Bottom Line
On November 27, 2024, the Ontario government introduced Bill
229, the sixth statute in its Working for
Workers legislative series, the Working for
Workers Six Act, 2024 (the “Act”).
If passed, this Act proposes a number of
significant changes to legislation and policy governing
Ontario's workplaces, including:
- A new 16-week job-protected parental leave for those who adopt
a child or conceive a child via surrogacy
- A new 27-week job-protected leave for employees unable to work
because of a serious medical condition
- A requirement for employers in all sectors to have personal
protective equipment (PPE) that properly fits women's and
diverse bodies
- Expanding certain types of cancer coverage for firefighters and
fire investigators to facilitate WSIB claims, notably by reducing
the required service duration from 25 year to 10 years for
primary-site kidney cancer presumptive coverage and by removing the
requirement that a primary-site colorectal
