Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 08 AUGUST 2016

Changing Workplaces Review: Special Advisors' Interim Report

Miller Thomson
Miller Thomson
Contributor

Miller Thomson

Miller Thomson LLP ("Miller Thomson") is a national business law firm with approximately 500...

View firm profile
Explore more from Miller Thomson

In February, 2015, the Ontario Government appointed Michael Mitchell, an arbitrator and formerly a prominent labour lawyer, and former Superior Court Justice John Murray as Special Advisors for the Government's Changing Workplaces Review.

CanadaEmployment and HR
Hugh R. Dyer
Hugh R. Dyer
David Tsai
David Tsai
Elliot Saccucci
Elliot Saccucci
Author LinkedIn connections

Introduction

In February, 2015, the Ontario Government appointed Michael Mitchell, an arbitrator and formerly a prominent labour lawyer, and former Superior Court Justice John Murray as Special Advisors for the Government's Changing Workplaces Review. Their mandate is to "make recommendations on how the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (the "ESA") and the Labour Relations Act, 1995 (the "LRA") might be reformed to better protect workers while supporting businesses in our changing economy."

The Special Advisors received oral and written submissions in 2015. On July 27, 2016, the Special Advisors released their Interim Report. Rather than make recommendations at this stage, the Special Advisors identified numerous options concerning various elements of the ESA and the LRA for which they are seeking further input. If adopted, some of the options would fundamentally transform labour relations and employment law in Ontario.

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

Tariffs, Terminations And EI: Implications Of Canada’s New Support Package For Employers

Canada's federal government has announced a $3.5 billion rapid response support package in anticipation of retaliatory tariffs against the United States, introducing new temporary employment insurance measures and workforce retention programs. The package extends EI benefits, waives waiting periods, and creates funding opportunities for employers to retain and retrain workers rather than implement large-scale layoffs.
CanadaEmployment and HR
Siskinds LLP
Siskinds LLP
Article

Silva v. Royal Bank Of Canada: A Cautionary Tale About Terminating For Cause

A financial planner's wrongful dismissal case against RBC resulted in over $2.5 million in damages after the bank filed an inaccurate termination notice that destroyed her career prospects. The Ontario Superior Court found the bank's conduct vindictive and its allegations of cause unproven, raising critical questions about employer obligations when reporting terminations in the investment industry.
CanadaEmployment and HR
Affleck Greene McMurtry LLP
Affleck Greene McMurtry LLP
Article

Unsubstantiated Findings In Workplace Investigations: What To Do When You Can’t Decide

When workplace investigators face difficult decisions, many default to marking allegations as "unsubstantiated" to avoid risk. However, this seemingly safe approach carries significant organizational costs, undermines complainant trust, and often stems from insufficient training in credibility assessment and the balance of probabilities standard.
CanadaEmployment and HR
RT Workplace Training & Consulting Inc.
RT Workplace Training & Consulting Inc.
Article

Quebec’s New Truck Licence Transfer Rules: What Ontario Carriers Need To Do Now

Ontario commercial truck drivers with less than two years of heavy-truck experience must now pass a practical road test administered by Quebec's SAAQ before transferring their licence to operate heavy vehicles in the province. This new requirement follows fatal collisions and an Ontario Auditor General audit that exposed significant gaps in training standards and provider oversight. Carriers operating across the border need to factor these requirements into workforce planning, recruitment timelines, and dis
CanadaTransport
Miller Thomson
Miller Thomson
Article

Canadian Income Tax Source Deductions And Payroll Taxes: What Every Foreign Employer Needs To Know

Foreign companies hiring Canadian employees or allowing remote work from Canada face immediate payroll obligations that begin the moment employment duties are performed on Canadian soil. Understanding income tax source deductions, CPP and EI premiums, provincial payroll taxes, and director liability rules is essential for compliance, regardless of whether the employer maintains a physical Canadian presence.
CanadaTax
Miller Thomson
Miller Thomson
Article

Quebec’s Bill 24: New Consent Requirements For AI Generated Advertising And The Legal Risks Business Cannot Afford To Ignore

Quebec's new Bill 24 prohibits businesses from using a person's identity or image in consumer advertising without consent, creating significant compliance obligations for companies using AI-generated content, synthetic voices, and digitally altered spokespersons. The legislation introduces broad enforcement powers and extends liability beyond content creators to platforms that distribute or facilitate unauthorized representations.
CanadaConsumer Protection
Miller Thomson
Miller Thomson
Article

Could The Old Ontario Construction Lien Act Still Apply To Your Project? The Court Of Appeal Weighs In

A 2026 Ontario Court of Appeal decision reveals that construction contracts signed years after legislative reforms may still be governed by the old Construction Lien Act if the procurement process began before July 1, 2018. The ruling demonstrates how early project proposals and negotiations can determine which statutory regime applies, regardless of when the final contract was executed or where the project was ultimately built.
CanadaReal Estate and Construction
Miller Thomson
Miller Thomson
Article

Consultation du Canada sur la transparence en matière d’IA : ce que les entreprises doivent savoir avant le 23 septembre

Canadian organizations developing, acquiring, deploying or using AI have until September 23, 2026 to contribute to shaping the federal government's approach to AI transparency through a public consultation. Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada is seeking input on five key areas that could lead to new disclosure obligations, incident reporting requirements, and AI agent tracking mechanisms.
CanadaStrategy
Miller Thomson
Miller Thomson