Canada in Focus

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Michael Ford

Qasid Iqbal

Struan Robertson

Michael S. Richards

Jonathon Ward

Latest from Canada in Focus

Canada in Focus

British Columbia government expands COVID-19 Leave entitlement under the ‎Employment Standards Act

By Evan Cribb (Articling Student) & Dana F. Hooker

April 7, 2021

As COVID-19 case numbers rise to unprecedented levels, the BC Government continues to implement new provisions in response to the ongoing pandemic. Early in the pandemic the BC government amended the Employment Standards Act to provide employees with unpaid “COVID-19 Leave” (see our discussion of those amendments here). Effective April 1, 2021, the Employment Standards… Continue Reading…

Canada in Focus

The City of Toronto announces new measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 in workplaces

By Michael S. Richards & Qasid Iqbal

January 12, 2021

On Monday, January 4, 2021, the City of Toronto announced new measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 in workplaces, as well as to increase employer and government accountability. These measures create additional safety and reporting requirements for workplaces. The Toronto Board of Health COVID-19 Dashboard will now contain new information to better illustrate the… Continue Reading…

Canada in Focus

British Columbia imposes new COVID-19 restrictions for the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley‎

By Dana F. Hooker

November 10, 2020

In response to a steady increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the Vancouver Coast Health and Fraser Health regions, British Columbia’s Provincial Health Officer has imposed targeted orders that will affect both individuals and businesses. Effective from 10:00 pm Saturday, November 7, 2020 to 12:00 pm Monday November 23, 2020 individuals and businesses… Continue Reading…

Canada in Focus

B.C. employers: apply to extend COVID-19 layoffs past August 30, 2020‎

By Christina Badgley

July 21, 2020

At the end of June, 2020, BC extended the maximum period for COVID-19-related temporary layoffs to 24 weeks in any 28 consecutive week period, ending before August 30, 2020 (see our summary here). Some employers may not be in a position to recall employees during this period. If a temporary layoff is going to surpass… Continue Reading…

Canada in Focus

B.C. extends temporary layoffs related to COVID-19

By Struan Robertson

July 14, 2020

On June 25, 2020, B.C. announced that it had extended the duration of temporary layoffs connected to the COVID-19 emergency under the Employment Standard Act to a maximum of 24 weeks, ending on or before August 30, 2020, in any period of 28 consecutive weeks. On May 4, 2020, the B.C. government had previously announced an extension… Continue Reading…

Canada in Focus

Employment impact of Bill 24: Extension of temporary ‎layoffs and validation of COVID-19 regulations‎

By Michael Ford & Jonathon Ward

June 24, 2020

On June 18, 2020, the Government of Alberta introduced Bill 24, the COVID-19 Pandemic Response Statutes Amendment Act, 2020 (“Bill 24”). The purpose of Bill 24 was to validate an earlier regulation, the Employment Standards (COVID-19 Leave) Regulation and to extend the temporary layoff timeframe pursuant to the Employment Standards Code (the “Code”) for up… Continue Reading…

Canada in Focus

BC Safety Plan update

By Dana F. Hooker

May 26, 2020

British Columbia has mandated COVID-19 Safety Plans for businesses and employers in the province as part of its COVID-19 Restart Plan. Although Safety Plans do not need to be submitted to WorkSafeBC as a condition of operating, a WorkSafeBC officer or health officer may request a copy to ensure businesses are taking adequate steps to… Continue Reading…

Canada in Focus

BC extends temporary layoffs related to COVID-19‎

By Christina Badgley

May 4, 2020

Today, BC announced it is extending the Employment Standards Act temporary layoff period to a maximum of 16 weeks in any period of 20 consecutive weeks for layoffs connected to the COVID-19 emergency. The increased period is intended to be temporary and match the duration of the Federal Government’s emergency aid under the Canada Emergency… Continue Reading…

Canada in Focus

Alberta government extends temporary leave for employees

By Jonathon Ward, Michael Ford & Gillian Broadbent Student

April 7, 2020

On April 6, 2020, the Alberta government announced additional changes to Alberta’s Employment Standards Code (the “Code”) in an effort to ease hardships caused by COVID-19. The changes include the following: Temporary leave period extended The Alberta government has increased the maximum temporary layoff period from 60 days to 120 days. Previously, employers could only… Continue Reading…

Canada in Focus

Ontario launches “Stop the Spread” COVID-19 information hotline‎

By Alexis Radojcic

March 26, 2020

The Office of the Premier of Ontario announced the launch of a toll-free phone line to respond to ‎inquiries from businesses concerning the Province of Ontario’s emergency order requiring all “non-‎essential” / “at-risk” workplaces to close, effective March 24, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. (see our recent post here). Businesses can call the “Stop the Spread… Continue Reading…