Submissions and Legislative Updates

Today
Today

Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of November 13

  • November 17, 2023

Banning what’s already banned: The Ontario government unveiled plans this week to ban unpaid trial shifts for restaurant and hospitality workers. But it’s already illegal for employers to do that under the Employment Standards Act. So, what gives? Well, Labour Minister David Piccini says unpaid trial shifts are currently happening as part of the interview process in some restaurants, so this legislation is designed to specifically prohibit the practice.

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Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of November 6

  • November 11, 2023

Feds Creep Out Premier Ford: Premier Doug Ford didn't mince words speaking with reporters about the federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund: “We call it jurisdictional creep”. The premier said the province can get a “better bang for the buck” (anyone remember buck-a-beer? We digress...). if it works with the federal government directly. The province also has its own Building Faster Fund that seeks to address the affordable housing issue.

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Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of October 30

  • November 06, 2023

Goodbye HST: Ontario has officially announced plans to remove the provincial portion of HST for new rental housing, in an effort to address the ongoing housing supply crisis. Ontario’s share of the HST represents 8%, but, given the federal government’s similar policy announced in September, the entire 13% HST will not apply to new purpose-built rental housing.

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Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of October 23

  • October 27, 2023

Don’t Look Up: The 2023 World Justice Project Rule of Law Index was released this week, which measures how countries adhere to the rule of law. While Canada ranked 12th overall, it fell to 58th out of 142 countries when it comes to accessing civil justice without reasonable delay. This is well behind peer countries such as the United States (28th), UK (24th) and Australia (19th).

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Provincial Government

Public Access to Virtual Proceedings: Ensuring Open Courts

  • October 26, 2023

The open court principle (and established exceptions) should be applied equally, regardless of the mode of proceedings. The public should not have to provide identifying information to receive a Zoom link. Use tech solutions to mitigate risk rather than restricting public access.

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Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of October 16

  • October 20, 2023

Another Notch on the Greenbelt: On Monday, October 16th, 2023, the government tabled Bill 136, Greenbelt Statute Law Amendment Act, 2023. The legislation would return the previously removed lands to the Greenbelt, and would provide extensive liability immunity to the government for any actions relating to the Greenbelt, and specifically the actions taken regarding the removals in 2022.

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Provincial Government

Vexatious Litigant Order: Procedural Framework

  • October 17, 2023

OBA supports: amending the Rules and the CJA s 140 to allow vexatious litigant orders to be obtained by motion (in addition to application) and on a judges own initiative; creating additional pathways for expedited access to the courts to pre-empt VL litigation; and creating a list of hallmarks of VLs to provide additional clarity and consistency. Special consideration needs to be given to the VL in Family Law matters.

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Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of October 9

  • October 13, 2023

Feed me Seymour: As the Greenbelt saga continues, there is increasing speculation about the impact all of this will have on the re-electability of the Premier and this government. The RCMP announced that their “Sensitive and International Investigations Unit” (SII) will investigate.

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Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of October 2

  • October 06, 2023

Call Me Maybe: Global News is reporting that Doug Ford has used his personal cell phone for government business but his office is refusing to divulge his phone logs claiming the need to maintain the privacy of callers. Fun Fact: the reason government officials are not permitted to use private communication devices is to ensure there is an official record of government business.

Aboriginal Law, Administrative Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution and 49 more..., Air and Space Law, Animal Law, Insolvency Law, Business Law, Constitutional, Civil Liberties and Human Rights Law, Charity and Not-For-Profit Law, Civil Litigation, Class Actions, Competition Law, Construction and Infrastructure Law, Canadian Corporate Counsel Association - Ontario Chapter, Criminal Justice, Child and Youth Law, E-Discovery Sub-Committee, Education Law, Elder Law, Environmental Law, Family Law, Women Lawyers Forum, Franchise Law, French Speaking Lawyers, Sole, Small Firm and General Practice, Groupe Francophone, Health Law, Citizenship and Immigration Law, Insurance Law, International Law, Intellectual Prop, Judges Forum, Labour and Employment Law, Legal Prof Assistance, Law Practice Management, Maritime Law, Entertainment, Media and Communications Law, Military Law, Municipal Law, Natural Resources and Energy Law, Pensions and Benefits Law, Privacy Law, Public Sector Lawyers, Real Property Law, Sales / Commodity, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law, Student Forum, Taxation Law, Information Technology and Intellectual Property Law, Trusts and Estates Law, Workers' Compensation, Young Lawyers' Division

Your OBA LegUp - Policy and Legislative Update Week of September 25

  • September 29, 2023

THIS WEEK AT QUEEN’S PARK (and elsewhere) Federal Minister Joins OBA for Media Launch of Peer Support Network for Lawyers Living with Disabilities: OBA President, Kelly McDermott and Canada’s Minister of Sport and Physical Activity, Carla Qualtrough spoke to the media and special guests about the first-of-its-kind support program which is central to Ms. McDermott’s mandate. The CBC and other media outlets carried the story which will raise awareness. Learn more about this support network here.

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