Ontario Bill 105 (44th Parliament, 1st Session)
Bill 105, 44-1
Ontario — Bills
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Bill 105, Protecting Ontario’s Workers and Economic Resilience Act, 2026
Khanjin, Hon. Andrea Minister of Red Tape Reduction
Current status:
Second Reading Ordered for Third Reading
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As Amended by Standing Committee
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Bill 105 As Amended by Standing Committee (PDF)
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______________
EXPLANATORY
NOTE
SCHEDULE 1
EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS ACT, 2000
The
Schedule adds
section 13.1 to the Employment Standards
Act, 2000 to prohibit employers from requiring employees to pay for
uniforms or other prescribed items, or for their repair or laundering, except
in limited circumstances such as loss, damage beyond normal wear and tear or
failure to return items as agreed. Amounts improperly charged are enforceable
as wages owing. Transitional rules address conflicts with existing collective
agreements.
The
Schedule also adds
section 96.1, allowing the Director to assign certain
complaints for inspection and to refuse to assign certain complaints for
investigation or inspection in specified circumstances.
Section
128 is amended to replace the rules for apportioning money collected in
enforcement matters, requiring that employees be paid first and that any
remaining amounts be divided proportionally among the collector, the Director
and the Minister of Finance.
SCHEDULE 2
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ACT
The
Schedule amends the Environmental Assessment Act .
Some highlights include:
Section
15 of the Act is re-enacted to authorize the prescribing of approved class
environmental assessments and to provide that sections 15.1 to 17 apply to
undertakings to which a prescribed approved class environmental assessment
applies.
2. Amendments
section 17.2 provide that, where a
Part II.3 project has more than one
proponent, an application for approval by any one proponent is sufficient, and
corresponding transition rules are added.
3. Sections
17.11 to 17.13 are repealed to remove the requirement for a ministry review of
environmental assessments and the ability for any person to request that an
application be referred to the Tribunal.
Section
17.15 is amended to remove the requirement for Lieutenant Governor in Council
approval of a Minister’s decision. New
section 17.15.1 is added to authorize
the Minister to refer the approval decision to the Lieutenant Governor in
Council.
5. Amendments
section 17.29 provide that, for
Part II.4 projects with multiple proponents,
compliance by one proponent with prescribed requirements for commencement is
sufficient.
6. Various
consequential, transitional and regulation‑making amendments are made
throughout the Act.
SCHEDULE 3
LABOUR RELATIONS ACT, 1995
The
Schedule amends certain timelines set out in the Labour
Relations Act, 1995 relating to the construction industry. Currently,
the Act provides for two-month timelines in which another trade union may apply
to the Board for certification as bargaining agent for employees to whom a
collective agreement applies, and two-month timelines for applying for a
declaration that a trade union no longer represents the employees in a
bargaining unit. The
Schedule amends the Act to provide for one-month timelines
instead.
SCHEDULE 4
MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND LONG-TERM CARE ACT
The
Schedule amends
section 12 of the Ministry of Health and
Long-Term Care Act to add the authority to make regulations governing
the admission of graduates of a medical school outside of Canada to an Ontario
medical residency program, including prescribing processes to prioritize the
admission of graduates who have a connection to Ontario, specifying when a
graduate has a connection to Ontario and defining “medical school outside of
Canada” and “Ontario medical residency program”.
SCHEDULE 5
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT
The
Schedule amends the Occupational Health and Safety Act
to permit the Chief Prevention Officer to collect personal information about
workers’ exposure to a physical, chemical or biological agent for the purpose
of maintaining a worker occupational exposure registry and other purposes.
The
Act is amended to provide that, in certain circumstances, the Minister may
recognize standards for training, personal protective equipment and other
equipment that comply with requirements in another Canadian jurisdiction or the
requirements under an agreement between Ontario and another Canadian
jurisdiction.
The
Minister is authorized to reimburse such employers and constructors as may be
prescribed for the cost of purchasing such protective headwear as may be
prescribed.
Related
and consequential amendments are made.
SCHEDULE 6
OMBUDSMAN ACT
Subsection
2 (3) of the Ombudsman Act is re-enacted to provide
that an order by the Assembly to appoint the Ombudsman can be made only if two
conditions are met, the first being that the person to be appointed is
selected by unanimous agreement of a panel composed of one member of the
Assembly from each recognized party and chaired by the Speaker who is a
non-voting member, unless decided otherwise by unanimous consent of the Assembly.
SCHEDULE 7
RETIREMENT HOMES ACT, 2010
The
Schedule amends the Retirement Homes Act, 2010 .
