ARTICLE · 06 JULY 2015

New Federal Legislation On Genetic Discrimination

DLA Piper

Explore more from DLA Piper

With genetic testing being used increasingly in health care, there is a growing concern in regards to "genetic discrimination".

CanadaEmployment and HR

Author LinkedIn connections

With genetic testing being used increasingly in health care, there is a growing concern in regards to "genetic discrimination". On June 9, 2015, the Government of Canada introduced the Protection Against Genetic Discrimination Act, a new legislation that addresses this new, but rising issue of genetic discrimination.

Genetic testing is often used to develop the best treatment for disease and to advise patients if they are particularly susceptible to certain health risks, such as a genetic predisposition to develop breast cancer or other illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, and many other medical conditions. Patients may decide to have preventative surgery on the basis of the results of genetic testing.

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

Related Articles

Why Your Long-Term Disability Claim May Have Been Denied

CanadaEmployment and HR

Howie, Sacks & Henry LLP

BC Provincial Election 2026: A Practical Guide To Employer Voting Obligations

CanadaEmployment and HR

Tips For Navigating The Toronto Recruit

CanadaEmployment and HR

Fogler, Rubinoff LLP

Rapports Sur La Transparence Salariale En C.-B. : Une Nouvelle Date Limite Approche

CanadaEmployment and HR

Fasken (French)

How Do You Conduct A Workplace Investigation Involving A Cross-Border Executive?

CanadaEmployment and HR

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

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

Comparative Guide

Technology Outsourcing

Comparative Guide

Employee Incentives

See more popular content from

Employment and HR

Provincial Employment Law Update: Key Changes Impacting Employers In Québec, Ontario, And British Columbia

Keeping up with employment law in Canada used to be a marathon. Now, it's a sprint. For employers in Québec, Ontario, and British Columbia, a significant volume of new legislation...

CanadaEmployment and HR

WorkSafeBC Proposes Changes To Laws Regarding Workplace Harassment And Violence

WorkSafeBC is proposing significant amendments to British Columbia's Occupational Health and Safety Regulation that would fundamentally reshape how employers address workplace harassment, violence, and psychological health. The proposed changes introduce expanded definitions, new prevention program requirements, and obligations to identify and control psychosocial hazards. These amendments could require most B.C. employers to substantially revise their existing workplace policies and procedures.

CanadaEmployment and HR

Remembrance Day Becomes A National Holiday – But Still Not A Paid Holiday For Many Employees

Since the end of the First World War, Canadians have recognized November 11 as Remembrance Day, a day to honour members of our armed forces who have died in the line of duty.

CanadaEmployment and HR

McCarthy Tétrault

New Regulations For Gig Workers In Ontario And British Columbia

Canada's gig economy continues to grow steadily, with nearly half a million Canadians now engaged in this type of work. Many businesses rely on this form of highly flexible labour...

CanadaEmployment and HR

Aird & Berlis LLP

Remember...The 11th Of November? Remembrance Day Becomes A Legal Holiday

On March 1, 2018, An Act to amend the Holidays Act (Remembrance Day) received royal assent and became law.

CanadaEmployment and HR

New Pay Transparency Rules In British Columbia

The Canadian province of British Columbia has introduced measures that prohibit employers from asking job applicants for pay history information.

CanadaEmployment and HR

New Pay Transparency Reporting Deadline Approaching For BC Employers

Starting November 1, 2026, BC's pay transparency reporting obligation expands to cover employers with 50 or more employees, significantly broadening the scope of the Pay Transparency Act and Pay Transparency Regulation (the "Act").

CanadaEmployment and HR

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

Employment Law Update 2026: Key Developments For Employers

Ontario employers continue to face a rapidly evolving employment law landscape. Recent appellate decisions have provided much needed guidance on termination clauses and equity compensation, while proposed federal legislation signals a significant shift in the treatment of non-compete agreements. Below is a summary of several notable developments from 2026 so far.

CanadaEmployment and HR

Gardiner Roberts LLP

Employment Update: Ontario Introduces Bill 105, The Protecting Ontario's Workers And Economic Resilience Act, 2026

On April 20, 2026, the Ontario government introduced Bill 105, known as the Protecting Ontario's Workers and Economic Resilience Act, 2026 (the "POWER Act"), for first reading.

CanadaEmployment and HR

Blaney McMurtry LLP