Foreign employers planning to hire employees in Canada must be
aware of the specific laws and rules governing the employment
relationship in each province. Each Canadian province has its own
employment-related statutes. All provinces except Quebec are
otherwise subject to the "Common Law" system of
judge-made, precedent-based legal principles and doctrines. Quebec
is governed by its "Civil Code" and,
importantly, by the Quebec Charter of the French Language
(commonly known as Bill 101).
The following is a summary of Ontario Employment Law.
The Human Rights Code
Human Rights legislation is recognized by our Courts as having a
preferred status in comparison to other types of legislation. The
legislation is remedial and is therefore intended to be given the
most liberal interpretation which will best ensure that its
objectives are achieved. Ontario employers are governed by the
Ontario Human Rights Code (the "Code").
Employers and employees are not permitted to
