Monthly Archives: June 2022

New Ontario Cabinet

June 27, 2022

Last week Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced the government’s new cabinet and my client Sussex Strategy Group has again kindly agreed to let me provide you with their outline and analysis of what it may mean for the province moving forward.

The Hon. Monte McNaughton, the the MPP for Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, became Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development in June of 2019 and returns to that position with an expanded role. He has Immigration added to his portfolio. Previously, Immigration and Citizenship had a standalone minister, and the position was held by Parm Gill.

The major changes to the cabinet, including new ministers and portfolios, are outlined below in the Sussex analysis and there is a link for the entire cabinet list.
 
Sussex is an experienced and highly respected government relations firm that offers strategic and consulting services. I find their reports informative and insightful, and I hope you will also.

Please contact me with any employment questions you may have or for assistance working through your staffing matters.

Premier Doug Ford Announces New Cabinet

Today, Doug Ford and the members of his new Cabinet were sworn in by the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario. The Premier’s new Executive Council has grown to 30 members, up three from 27 in the last term. The slightly larger contingent is in part reflective of the larger majority the PCs acquired in the June election, with 83 seats and more caucus members to choose from. The new Cabinet includes seven women – down from nine in the previous government – as well as seven people of colour and six newly elected MPPs.

Although much of the Premier’s Cabinet remains the same, some big changes to the front and back benches have been made, with the appointment of a new Minister of Health, the creation of a women’s issues portfolio, and tasking six newly elected MPPs with ministerial duties.

Sylvia Jones is the incoming Minister of Health, replacing Christine Elliott, who decided not to run in this election, while Stephen Lecce remains in his position as the Minister of Education. Health and Education remain two important portfolios for Premier Ford as these ministries oversee the two largest budget lines; the government is planning on spending billions in hospital infrastructure and will soon begin contract negotiations with the teacher unions.

Peter Bethlenfalvy remains in his post as the Minister of Finance, providing continuity and stability in this critical role.

Based on the priorities that were laid out in the PCs’ 2022 Budget that was introduced but not passed before the election, ministries overseeing transportation and infrastructure projects will also be important to the Premier as the government pursues its plans to build highways and transit projects.

Steve Clark returns as the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, where he will continue to implement recommendations from the Housing Affordability Task Force, build 1.5 million homes over the next 10 years, and address the increasing cost of housing in Ontario. A new junior Cabinet role – Associate Minister of Housing – will be filled by Michael Parsa, who will help Minister Clark with the portfolio.

Todd Smith remains in his role as the Minister of Energy where he will carry on with work to address supply needs and invest in new energy infrastructure in Ontario. Vic Fedeli returns as Chair of Cabinet and Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade where he will continue with the province’s post-pandemic economic recovery and promote Ontario as an economic hub to attract more jobs and manufacturing skills.

Re-elected Mississauga—Streetsville MPP Nina Tangri is not returning to Cabinet as there is speculation she might run for Speaker of the House, potentially replacing re-elected MPP Ted Arnott who has held the post since 2018. Tangri served as the Associate Minister for Small Business and Red Tape Reduction in the last term.

Other members not reappointed to Cabinet include re-elected MPP Lisa MacLeod who was the Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries and re-elected MPP Ross Romano who served as the Minister of Government and Consumer Services 

Click here »» to read more and the full Cabinet list

Most masking requirements to be lifted June 11

June 10, 2022

Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, announced in a statement this week that most masking requirements in the province will expire as of 12:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 11.

He also stated that “While masking requirements are expiring, organizations may implement their own policies.“

Numerous clients have asked me about this aspect of the announcement.

As I have advised in previous emails, every employer has an obligation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) to take all reasonable precautions to protect the health and safety of workers, meaning that an employer can require employees to adhere to safety requirements, so long as those requirements are reasonable.

My clients in the public health sector tell me that the virus is still prevalent and contagious and they continue to predict an upsurge in the fall.

Other clients have indicated that it is difficult to manage their business as staff continue to be off work sick, and in many sectors clients are experiencing difficulty in recruiting workers.

My advice is that you check with your local public health authorities and follow the guidance they provide on these issues. You can find your local office through the government’s Ontario Public Health Unit Locator.

You should also keep a record of that advice. In the event that an employee contests your policy, this evidence can be shown to demonstrate that the policy is a reasonable requirement in exercising your obligation to maintain a safe workplace.

