Ontario Legislature Returns From Summer Break – Labour & Marijuana to be Main Focus Posted onSeptember 11, 2017June 18, 2020/ Devry Smith Frank LLP Queen’s Park resumes today after summer break, with much to keep them busy this fall. They will focus on the labour law changes and marijuana legalization which is set for July of next year. In addition to these two major topics, they are also resuming in the midst of two Liberal trials, one of which is the Election Act bribery trial where Kathleen Wynne has been called as a witness. The Election Act bribery charges stem from a 2015 by-election and mischief and the breach of trust trial related to the cancellation of two gas plants before the 2011 election. The labour bill and the introduction of increased minimum wage by 2019, equal pay for part-time workers, more vacation days and personal emergency leave will go through a second reading before the second round of committee hearings. Business groups are against the increase, saying that it is “too much o absorb that quickly,” and they continue to press for amendments to the bill. Second on the docket is the legalization of marijuana and the control of the sale of it, after the announcement that the LCBO will operate all 150 stores that will open in the next couple of years. This fall will be busy for our government, as there are other policies that will be discussed aside from the labour law changes and legalization of pot, such as: Long-term energy plan Police oversight legislation Legislation to create new northern ridings Updated Police Services Act Ticket sales and resale legislation Legislation to create safe zones around abortion clinics As updates become available to the developments in Queen’s Park please check back to our blog for more information on these stories. Devry Smith Frank LLP is a full service law firm that has a very experienced group of lawyers within our employee and labour law groups. If you are in need of representation, please contact one of our lawyers today or call us directly at 416-449-1400. “This article is intended to inform and entertain. Its content does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon by readers as such. If you require legal assistance, please see a lawyer. Each case is unique and a lawyer with good training and sound judgment can provide you with advice tailored to your specific situation and needs.” Related Posts September 27, 2017, Fauzan SiddiquiFauzan Siddiqui Ontario’s Workforce is Increasingly Temporary Recently, Fiera Foods, an industrial bakery in Toronto, came under fire for the third death of a worker at its factory since 1999. All three workers were temporary workers and killed in workplace accidents, giving rise to questions of the quality of training that such employees received. A temporary worker is more likely to be [...] Read more Posted onJune 21, 2017June 22, 2020/ Devry Smith Frank LLP Hockey Union alleges the OHL broke Labour Laws By: Nicolas Di Nardo Back in 2014, a class-action lawsuit was filed against the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) over wages. It claimed the league was breaching minimum wage laws. In summary, they are seeking $180 million in outstanding wages, vacation, holiday and overtime pay and employer contributions for thousands of players between 2012 and 2014. [...] Read more Posted onJune 19, 2017June 22, 2020/ Devry Smith Frank LLP Update: Proposed Sick Notes Ban By: Nicolas Di Nardo The praise for the Liberal government’s proposed ban on sick notes continues. During the government’s announcement outlining the proposed changes to Ontario’s labour law, which was part of the Changing Workplaces Review, doctors’ notes was the least of everyone’s concern, but it received the most support and attention by groups and [...] Read more