Running a-fowl of OHS: a cautionary tale from Saskatchewan
Occupational health and safety (“OHS”) policy has been a hot topic in Saskatchewan as of late. Not only has the regime received a large overhaul under the new Saskatchewan Employment Act, but a recent news item has sparked hot debate...
Summary Offence Tickets: Are You Prepared?
Brian Lunde (Summer Student) The recent amendment to the Saskatchewan Employment Act includes the introduction of Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Summary Offence Ticketing (SOT) program. Under this program, Occupation Health Officers levy tickets for infractions which compromise workplace safety...
Broader Public Sector Accountability Bill Re-introduced
On March 24, 2014, we introduced readers to Bill 179, the Public Sector and MPP Accountability and Transparency Act, 2014, for first reading by lawmakers. The stated goals of the legislation are to strengthen political accountability, enhance oversight, and increase...
Gender Identity in the Workplace
Focus on Canadian Employment and Equality Rights Newsletter
An overview of the rights of transgendered employees in Canada. This article was re-published in Wolters Kluwer CCH’s Focus On Canadian Employment and Equality Rights newsletter (July 2014 issue). Read the article.
Broader Public Sector Accountability Bill Re-introduced
On March 24, 2014, we introduced readers to Bill 179, the Public Sector and MPP Accountability and Transparency Act, 2014, for first reading by lawmakers. The stated goals of the legislation are to strengthen political accountability, enhance oversight, and increase transparency in...
Ontario Legislation Expanding Employer Accountability Re-introduced: Bill 18
On July 16, 2014, the Government of Ontario re-introduced legislation to amend various employment-related statutes: Bill 18, Stronger Workplaces for a Stronger Economy Act, 2014 (formerly Bill 146 – the Stronger Workplaces for a Stronger Economy Act, 2013). The clear...
Employer Prevented From Tracing Company-Issued Mobile Phone Calls
Another employer has run afoul of privacy laws in Canada, and, once again, the employer’s actions may have been lawful if the employer had a clearly communicated policy in place. In this case, a former Employee of a non-profit organization...
Victory of Ex-Wal-Mart employees – What’s next?
On June 27, 2014, the Supreme Court of Canada issued a decision that is of much interest to the majority of the workforce and employers and that presents a significant impact on certain well established legal principles. In 2001, Wal-Mart...
New Human Rights Commission Policy on Mental Health and Addiction
Author: Alex Heaslip On June 18, 2014, the Ontario Human Rights Commission released a new policy titled the Policy on preventing discrimination based on mental health disabilities and addictions. The policy is aimed at bringing attention to the “considerable and...
Gender Identity in the Workplace: An Overview of the Rights of Transgendered Employees in Canada
In recent years, there has been increased acknowledgement of the difficulties faced by transgendered people, particularly in the workplace. Transgendered people routinely experience harassment and discrimination because of their chosen gender identity. Courts have recognized that they are a “historically...
