Ontario first released its plan to follow a cautious and phased approach to lifting COVID-19 public health and workplace safety measures on January 20, 2022. On February 14, 2022, however, Ontario announced that with key...more
2/16/2022
/ Canada ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
New Guidance ,
Ontario ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Workplace Safety
With key public health indicators beginning to show signs of improvement and expected to continue, Ontario announced that commencing January 31, 2022, in the absence of concerning trends, it would begin to take steps to...more
1/21/2022
/ Canada ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
New Guidance ,
Ontario ,
Public Gatherings ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Relief Measures ,
Seating ,
Vaccine Passports ,
Workplace Safety
In Bunge Hamilton Canada, Hamilton, Ontario v. United Food and Commercial Workers Canada, Local 175 (Bunge), Arbitrator Robert J. Herman dismissed a union grievance challenging the employer’s mandatory COVID-19 vaccination...more
1/20/2022
/ Arbitration ,
Arbitration Awards ,
Canada ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employee Rights ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Litigation ,
Employment Policies ,
Grievance Process ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
International Labor Laws ,
Ontario ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Unions ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
Due to high infection rates from the Omicron variant and an increase in hospitalizations, on January 7, 2022, British Columbia’s Provincial Health Officer (PHO) announced an order (not yet available) requiring employers to...more
In response to the recent rapid increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations caused by the highly transmissible nature of the Omicron variant, and as the province continues to accelerate its booster dose rollout, Ontario announced...more
1/5/2022
/ Business Closures ,
Canada ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Ontario ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Remote Working ,
Social Distancing ,
Telecommuting
Since September 22, 2021, patrons of restaurants and other specified businesses and organizations in Ontario have been required to provide proof of full vaccination status and identification at the entry point of applicable...more
10/21/2021
/ Canada ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Ontario ,
Public Health Emergency ,
QR Codes ,
Restaurant Industry ,
Vaccinations ,
Vaccine Passports ,
Workplace Safety
On October 6, 2021, the Canadian federal government announced that federal public servants in the Core Public Administration (CPA) as well as employees in the federally regulated air, rail and marine transportation sectors...more
10/14/2021
/ Canada ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Infectious Diseases ,
International Labor Laws ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Public Servants ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
With the Delta variant putting residents and staff in long-term care homes at risk of contracting COVID-19, on October 1, 2021, Ontario announced certain mandatory vaccination and randomized testing requirements....more
10/6/2021
/ Canada ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Essential Workers ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Infectious Diseases ,
International Labor Laws ,
Long Term Care Facilities ,
Ontario ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
In July, Ontario entered Step Three of its Roadmap to Reopen, and on September 22, 2021, began to require full vaccination (two doses plus 14 days) with proof of vaccination and ID to access restaurants and certain public...more
9/29/2021
/ Canada ,
Capacity ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Entertainment Venues ,
Infectious Diseases ,
International Labor Laws ,
Ontario ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Resorts & Restaurants ,
Vaccinations ,
Vaccine Passports ,
Workplace Safety
Ontario’s proof of vaccine requirement for patrons of certain indoor public settings commenced on September 22, 2021. In response to this new regime, as well as to the recent trend among employers to implement vaccination...more
9/27/2021
/ Canada ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employer Mandates ,
Human Rights Code ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Ontario ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
On September 14, 2021, Ontario’s Ministry of Health released Version 1.0 of Medical Exemptions to COVID-19 Vaccination (Guidelines). The purpose of the Guidelines is to assist physicians/specialists and nurse practitioners...more
9/24/2021
/ Canada ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employer Mandates ,
Exempt-Employees ,
Infectious Diseases ,
International Labor Laws ,
Popular ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
On September 14, 2021, Ontario released Regulation 645/21 and a guidance document, which provide support to businesses and organizations in the implementation of their vaccination requirements, which will commence on...more
In response to the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic driven by the Delta variant, Ontario announced that commencing September 22, 2021, people will be required to be fully vaccinated (i.e., two doses plus 14 days) and...more
9/10/2021
/ Arenas and Stadiums ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Entertainment Industry ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Resorts & Restaurants ,
Vaccinations ,
Vaccine Passports ,
Workplace Safety
On August 23, 2021, the British Columbia government announced that by order of the Provincial Health Officer, proof of vaccination will be required to access some events, services and businesses in the province. Patrons must...more
8/30/2021
/ Canada ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Entertainment Venues ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Restaurant Industry ,
Vaccinations ,
Vaccine Passports ,
Workplace Safety
On August 25, 2021, British Columbia announced that pursuant to an Order of the Provincial Health Officer, masks will again be required in all public indoor settings for those age 12 and older....more
8/30/2021
/ Canada ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Masks ,
New Guidance ,
Personal Protective Equipment ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Workplace Safety
On August 20, 2021, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health (TMOH) issued a statement effectively mandating that local employers institute a workplace vaccination policy (WVP) to protect their employees and the public from...more
On August 13, 2021, Canada announced that, as early as the end of September, it will require COVID-19 vaccination across the federal public service. Accommodations or alternative measures (e.g., testing or screening) for the...more
8/24/2021
/ Canada ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Federal Employees ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
International Labor Laws ,
Public Employees ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
On August 17, 2021, Ontario announced that COVID-19 vaccination policies would be mandatory in high-risk settings, and the province’s exit from the Roadmap to Reopen would be put on hold. Therefore, until further notice,...more
8/20/2021
/ Canada ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Employment Policies ,
Essential Workers ,
Health and Safety ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Infectious Diseases ,
International Labor Laws ,
Ontario ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
On August 19, 2021, the City of Toronto announced that: -
All members of the Toronto Public Service will be required to disclose and provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination status by September 13, 2021...more
On July 30, 21, Ontario filed O. Reg. 541/21 (Regulation), which adds a new “Roadmap Exit Step” to the Rules for Areas at Step 3 of its Roadmap to Reopen (Roadmap). ...more
8/6/2021
/ Canada ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Masks ,
New Guidance ,
Ontario ,
Personal Protective Equipment ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Workplace Safety
In EllisDon Construction Ltd. v. Labourers’ International Union of North America, Local 183, 2021 CanLII 50159, an Arbitrator in Ontario decided that when the intrusiveness of an employer’s compulsory Rapid COVID-19 Antigen...more
7/14/2021
/ Arbitration ,
Canada ,
Collective Agreements ,
Construction Workers ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Policies ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Screening Procedures ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
On June 24, 2021, Ontario announced that with improvements in key indicators relating to public health and health care, and the provincewide vaccination rate surpassing targets, it will be moving to Step Two of its Roadmap to...more
6/29/2021
/ Canada ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
New Guidance ,
Ontario ,
Public Gatherings ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Seating ,
Workplace Safety
On April 16, 2021, Ontario announced a two-week extension of its third declaration of emergency and its second Stay-at-Home order, and that in response to the rapid increase of COVID-19 case rates and pressure on the health...more
In response to the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases, concerns over hospital intensive care unit capacity, and the increasing risk to the public caused by COVID-19 variants, on April 7, 2021, Ontario announced the declaration...more
4/9/2021
/ Business Closures ,
Canada ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Government Lockdown ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Non-Essential Businesses ,
Ontario ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Shelter-In-Place
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