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
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 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
British Columbia recently announced new public health requirements regarding COVID-19 vaccinations for those working at long-term care and seniors’ assisted living facilities. In the announcement, Dr. Bonnie Henry, British...more
8/20/2021
/ Assisted Living Facilities (ALFs) ,
Canada ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Essential Workers ,
Health and Safety ,
Health Care Providers ,
Healthcare Facilities ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Long Term Care Facilities ,
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
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
Punitive damages are awarded against an employer in favour of an employee only if the employer engaged in wrongful acts that are outrageous, reprehensible, and offensive to ordinary standards of decent conduct in the...more
On May 25, 2021, British Columbia released a four-step COVID-19 reopening plan, Restart: A plan to bring us back together. To move through the steps, British Columbia looks for...more
6/4/2021
/ Canada ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Masks ,
Public Gatherings ,
Public Health ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Social Distancing ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
On May 25, 2021, Alberta released its Open for Summer Plan (Opening Plan), which eases COVID-19 restrictions in three stages. Each stage is reached as COVID-19 vaccination targets are reached and hospitalizations decline. ...more
6/4/2021
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Masks ,
Non-Essential Businesses ,
Public Gatherings ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Risk Mitigation ,
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 Sharma v. Toronto (City), 2020 HRTO 949, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO) provides a roadmap for how employers should determine whether they are required to accommodate employees and customers who seek...more
4/8/2021
/ Canada ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Disability Discrimination ,
Exemptions ,
Health and Safety ,
Human Rights Code ,
Infectious Diseases ,
International Labor Laws ,
Masks ,
Ontario ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Workplace Safety
In a News Release dated March 17, 2021, Ontario announced it was removing regulatory restrictions to make it easier for organizations to conduct on-site COVID-19 testing in the workplace. Asymptomatic employees can now...more
Posting: Employment Standards Act, 2000 -
The poster is prepared by the Minister of Labour to help ensure employers understand their minimum obligations and employees know their rights.
...more
In its January 2021 newsletter, What’s New, Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development provides new and updated guidance for businesses that are required to have a written safety plan, including all...more
On January 4, 2021, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health issued Toronto Public Health Instructions for Workplaces (Instructions), addressed to “All Employers and Persons Responsible for a Business or Organization in the City...more
1/11/2021
/ Canada ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
International Labor Laws ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Risk Management ,
Sick Employees ,
Workplace Safety
In Christian Labour Association of Canada v. Caressant Care Nursing & Retirement Homes (D. Randall), a union filed a group grievance on behalf of a number of its members working at an Ontario retirement home to challenge the...more
1/7/2021
/ Canada ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Health and Safety ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Infectious Diseases ,
International Arbitration ,
Ontario ,
Screening Procedures ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
On November 19, 2020, Ontario announced it had launched “inspection blitzes” to help stop the transmission of COVID-19 and keep workers safe. The inspections involve the deployment of provincial offences officers from...more
12/1/2020
/ Canada ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Failure to Comply ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Ontario ,
Public Health ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Safety Inspections ,
Workplace Safety
On October 2, 2020, the government of Ontario filed Ontario Regulation 546/20 (Regulation) made under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020. The Regulation came into force on October 3, 2020....more
10/9/2020
/ Canada ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Health and Safety ,
Human Rights Code ,
Infectious Diseases ,
International Labor Laws ,
Masks ,
Ontario ,
Personal Protective Equipment ,
Public Health ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Workplace Safety
Employers with employees in Ontario often ask about legislative requirements under various employment statutes, including mandatory policies, training and postings under the Employment Standards Act, 2000, the Workplace...more
Posting: Employment Standards Act, 2000 -
The poster is prepared by the Minister of Labour to help ensure employers understand their minimum obligations and employees know their rights.
Employers must:
• provide each...more
8/13/2020
/ Canada ,
International Labor Laws ,
Labor Regulations ,
OHSA ,
Ontario ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Posting Requirements ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Sexual Harassment ,
Training Requirements ,
Workplace Safety ,
Workplace Violence
On April 27, 2020, Ontario released a Framework for Reopening Our Province. This Framework contemplates the gradual reopening of the province in three stages, with each stage lasting for approximately two-to-four weeks to...more
7/16/2020
/ Canada ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Non-Essential Businesses ,
Ontario ,
Popular ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Restaurant Industry ,
Retailers ,
Workplace Safety
On June 16, 2020, Ontario released a Guide to help employers satisfy their responsibilities under Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances to protect workers...more