The Young Leaders Group is excited to announce their first annual Bursary Award!
The Young Leaders Group (YLG) provides a space to engage, connect, and build leaders for their future in the industrial, commercial, and institutional construction industry. The YLG is a space to promote leadership and career opportunities within the industry, encourage young leaders to have a voice and a seat at the table, and network with other members. Our members include Owners, Architects and Engineers, Contractors and Subcontractors, Suppliers, Administrative, Government Agencies, and Students/Apprentices.
As part of their commitment to promote skilled trades to the next generation, the YLG along with the Barrie Construction Association and industry partners are pleased to offer a bursary to anyone focusing on the trades through post-secondary education, apprenticeships, or other means; this bursary is open to those entering or continuing their education.
The applicant(s) must be between the ages of 16 and 26 and residents of Simcoe County or provide proof of landed immigrant status.
Ontario Proposes Changes to its On-Site and Excess Soil Regulation Scheduled for Further (Substantial) Implementation on January 1, 2023
Rob Kennaley
November 7, 2022
On April 21, 2022 the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks paused the implementation date for the notice, reporting and tracking provisions of Ontario’s On-Site and Excess Soil Regulation (O.Reg 406/19) until January 1, 2023, to give stakeholders time to better understand, and plan to meet, its requirements. The Ministry also advised that it would take the time to consult on refinements “to ensure they are clear, practical, and focused to circumstances for which they are most necessary”.
On November 4, 2022, the Ministry confirmed that the Regulation’s notice, reporting and soil-tracking provisions remain scheduled to come into force on January 1, 2023. In response to specific concerns raised during consultations, however, the Ministry announced its intention to tweak the Regulation, in limited ways, before the January 1st implementation date.
Infectious Disease Emergency Leave (IDEL)- UPDATE
July 22, 2022
Paid IDEL Extended to March 31, 2023
As discussed in our earlier briefing note, on April 29, 2021, the Government of Ontario amended the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (“ESA”) to entitle an employee to up to three days of paid IDEL between April 19, 2021 and September 25, 2021. That latter date was initially extended to December 31, 2021, and then to July 31, 2022. It has now been extended to March 31, 2023. All other components of the paid IDEL program remain unchanged.
General Entitlement to IDEL Continues Past July 30, 2022
An employee continues to have a general entitlement to access IDEL if they require a leave of absence for any of the prescribed reasons under the ESA. This includes (but is not limited to) if the employee requires a leave because they, (1) have COVID-19, (2) have symptoms of COVID-19 and are isolating in accordance with public health recommendations, or (3) are providing care and support to a prescribed family member for a COVID-19 related reason. This entitlement continues in force and there is no maximum number of IDEL days an employee may take in any given year.
Temporary Layoff and Constructive Dismissal Exemption Ends July 30, 2022
Electronic Monitoring of Employees Policy-
What Employers Need to Know
July 15, 2022
Effective October 11, 2022, many employers in Ontario are required to have a written policy on the electronic monitoring of employees. On July 13, 2022, the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development released its chapter material on this new requirement. This briefing note addresses frequently asked questions.
For advice or assistance preparing an electronic monitoring of employees policy for your workplace, please contact your Sherrard Kuzz LLP lawyer or, if you are not yet a Sherrard Kuzz LLP client, our firm at info@sherrardkuzz.com. We’ll respond promptly.
When must an employer have a policy in place?
Every provincially regulated employer in Ontario with 25 or more employees as of January 1, 2022, is required to have an electronic monitoring of employees policy in place by October 11, 2022. In each subsequent year, an employer with 25 or more employees as of January 1 is required to have the policy in place as of March 1 of that year.
May 13, 2022
In the May of 2021 decision of Coutinho v. Ocular Health Centre, the Ontario Superior Court ruled a COVID-19-related temporary layoff deemed to be an Infectious Disease Emergency Leave (“IDEL”) under the province’s Employment Standards Act, 2000 (“ESA”) could constitute a constructive dismissal under the common law1.
