With the coronavirus pandemic exposing gaps in sickness and caregiving leave provisions across Canada, the Institute for Research on Public Policy is calling for permanent reforms to provide access to short-term paid and protected leaves for all employees. In the study, co-authors Eric Tucker, a professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, and Leah Vosko, a […]
Labour laws and regulations across Canada need to be updated to reflect the new remote working reality, according to a new study by the Fraser Institute. “Just as technological change has made many production procedures and skills obsolete, it’s not surprising that many of the labour policies are, too,” said Jason Clemens, executive vice-president of […]
An arbitration clause that doesn’t explicitly prohibit a terminated employee from making a complaint to the Ministry of Labour doesn’t offend employment standards legislation, the Ontario Superior Court has ruled. “The ruling will give comfort to employers that Ontario courts will enforce arbitration clauses,” says David Vaillancourt of Toronto’s AGM LLP, who represented Dealnet Capital […]
The federal Liberals are facing calls from some of the hardest-hit businesses in the coronavirus pandemic to extend emergency-relief programs beyond June. The government has targeted June 5 for an end to the federal wage and rent subsidies and this week extended applications for a popular loan program to the same time. The idea is […]
The federal government is adding extra weeks of income support for employees who are feeling ill or have to isolate, unemployed workers and parents at home with children due to the pandemic. The government plans to add 12 weeks of eligibility to the $500-per-week Canada Recovery Benefit and the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit, raising the maximum number […]
The federal government, the B.C. Maritime Employers Association and its partners, the Warehouse Union Canada, and the Ending Violence Association of B.C., are launching a comprehensive harassment and violence prevention training program for B.C.’s 10,000-person waterfront workforce, according to a press release. “Every Canadian has the right to work in a healthy, respectful and safe environment. […]
The Canada Revenue Agency is tweaking the requirements for three federal benefits following an uproar over the possibility of Canadians applying for the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit after ignoring public health advice to not engage in non-essential travel. Anyone applying for the sick leave benefit, the Canada Recovery Benefit or the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit will now need to say whether […]
A series of legislative changes to Canada’s labour code aiming to make workplaces healthier, safer and fairer took effect as of Jan. 1, 2021. The changes include new pay transparency regulations for federally regulated, private sector employers with 100 or more employees. According to a press release, the move makes Canada the first country to […]
New research is suggesting a bump in the number of fathers planning to take time off with a new baby under a nascent national leave program could be affected by the coronavirus pandemic. It’s been more than a year since the Canadian government started offering the use-it-or-lose-it extra weeks of paid leave for non-birthing parents. The program was […]
The federal government is introducing new pay transparency regulations for federally regulated, private sector employers with 100 or more employees. The legislative amendment to the Equity Act, which will take effect on Jan. 1, 2021, aims to help address equality and inclusion issues in the workplace. With the move, Canada will be the first country to make wage […]