What You Should Know About Working for Workers Six Act, 2024

Bill 229, Working for Workers Six Act, 2024 if passed will amend five statutes and enact a new one. At time of writing, Bill 229 is at Second Reading Debate stage in the legislative process and will very likely become law before the House rises for its winter break on December 12th. Here are some of the proposals contained in the Bill:

Employment Standards Act, 2000

an employee who has been employed by an employer for at least 13 weeks is entitled to up to 16 weeks of leave without pay because of the placement or arrival of a child into the employee's custody, care and control through adoption or surrogacy.

an employee who has been employed by an employer for at least 13 consecutive weeks is entitled to up to 27 weeks of leave without pay if the employee will not be performing the duties of the employee's position because of a serious medical condition.

Highway Traffic Act

a requirement for drivers to slow down and proceed with caution when a work-related vehicle with flashing amber lights is stopped on a highway.
A requirement for drivers to move into another lane, if it is safe to do so, when such a vehicle is stopped on a highway with two or more lanes.

Occupational Health and Safety Act

authorizes the Chief Prevention Officer to establish criteria to be used to assess training programs delivered outside Ontario for equivalency.

the Chief Prevention Officer may seek advice from a committee or person appointed under subsection 21 (1) of the Act. In addition, copies of any assistance, advice or report provided to the Minister by a committee are to be provided to the Chief Prevention Officer.

requires employers to ensure that personal protective clothing and equipment that is provided, worn or used is a proper fit and is appropriate in the circumstances, having regard to all relevant factors, including such factors as may be prescribed.

fines applicable to corporations for convictions under the Act, is re-enacted. In addition to setting the maximum fine, the new provision also sets a minimum fine for second or subsequent offences that result in the death or serious injury of one or more workers.

authority to make regulations requiring the assessment of personal protective clothing and equipment and prescribing requirements related to the conduct of those assessments.

Ontario Immigration Act, 2015

requires representatives to comply with any standards or requirements that may be prescribed by the Minister.

a person or body shall not make misrepresentations, or counsel the making of misrepresentations, that falsely allege that an applicant meets any prescribed criteria for approval. Failure to comply with the section is an offence.

the Minister may also impose such bans, and new minimum and maximum ban periods are specified for representatives.

Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997

To establish presumptions in respect of primary-site kidney cancer and primary-site colorectal cancer.

in certain circumstances, the Board is required to distribute amounts in the insurance fund in excess of specified amounts among certain Schedule 2 employers.