Six weeks later, in Taylor v Hanley Hospitality Inc. the same court (different judge) ruled the exact opposite2 dismissing the initial decision as “wrong in law” and lacking in “common sense” (discussed in our June 9, 2021 briefing note).
Hanley made its way to the Court of Appeal and in a decision released May 12, 2022, the court allowed the appeal on procedural grounds. Significantly, the court declined to rule on the substantive issue of whether a COVID-19 related temporary layoff under the ESA could constitute a constructive dismissal at common law. The matter was sent back to the lower court to be reheard. The decision of the Court of Appeal therefore provides no clarity for employers or employees on this important and contentious point of law.
NEWS RELEASE
Ontario Attracting More Skilled Newcomers to Strengthen EconomyNew investment will grow program and help province fill generational labour shortage April 27, 2022 |
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| BRAMPTON — The Ontario government is working for workers by investing an additional $15.1 million over three years to improve and expand the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). The investment builds on the recently-launched entrepreneurship pilot and will allow Ontario to attract the skilled immigrants needed to fill labour gaps when local workers are not available.
“Newcomers are crucial to growing our economy and building a stronger future for all of us,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development. “We’re lowering the barriers they face and have called on our partners in the federal government to double the number of newcomers Ontario can select in 2022. By investing in the future success of this program, we’re not resting until everyone in Ontario who wants to earn a paycheque is able to do so.” This new investment will allow the program to grow, enhance security and fraud detection and other IT updates to ensure the system can handle increased capacity now and in the future. Nominating newcomers to work in Ontario helps meet the needs of our growing economy, by filling jobs in health care, computer programming, web development and trucking. While almost 120,000 economic class immigrants to Canada arrived in 2021, only 9,000 newcomers were nominated through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program in that year. An increased nomination allocation would allow Ontario to fill targeted labour market gaps across the province and drive overall economic growth. This is why Minister McNaughton continues to call on federal Immigration officials to double Ontario’s allocation for the coming year. This announcement follows changes the government made this winter and fall, such as launching a new entrepreneur pilot to attract 100 international entrepreneurs to start or grow businesses in regions outside of the Greater Toronto Area. Applications received through the pilot project will be processed on an expediated basis to help fast track job creation opportunities. Ontario is also removing discriminatory barriers that prevent foreign-trained professionals from working in the sectors they were trained in, such as engineering, law, accounting and skilled trades.
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A message from the Council of Ontario Construction Associations:
On Thursday, April 28th, Ontario’s Minister of Finance, Peter Bethlenfalvy, presented the government’s financial blueprint for 2022/2023. It’s titled “Ontario’s Plan to Build.” Please find below COCA’s highlights of the budget.
The BCA is proud to present the 15th Annual Barrie Construction Association Magazine to be published September 2022. The annual magazine continues to showcase our projects across Barrie and Simcoe County to spread the great work the association and members are doing! Join us in celebrating the 14th Annual Magazine.
The magazine reaches the industry 365 days a year with the printed edition, digital online edition and website dedicated to the publication. New for 2022 the magazine will be Included in the Ontario Construction News daily digital newspaper reaching over 20,000 readers a week.
The BCA has partnered with the Construction News & Report Group to produce and to distribute this official BCA publication to over 5,000 businesses across Ontario as well regionally in the GTA, Hamilton-Halton, Niagara, and Simcoe County. The readers are contractors, architects, engineers, building owners, government officials and developers.
The special online edition of our publication will reach tens of thousands of more readers through weekly e-newsletters and websites.
As a valued member of the association, I am inviting you to participate in this 15th Annual publication by either providing photos, guest editorials and or as an advertiser. Your advertising will be integrated into our magazine and will increase valuable space for editorial coverage. This image-enhancing publicity, seen by many potential clients, creates an excellent marketing opportunity for us all. Your advertising in this magazine will reflect your important contribution to our association.
Email Chase, of The Construction News & Report Group, chase@barrieconstructionnews.com for full details.
