News update

Ces derniers temps, le Ministère a reçu plusieurs demandes de renseignements concernant notre outil de dépistage actif dans les tribunaux, les nouvelles exigences provinciales en matière d’isolement et les demandes de masques N95 et de tests antigéniques rapides. Nous vous adressons donc ce message pour aborder ces questions.

Comme vous le savez, le variant Omicron a été détecté il y a quelques semaines en Ontario. Nous vous adressons ce courriel aujourd’hui pour vous renseigner sur ce nouveau variant et sur les mesures à prendre pour vous protéger et protéger les autres, notamment à l’approche du temps des Fêtes.

The Government of Ontario has made regulatory amendments under the Business Corporations Act, Corporations Act, Co-operative Corporations Act and Condominium Act, 1998 and a new regulation under the Not-for-Profit Corporations Act that extend the effective period of temporary legislative provisions permitting corporations governed under these statutes to call and hold meetings virtually, as applicable, notwithstanding certain restrictions or requirements. The effective period of these temporary legislative provisions has now been extended to end on September 30, 2022. Over the course of the pandemic, the OBA has consistently advocated for the government to ensure that rules and regulations governing required meetings be amended to allow meetings to proceed virtually. This latest announcement is consistent with the OBA’s efforts.

The Judicial Appointments Advisory Committees (JAAC) has advised it is inviting applications for a bilingual judicial position in Elliot Lake. 

The government has released the regulations and guidance for businesses and organizations regarding implementation of proof of vaccination requirements, which take effect on September 22, 2021. The government has said an enhanced vaccine certificate and verification app will be available by October 22, 2021. Ontario’s proof of vaccination guidance will be updated to reflect the new processes. For more information, please refer to the government News Release.

The Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee (JAAC) has advised it is inviting applications for a judicial position in North Bay and one in Sudbury.  These appointments involve presiding over criminal and family law matters and also involves travel within the regional boundaries and elsewhere in the province of Ontario, as assigned by the Regional Senior Justice and/or the Chief Justice.

The Ministry of Government and Consumer Services has advised that on October 19, 2021 the new Ontario Business Registry System will launch and the Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, 2010 will be proclaimed into force.

The Ministry of the Attorney General (MAG) has advised that, effective August 9, the changes outlined below will be made to the Justice Services Online (JSO) platform. The OBA continues to meet with MAG and the Courts to advocate for improvements to the JSO. Any members with suggestions or feedback for improving the JSO are invited to email advocacy@oba.org.

Since July 2020 the Ministry of the Attorney General’s Recovery Secretariat (MAG-RS) has been providing daily Courthouse HVAC reports via email in response to stakeholder interest and concerns regarding COVID-19.  The OBA has been making these reports available through our Courthouse Status tab . The MAG-RS has advised that as of July 26, 2021, individuals will now be able to access up-to-date daily HVAC readings and ask questions directly to Infrastructure Ontario through a new Infrastructure Ontario website.

Tribunals Ontario has launched Navigate Tribunals Ontario, an online tool that guides users to identify situations in which the Landlord and Tenant Board can help resolve issues. The application provides users with information about their rights and responsibilities and tribunal specific rules and processes. It is not intended to provide legal advice. The OBA recently made a submission to Tribunals Ontario respecting the development of an online dispute resolution system, advocating for the essential elements in utilizing technology to ensure a system that facilitates access to lawyers and promotes fair and expeditious outcomes.