Is A $15 Minimum Wage, More Unionization And A Minimum 3 Week Vacation On The Horizon?

The Ontario Liberal government has just concluded its comprehensive review of the Ontario Employment Standards Act and Ontario Labour Relations Act, the two pieces of legislation that set out minimum standards in the workplace. While only the interim report has been released to the public, the final version of the Changing Workplaces Review is expected to summarize some harsh realities about what composes the modern workplace, such as precarious employment, temporary short-term contracts, misclassification of job titles and union animosity. This, in turn, has led to a growing sense of anxiety about job security for many Ontarian workers.

This long-overdue review involved the input of numerous academic experts and industry discussions. The conclusions of the Interim Report were clear: something needs to be done. However, it remains to be seen what exact changes will be implemented, especially as the Ontario Liberals head into a difficult election season next year.