Click »» here to read Dr. Moore’s full statement

I hope you find this information helpful. Please contact me for assistance working through your staffing matters.

WSIB doubling rebates for businesses with fewer than 99 employees

June 7, 2022W

The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board of Ontario (WSIB) announced yesterday that it is doubling the rebate for small businesses (under 99 employees) that are enrolled in its Health and Safety Excellence Program.

The Program connects Ontario businesses with approved providers in their industry or community who help design a plan based on 36 available health and safety topics. 

For each topic completed and validated, businesses can earn a rebate on their WSIB premiums. This new incentive doubles those rebates.

In the announcement, WSIB President and CEO Jeffery Lang said “I hope every entrepreneur out there is listening and checks out how they can benefit from this program. Any small business can now earn their entire premium back simply by prioritizing health and safety.”

You can find out more about the program and rebates and sign up directly at wsib.ca/healthandsafety.

The full news release and details are below. I hope you find this information helpful. Please contact me for assistance working through your staffing matters.

NEWS RELEASE

WSIB doubles rebates for smaller businesses enrolled in its Health and Safety Excellence program


Eligible businesses also get $1,000 toward developing their action plan in 2022.

Retroactive double rebate applies for every topic completed since March 2020

KITCHENER, June 6, 2022

The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) is sweetening the incentives for smaller businesses with fewer than 99 employees to invest in health and safety. A new pandemic bonus will double the rebates eligible businesses can earn for each topic they complete in the WSIB’s Health and Safety Excellence program.

“We know Ontario businesses work to have the safest workplaces anywhere, but many smaller businesses are still recovering from the pandemic,” said Jeffery Lang, President and CEO of the WSIB. “We are stepping up with added incentives to help get more businesses investing in health and safety right now.”

The WSIB’s Health and Safety Excellence program connects Ontario businesses with approved providers in their industry or community who help design a plan based on 36 available health and safety topics. For each topic completed and validated, businesses can earn a rebate on their WSIB premiums. Since 2020, over $21 million in rebates have been issued to Ontario businesses.

The new pandemic bonus for smaller businesses will:

  • double the rebate for topics completed in 2022
  • retroactively double the rebate for topics completed since March 2020 for eligible businesses who enroll in new topics this year
  • pay an additional $1,000 toward the development of action plans in 2022

When the Health and Safety Excellence program launched in November 2019, there was a cap on rebates with small businesses able to earn up to 75% of their premium back. Now that cap is also being removed.

“We are firmly planting our stake in the ground to say we’re serious about helping small business to develop and implement strong health and safety programs in Ontario,” said Rod Cook, Vice President of Workplace Health and Safety Services at the WSIB.

Lang toured Kitchener Waterloo construction company SG Cunningham, a Health and Safety Excellence program member, to see first-hand how the program is helping smaller businesses.

“The Health and Safety Excellence program has helped us build out our own program while earning premium rebates,” said Beverley Cunningham, VP Health and Safety and Communications at SG Cunningham. “I think this added incentive will get more businesses like ours into the program which should ultimately mean fewer injuries. That’s the goal.”

“Any small business can now earn their entire premium back simply by prioritizing health and safety,” said Lang. “I hope every entrepreneur out there is listening and checks out how they can benefit from this program.”

Businesses can learn more about the program, rebates, and sign up directly at wsib.ca/healthandsafety.

Analysis of Ontario Provincial Election from Sussex Strategy Group

June 6, 2022

One of my clients, Sussex Strategy Group, has again kindly agreed to let me provide you with one of their analyses, this one of last week’s Ontario election.

Sussex is an experienced and highly respected government relations firm that offers strategic and consulting services. I find their reports informative and insightful, and I hope you will also.

Please contact me with any employment questions you may have or for assistance working through your staffing matters.

Ontarians Said Yes:
Doug Ford Leads PC Party to Second & Bigger Majority Mandate

The popular wisdom is that campaigns matter. And yet, last night’s outcome rarely seemed in doubt.

The Doug Ford-led Progressive Conservatives were in a strong position to reform government at the start of and throughout this election campaign. And when all was said and done, Doug Ford has been re-elected as Premier of Ontario and the PCs have grown their majority from 76 seats (when they were elected in 2018) to 83 seats. The PCs were also able to slightly grow their share of the popular vote from about 40.5 per cent in 2018 to just under 41 per cent this time around. 

Click here to »» Read the full Sussex Strategy Group analysis