Currently,
section 12 of the Act provides that the Lieutenant Governor in Council has
authority to appoint directors to the board of the Retirement Homes Regulatory
Authority. Amendments are made to this
section to transfer the authority to
appoint directors to the Minister. Further amendments are made to this
section
to require the Minister to set out the term of any such appointment in the
appointment itself and to provide that a director appointed to the board by the
Minister holds office at the pleasure of the Minister.
Currently,
section 75 of the Act requires suspicions of the occurrence of certain
incidents involving residents of a retirement home be reported to the Registrar
if they are based on reasonable grounds. Subsection 75 (3) of the Act provides
that certain categories of persons, such as legally qualified medical
practitioners, are required to report such suspicions even if information that
would need to be reported is confidential or privileged. The subsection is
amended to remove reference to a category of healthcare practitioners under the
now repealed Drugless Practitioners Act and to
enable regulations to be made to prescribe additional categories of persons for
the purposes of the subsection.
SCHEDULE 8
STRENGTHENING TALENT AGENCY REGULATION ACT, 2026
The
Schedule enacts the Strengthening Talent Agency Regulation
Act, 2026 .
The
Act defines key terms, sets out its application and confirms that rights under
the Act cannot be waived. It provides that related or associated businesses may
be treated as a single talent agency.
The
Act prohibits talent agencies from charging fees to entertainment workers,
except for prescribed commissions and any other prescribed fees. It limits the
amount of commission that may be charged and requires talent agencies to
provide written statements to entertainment workers and retain related records.
The Act also sets out rules for handling compensation received on behalf of
entertainment workers, including requirements to deposit funds in a dedicated
account and to remit payments to workers within specified timelines.
The
Act assigns responsibility for administration to the Minister and provides for
the appointment of a Director of Talent Agencies and compliance officers. It
sets out their powers, including the authority to conduct inspections and
investigations, enter business locations (with limits for dwellings), require
records, question individuals and issue orders to address contraventions.
The
Act establishes complaint procedures, including criteria for accepting or
refusing complaints, the power to require meetings or evidence from parties,
and the ability to make orders requiring repayment of fees or payment of monies
owed. It sets out directors’ liability, time limits for issuing orders and
rules for circumstances where affected workers cannot be located. The Act also
provides authority for the Director to seek injunctions and issue notices of
contraventions.
The
Act includes processes for reviewing orders and notices of contravention before
the Ontario Labour Relations Board, including rules respecting hearings,
procedures, the Board’s powers on review and the role of labour relations
officers in facilitating settlements. It also addresses the handling of monies
paid into trust pending review.
The
Act authorizes collection activities, including the appointment of collectors
and the addition of administrative costs and certain collector fees to amounts
owing. It contains offence provisions and establishes penalties for
contraventions by individuals and corporations, including enhanced penalties
for repeat corporate offenders. Additional orders may be imposed on conviction
to require payment of amounts owing to entertainment workers.
The
Act includes evidentiary, confidentiality and service of documents provisions
to support enforcement and administrative processes. It also authorizes the
Lieutenant Governor in Council to make regulations governing matters such as
exemptions, notices of contraventions, collections and
definitions.
SCHEDULE 9
WORKPLACE SAFETY AND INSURANCE ACT, 1997
The
Schedule amends the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act,
1997 . Some of the amendments allow the Workplace Safety and Insurance
Board to pay benefits to a worker after the worker reaches the age of 65. The
new subsection 43 (1.1) allows certain workers to request that the Board
determine whether the worker is likely to be working in suitable and available
employment or business past 65 years of age and, if so, the day on which the
worker is likely to cease this work. The new subsection 43 (1.2) similarly allows
certain workers that were 63 years of age or older on the date of injury to
request that the Board determine whether the worker is likely to be working in
suitable and available employment or business past the day that is two years
after the date of the injury and, if so, the day on which the worker is likely
to cease this work. Clauses 43 (1) (
b) and (
c) are repealed and replaced so
that if the Board determines a day with respect to a worker under the new
subsections 43 (1.1) and (1.2), the worker is entitled to payments under
section 43 until the earlier of when their loss of earnings ceases and that
day. Consequential amendments are made to other sections that reference payment
of benefits until 65 years of age.
Other
amendments to
section 43 of the Act prospectively increase the loss of earnings
benefit rate from 85 per cent to 90 per cent of the difference between the
worker’s pre-injury net average earnings and post-injury net average earnings.
Similar amendments are made with respect to survivor’s benefits under
section
48 of the Act. Consequential amendments are made to
section 45 of the Act,
which governs payments for loss of retirement income.
