Federal Election Day 2021

On Monday, September 20, 2021, Canadians will return to the polls to elect a federal government. Pursuant to the Canada Elections Act (the “Act”), every Canadian citizen who is 18 years of age or older is entitled to three consecutive hours away from work while polls are open on election day in order to cast […]
Ontario Announces Proof of Vaccination Requirements for Entry Into Certain Settings & Vaccination Passports

On September 1, 2021, the Government of Ontario announced that as of September 22, 2021, individuals must be fully vaccinated and provide proof of their vaccination status along with a photo ID to gain entry into certain establishments,
Arbitrator Upholds Mandatory COVID-19 Rapid Testing Policy

In the recent decision of EllisDon Construction Ltd. v Labourers’ International Union of North America [EllisDon], an Ontario Arbitrator upheld an employer’s COVID-19 testing policy
Saskatchewan and British Columbia Become First Canadian Jurisdictions to Offer Job-Protected Vaccination Leaves
Saskatchewan and British Columbia (“BC”) have become the first Canadian jurisdictions to enact legislation which provide employees with time off to be vaccinated for COVID-19.
Ontario Has Declared a Second State of Emergency in Response to COVID-19 and Announced a Stay-at-Home Order and Other New Measures

On January 12, 2021, the Ontario government declared a state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic for a second time, and announced that it will issue a stay-at-home order and implement other new measures to help curb the transmission of COVID-19. The emergency was declared under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act […]
Penalties for Violating Ontario’s Emergency Orders and New COVID-19 By-laws in the Greater Toronto Area

Most Ontario employers know that the province has issued a number of emergency orders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the closure of non-essential workplaces and prohibiting public events and social gatherings of five people or more (the “Emergency Orders”). It is also important for employers to understand the potential penalties that they may […]
COVID-19 and the Workplace: ESA Amendments, Federal Benefits and Layoff Principles

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a massive impact on how Canadian employers conduct business. Canada’s federal and provincial governments have been continuously announcing measures to lessen the impact of the pandemic on employers and employees.
Employee Status: when Is a Worker a Dependent Contractor?

January 17, 2020 For businesses of all sizes, independent contractors can be a useful resource to meet business needs. They often offer significant savings for businesses as they are not entitled to benefits under employment standards legislation as employees are. However, there is a risk that working relationships with individuals intended to be independent contractors […]
Best Practices for Employers to Minimize Holiday Party Related Liability

Office holiday parties are a great way for employers to show appreciation for their employees’ hard work throughout the year and to bring their teams closer together, but they also present risks that employers often don’t foresee. Most employers are aware that a common issue that can arise during holiday parties is intoxication, but there […]
The OHRC’s New Policy to Eliminate Racial Profiling

On September 20, 2019 the Ontario Human Rights Commission (“OHRC”) released the Policy on eliminating racial profiling in law enforcement (the “Policy”), which provides practical guidance for “law enforcement”