Employer News

The Canadian government today unveiled an $82 billion emergency response package to help Canadians in the face of the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic. more >

As of Tuesday March 17, 2020, Ontario Premier Doug Ford declared a state of emergency in Ontario in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. more >

On March 16, 2020, the Ontario Government proposed legislation in order to provide job protection to workers across Ontario who are impacted by COVID-19. more >

In the summer of 2019, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers filed an application for certification with the Ontario Labour Relations Board seeking to represent couriers working for the online food delivery company, Foodora, in Toronto and Mississauga. In a recent related decision, the Board found that Foodora couriers are dependent contractors and can unionize. more >

Canadian employers providing a variety of goods and services are contending with the impact of COVID-19. Employers need to be prepared to address the threat posed by this virus and to continuously update their strategies to do so as the situation evolves. more >

In O'Reilly v IMAX Corporation, the Ontario Court of Appeal upheld an award of damages for wrongful dismissal that included damages for lost restricted share units and stock options that would have vested during the common law reasonable notice period to which the employee was entitled. The Court held that the wording of the plans establishing the employee’s entitlement to these incentives did not unambiguously alter or remove the employee’s common law rights. more >

In October 2019, Ontario’s Ministry of the Attorney General announced several amendments to the simplified procedure regime under Rule 76 of the Rules of Civil Procedure, which will come into effect on January 1, 2020. The amendments are intended to further streamline court processes, expedite civil litigation and increase access to justice.  more >

Bill 124, the Protecting a Sustainable Public Sector for Future Generations Act, 2019, received Royal Assent on November 7, 2019 and is now in force. The Act establishes three-year “moderation periods” for both represented and non-represented employees in the public sector, during which salary increases are limited to 1% per year. more >

On June 5, 2019, the Ontario Government introduced Bill 124, the Protecting a Sustainable Public Sector for Future Generations Act, 2019. The Bill proposes to establish 3-year “moderation periods” during which salary increases are limited to 1% per year for both represented and non-represented employees in the public sector. more >

On April 3, 2019, Bill 66 received Royal Assent. The omnibus bill amended numerous statutes affecting a variety of industries, including labour and employment legislation.  more >