Currently,
section 44 of the Act provides that the Board may not review payments to a
worker for loss of earnings more than 72 months after the date of the worker’s
injury. That
section is amended to apply to workers whose date of injury is
more than 72 months before the amendment comes into force. The new
section 44.1
applies to workers whose date of injury is 72 months before the amendment comes
into force or later and allows the Board to review payments at any time after
the amendment comes into force in accordance with the prescribed maximum
frequency, if any, or with such frequency as it determines is appropriate. The
Board may also review payments if a material change in circumstances occurs.
Part
I of
Schedule 1 of Ontario Regulation 175/98 made under the Act sets out
classes of industries in which employers are subject to the insurance plan. The
new
section 74.1 provides that residential care facilities operated by a
private employer and group homes are deemed to be included in that Part.
Bill 105 2026
Act to enact the Strengthening Talent Agency Regulation Act, 2026 and to amend
various Acts
CONTENTS
Preamble
Contents
of this Act
Commencement
Short
title
Schedule 1
Employment
Standards Act, 2000
Schedule 2
Environmental
Assessment Act
Schedule 3
Labour
Relations Act, 1995
Schedule 4
Ministry
of Health and Long-term Care Act
Schedule 5
Occupational
Health and Safety Act
Schedule 6
Ombudsman
Act
Schedule 7
Retirement
Homes Act, 2010
Schedule 8
Strengthening
Talent Agency Regulation Act, 2026
Schedule 9
Workplace
Safety and Insurance Act, 1997
Preamble
The
Government of Ontario is committed to:
Making Ontario the most
competitive jurisdiction in the G7 to invest, create jobs and do business by
cutting red tape and lowering cost for businesses and workers.
Expanding
worker protections and benefits, and harmonizing requirements to facilitate
interprovincial labour mobility across Canada.
Supporting
Ontario’s health workforce by increasing access to medical education for
Ontarians.
Modernizing
and streamlining processes for government approvals to improve timelines for
decision making on infrastructure projects in Ontario.
Reinforcing
the delivery of high-quality French language services by making proficiency in
Therefore,
His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of
the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:
Contents
of this Act
1 This Act consists of this section, sections 2 and 3 and
the Schedules to this Act.
Commencement
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this
section, this Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.
(2) The
Schedules to this Act come into force as provided in each Schedule.
(3) If
a
Schedule to this Act provides that any of its provisions are to come into
force on a day to be named by order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, an
order may apply to one or more of those provisions, and orders may be issued at
different times with respect to any of those provisions.
Short
title
3 The
short title of this Act is the Protecting
Ontario’s Workers and Economic Resilience Act, 2026 .
SCHEDULE 1
EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS ACT, 2000
The Employment Standards Act, 2000 is amended by
adding the following section:
charges for uniforms
13.1
(1) An
employer shall not, directly or indirectly, require an employee to pay for a
uniform or for any other prescribed item that the employee is required to wear
while performing work, unless,
(
a) the
employee loses the uniform or other prescribed item;
(
b) the
employee damages the uniform or other prescribed item in a manner that exceeds
normal wear and tear;
(
c) the
employee and employer agree that the employee is to return the uniform or other
prescribed item when the employee’s employment ends and the employee fails to
do so; or
(
d) any
other prescribed circumstances exist.
charges for repair or laundering
(2) If
an employer repairs or launders a uniform or any other prescribed item, or
arranges for another person to do so, the employer shall not, directly or
indirectly, require an employee to pay for the repair or laundering, unless,
(
a) the
employee damages the uniform or other prescribed item in a manner that exceeds
normal wear and tear; or
(
b) any
other prescribed circumstances exist.
Enforcement
(3) If
an employer contravenes subsection (1) or (2), the amount paid for the uniform
or other prescribed item or for the repair or laundering of the uniform or
other prescribed item is a debt owing to the employee and is enforceable under
this Act as if it were wages owing to the employee.
Deductions,
etc.
(4) Subsection
13 (3) does not apply in respect of,
(
a) an
amount paid for a uniform or other prescribed item, unless a circumstance set
out in subsection (1) exists; or
(
b) an
amount paid for the repair or laundering of a uniform or other prescribed item,
unless a circumstance set out in subsection (2) exists.
Transition
— collective agreements
(5) If
a collective agreement that is in effect on the transition date contains a
provision that addresses charges described in subsection (1) or (2) and there
is a conflict between the provision of the collective agreement and this
section, the provision of the collective agreement prevails.
Same
— expiry of agreement
(6) Following
the expiry of a collective agreement described in subsection (5), if the
provision that addresses charges described in subsection (1) or (2) remains in
effect, subsection (5) continues to apply to that provision, with necessary
modifications, until a new or renewal agreement comes into effect.
Same
— renewed or new agreement
(7) Subsection
(5) does not apply to a collective agreement that is made or renewed on or
after the transition date.
