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ARTICLE · 31 OCTOBER 2023

OHSA Maximum Fine For A Corporation Increases To $2 Million

McCarthy Tétrault
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On October 26, 2023, Ontario's Bill 79, Working for Workers Act, 2023 received royal assent. Among other changes to workplace law...

CanadaEmployment and HR
McCarthy Tétrault Employer Advisor
McCarthy Tétrault Employer Advisor
Ben Ratelband
Ben Ratelband
Justine Lindner
Justine Lindner
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On October 26, 2023, Ontario's Bill 79, Working for Workers Act, 2023 received royal assent. Among other changes to workplace law, Bill 79 amends the Occupational Health and Safety Act ("OHSA") to increase the maximum fine for a corporation for a conviction under the OHSA from $1.5 million to $2 million. This amendment is in force as of October 26, 2023.

Corporations that are alleged to have committed OHSA offences before October 26, 2023 will not be subject to the increased penalty.

Ontario now has the highest maximum fines in Canada for corporations that violate health and safety legislation. In spring of 2022, Ontario increased the maximum fine for individual corporate directors and officers from $500,000 to $1.5 million.

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