2018, No. 2 (BIA 2018, No.2) made numerous changes to the Canada Labour Code (CLC) by. As a result of these changes, federally regulated employers will be required to reimburse employees for...more
A collision between the Ontario government and unionized education workers escalated into one of the most significant moments in recent Canadian labour relations history....more
11/18/2022
/ Canada ,
Collective Bargaining ,
Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) ,
Educational Institutions ,
Human Rights ,
Labor Relations ,
Ontario ,
Ontario Labour Relations Board ,
Popular ,
Public Employees ,
Unions
On June 16, 2022, the government of Canada tabled a bill that would make significant changes to privacy laws impacting employers in the federal jurisdiction. The new legislation, the Digital Charter Implementation Act (Bill...more
On June 14, 2022, the Government of Canada announced that it would suspend vaccination requirements for domestic travelers, certain federally regulated workers, and federal public service employees, effective June 20, 2022....more
On April 6, 2022, the British Columbia government introduced legislation that would change the union certification process under British Columbia’s Labour Relations Code.
If passed, Bill 10-2022 would make two significant...more
On February 28, 2022, the Government of Ontario introduced Bill 88, the Working for Workers Act, 2022. Bill 88 would enact the Digital Platform Workers’ Rights Act, 2022, which would establish rights for workers who offer...more
As we ring in the new year, there are a number of legislative changes that will take effect, impacting workplaces across Canada. Below are the significant changes taking effect by January 1, 2022....more
1/4/2022
/ Amended Legislation ,
Canada ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employment Standards Act ,
Minimum Wage ,
New Legislation ,
Paid Leave ,
Paid Sick Leave ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Wage and Hour
On December 7, 2021, the Government of Ontario extended the COVID-19 Worker Income Protection Benefit and the temporary amendments to the Employment Standards Act, 2000, which provided for the infectious disease emergency...more
On October 25, 2021, the Government of Ontario introduced Bill 27, the Working for Workers Act, 2021. According to Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development, Bill 27 would encourage employee work-life...more
11/1/2021
/ Corporate Counsel ,
Employment Policies ,
Employment Standards Act ,
Flexible Work Arrangements ,
Licensing Rules ,
Ministry of Labour ,
Non-Compete Agreements ,
Ontario ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Staffing Agencies ,
State Funding
As more Canadians become eligible for COVID-19 vaccines, provinces across Canada are implementing paid COVID-19 vaccination leave policies to incentivize workers to become vaccinated as soon as possible. These leave policies...more
Effective January 20, 2021, the Ontario government is increasing workplace inspections of retailers and other workplaces as part of a crackdown on compliance to ensure COVID-19 safety protocols are being followed and...more
1/21/2021
/ Emergency Response ,
Enforcement ,
Farms ,
Health Inspections ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Masks ,
Operators of Essential Services ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Restaurant Industry ,
Retailers ,
Safety Inspections ,
Safety Standards ,
Social Distancing ,
Workplace Safety
On December 9, 2020, Alberta’s Bill 47, the Ensuring Safety and Cutting Red Tape Act, 2020, received Royal Assent. The legislation replaces Alberta’s current Occupational Health and Safety Act in its entirety, and makes...more
On December 31, 2020, the Government of Canada announced new restrictions that will apply to all airline passengers entering Canada.
Effective January 7, 2021, at 12:01 a.m. EST, Canada will require each international air...more
On December 21, 2020, the Ontario government announced province-wide shutdown measures, similar to those recently enacted by the governments of Alberta, Quebéc, and Manitoba. The government cited the “alarming rate” at which...more
On December 17, 2020, the government of the Province of Ontario enacted Regulation 764/20, which will permit unions and employers in the hospitality, tourism, and trade show industries to negotiate for greater flexibility in...more
On July 7, 2020, the Government of Alberta proposed important changes for workplaces through Bill 32, the Restoring Balance in Alberta’s Workplaces Act, 2020 (Bill 32). The stated purpose of Bill 32 is to increase investment...more
On April 1, 2020, Canada’s Minister of Finance announced the federal government’s plans for a comprehensive wage subsidy program that would cover up to 75 percent of an employee’s regular wages for up to 3 months. As...more
The United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) was signed by U.S. President Donald Trump, former Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on November 30, 2018. The USMCA was designed...more
On April 1, 2020, Canada’s Minister of Finance outlined the federal government’s plans for a comprehensive wage subsidy plan that, in total, would put as much as $71 Billion (CAD) back into the pockets of participating...more
The United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) is a free-trade pact that was announced on November 30, 2018. This agreement changes the current rules governing North American trade contained in the North American Free...more
1/22/2020
/ AFL-CIO ,
Automotive Industry ,
Canada ,
Collective Bargaining ,
Cross-Border Transactions ,
Enforcement ,
Exports ,
Free Trade Agreements ,
Labor Regulations ,
Mexico ,
NAFTA ,
Tariffs ,
Trump Administration ,
United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) ,
USTR ,
Wage and Hour
Canadian employers subject to federal regulation will want to take note of changes to the Canada Labour Code that came into force on September 1, 2019. These reforms apply to a large number of minimum employment standards...more
Manufacturers in Canada face a labor and employment environment that is much more employee and union-friendly than the United States. That said, a sophisticated manufacturing employer that is educated, strategic, and...more
2/27/2019
/ At-Will Employment ,
Canada ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Drug Testing ,
Employment Contract ,
Health and Safety ,
Jurisdiction ,
Manufacturers ,
Trade Unions ,
Unions ,
Workplace Safety
The province of Alberta, Canada, enacted significant revisions to its Employment Standards Code effective January 1, 2018, overhauling its foundational employment laws for the first time in almost 30 years. Canadian...more