How Should Employers Address Workplace Sexual Harassment?
Sexual harassment is front and centre in the news these days. That means your employees are thinking about it, talking about it, and maybe considering the merits of filing a complaint. While this might make for a stressful and potentially expensive time for employers, there are ways to limit…
Continue reading the post titled How Should Employers Address Workplace Sexual Harassment?$12,000 Fine for Failing to Submit Records
A sole proprietor of a drinking water well company was fined $12,000 plus the twenty-five per cent victim fine surcharge by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change. The sole proprietor was convicted for maintaining four separate drinking water wells at two locations in the Peterbo…
Continue reading the post titled $12,000 Fine for Failing to Submit RecordsBottled water battles continue
Recently, the Township of Centre Wellington—a small, growing municipality in Ontario—lost a bid for rights to a well, and potential drinking water supply for its residents. Surprisingly, it lost its bid for the well to Nestle Waters Canada, Canada’s largest distributer of bottled water. Nest…
Continue reading the post titled Bottled water battles continue$900,000,000 Class Action launched against Ontario for flooding in Muskoka Lakes
Residents of Muskoka launched a $900,000,000 class action against the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (“MNRF”) on September 14, 2016. They allege damages related to “[MNRF’s] failure to adequately manage and lower the water levels of Lake Joseph, Lake Muskoka and Lake Rous…
Continue reading the post titled $900,000,000 Class Action launched against Ontario for flooding in Muskoka LakesImperial Oil fined $650,000
On September 19th the Imperial Oil refinery and chemical plant located in the City of Sarnia pled guilty to one offence for discharging a contaminant, coker stabilizer, thermocracked gas, into the natural environment causing an adverse effect and was fined $650,000 in addition to the 25% vic…
Continue reading the post titled Imperial Oil fined $650,000Failure to Notify brings $150,000 Fine Despite no Damage to Property
Two companies, Consbec Inc. and Bruman Construction Inc., were fined a collective total of $150,000 for failing to notify the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (“MOECC”) of a fly-rock discharge. Bruman owns and operates an aggregate quarry located in North Bay. Consbec was hire…
Continue reading the post titled Failure to Notify brings $150,000 Fine Despite no Damage to PropertyFormer counsel escapes damages award when new counsel fails to sue on time
In June, 2016, Justice Faieta of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice awarded damages of $57,712.31 plus interest against legal counsel who failed to file a claim within the required limitation period. Missed deadline and time-management errors are the biggest cause of claims against lawyer…
Continue reading the post titled Former counsel escapes damages award when new counsel fails to sue on timeWill 3D printers save rhinos from extinction?
The international trade in endangered species is a lucrative business, with some recent estimates putting its worth at up to $20 billion annually, making it one of the most profitable international crimes, behind the illegal drug trade, the illicit arms trade, and human trafficking. The impa…
Continue reading the post titled Will 3D printers save rhinos from extinction?Appeal Court overturns OMB Overreach
At the end of August, the Divisional Court granted the Town of Richmond Hill’s appeal of a decision of the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). The OMB approved Richmond Hill’s Official Plan policies that required the conveyance of parkland as a condition of development, but then directed that the…
Continue reading the post titled Appeal Court overturns OMB OverreachOntario Minimum Wage Rates Increase October 1, 2016
Employers take note! The minimum wage for provincially-regulated employees in Ontario will increase again on October 1, 2016. The new rates will be: General Minimum Wage$11.40 / hourThis rate applies to most employees. Student Minimum Wage$10.70 / hourThis rate applies to students under the …
Continue reading the post titled Ontario Minimum Wage Rates Increase October 1, 2016