Making Ontario Open For Business Act Executive Summary
October 2018
In 2017, Ontario’s Liberal Government introduced and passed Bill 148, referred to as the “Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017” (“Bill 148”). Controversial on many fronts, Bill 148 made sweeping changing to Ontario’s employment and labour landscape.
This week, Ontario’s Conservative Government under Premier Ford introduced Bill 47, the Making Ontario Open For Business Act, 2018 (“Bill 47”) which, when passed, will in large part return Ontario’s employment and labour laws to their pre-Bill 148 status, with some exceptions. Changes are also proposed to the province’s apprenticeship system and it appears the College of Trades will be wound down.
We expect to see Bill 47 move through the Legislature quickly. If passed in their present form, the amendments to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (“ESA”) will take effect on the later of January 1, 2019 and the date of Royal Assent. The amendments to the Labour Relations Act, 1995 (“LRA”) will come into force on the date of Royal Assent.
We have prepared the following Executive Summary of key proposed amendments together with our Firm’s brief commentary. By and large, the proposed amendments are welcome news for Ontario employers.
Read the Council of Ontario Construction Association’s reaction to the Government’s announcement.
