Click here to download a PDF of this article. Introduction: Neighbors Facing Headwinds, Together This year has seen U.S.–Canada trade relations tested by a flurry of policy headwinds. Early this spring, the United States abruptly imposed sweeping tariffs – 25% on most Canadian imports (with a 10% rate on energy…

Within the last couple of years, working from home has become a prevalent new way of life, creating a new workstyle for employees and employers. With those changes a variety of privacy concerns arose within the workplace. In an aim to address those concerns and to provide greater transparency in…

The Ontario government recently passed Bill 27 which amended the Employment Standards Act (“ESA”) to require that certain employers put in place written policies around disconnecting from work. This applies to all employers who employed more than 25 workers as of January 1st, 2022, and it requires those covered to…

Kelly Santini is honoured to be presenting this year’s Ottawa Arts Council Emerging Artist Award. The award recognizes and encourages the achievements of Ottawa artists who are in the early stages of their career in the arts and are working towards becoming recognized professional artists, while engaging with the community….

The COVID-19 Pandemic becomes a catalyst to the modernization of litigation in Ontario beginning with changes to the Ontario Rules of Civil Procedure effective January 1, 2021 With the temporary closures of in-person courts and the sudden influx of individuals working from home, the Ontario Courts were forced to adopt…

On October 9, 2020, the Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) released its decision David Matthews v. Ocean Nutrition Canada Limited, 2020 SCC 26. This wrongful dismissal case clarified if and when additional compensation, such as bonuses or long-term incentive plan payouts, are owed to employees who are constructively dismissed or…

Recently, the Ontario Government amended Ontario Regulation 364/20 under the Reopening Ontario (A Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020. Among other things, the amendments require businesses and organizations to comply with any advice, recommendations and instructions issued by the Ministry of Health on screening for COVID-19, including the use of a…

On September 3, 2020, the Ontario government announced further amendments to extend the maximum periods of temporary layoffs to January 2, 2021, before they could be deemed to be terminations under the Employment Standards Act, 2000. As you were likely already aware, September 4th was the date on which employers…