Definitions
(8) In
this section,
“transition
date” means the day
section 1 of
Schedule 1 to the Protecting
Ontario’s Workers and Economic Resilience Act, 2026 comes into force; (“date
de transition”)
“uniform”
means, subject
to the regulations, attire that is unique to an employer’s business or that is
identified with an employer’s business, and may include clothing bearing an
employer’s name, logo or brand. (“uniforme”)
The Act is amended by adding the following section:
Inspection
of certain complaints
96.1
(1) The
Director may assign a complaint filed under
section 96 in respect of any of the
following provisions to an employment standards officer to perform an
inspection for the purpose of determining whether the provision is being
complied with:
Section
8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5, 8.6 or 21.1.2.
2. Subsection
41.1.1 (3), (4) or (5).
Section
74.1.1, 74.1.2, 74.1.3, 74.1.7, 74.1.8, 74.1.9, 74.1.11 or 74.1.13.
4. Any
other prescribed provision.
Investigations
(2) Nothing
in subsection (1) prevents the Director from assigning a complaint filed under
section 96 to an employment standards officer to investigate a possible
contravention.
Refusal
(3) The
Director may refuse to assign a complaint filed under
section 96 to an
employment standards officer for investigation or inspection if the Director is
satisfied that,
(
a) the
complaint is frivolous, vexatious or an abuse of process;
(
b) there
is insufficient information to substantiate the complaint; or
(
c) any
other prescribed criteria have been met.
Director’s
authorization
(4) The
Director may authorize an individual employed in the Ministry to exercise a
power conferred on the Director under this section, either orally or in
writing.
Residual
powers
(5) The
Director may exercise a power conferred on the Director under this
section even
if the Director has authorized an individual to exercise it under subsection
(4).
Duty
re policies
(6) An
individual authorized by the Director under subsection (4) shall follow any
policies established by the Director under subsection 88 (2).
(1) Subsection 128 (3) of the Act is repealed.
(2) Subsection
128 (4) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:
Apportionment
of money collected
(4) If
the money collected is less than the full amount owing to all persons,
including the collector, the Director and the Minister of Finance, the money
shall be apportioned among those to whom it is owing and paid to them in
accordance with the following rules:
1. If
the money collected is sufficient to pay each employee the amount to which they
are entitled under this Act, the collector shall pay each employee that amount.
2. If
the money collected is not sufficient to pay each employee the amount to which
they are entitled under this Act, the money shall be apportioned among the
employees in proportion to the amounts owing to them and the collector shall
pay each employee their apportioned amount.
3. If,
after the amounts are paid under paragraph 1, additional money remains, the
remaining money shall be apportioned among the following persons in proportion
to the amounts owing to them and the collector shall pay each person their
apportioned amount:
i. The
collector.
ii. The
Director.
iii. The
Minister of Finance.
Commencement
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, this
Schedule
comes into force on the day the Protecting Ontario’s
Workers and Economic Resilience Act, 2026 receives Royal Assent.
(2) Section
1 comes into force on January 1, 2027.
(3) Section
3 comes
into force on a day to be named by order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council.
SCHEDULE 2
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ACT
Section 15 of the Environmental Assessment Act is
repealed and the following substituted:
Application
of Part
Sections
15.1 to 17 apply in respect of an undertaking to which a prescribed approved
class environmental assessment applies.
Subsection 15.1.3 (1) of the Act is amended by striking out “listed in” and
substituting “prescribed for the purposes of”.
(1) Subsection 15.3 (3) of the Act is repealed.
(2) Subsection
15.3 (4) of the Act is repealed.
(1) Subsection 17.2 (1) of the Act is repealed and the following
substituted:
Approval
for project
(1) A
proponent who wishes to proceed with a
Part II.3 project shall apply to the
Minister for approval to do so.
Multiple
proponents
(1.1) Despite
subsection (1), if a
Part II.3 project has more than one proponent and at least
one of them applies for approval to proceed, no other proponent is required to
apply in respect of the project.
(2) Section
17.2 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsection:
Transition
(2.1) If,
as part of an application, proposed terms of reference were given to the
Ministry under subsection 17.4 (1) before the day subsection 4 (1) of
Schedule 2
to the Protecting Ontario’s Workers and Economic
Resilience Act, 2026 came into force, subsection (1.1) applies in
respect of the application.
(3) Subsections
17.2 (4) to (6) of the Act are repealed and the following substituted:
Prohibition
(4) No
person shall proceed with a
Part II.3 project unless the Minister gives
approval to proceed under
section 17.15, the Lieutenant Governor in Council
gives approval to proceed under
section 17.15.1 or the Tribunal gives approval
to proceed under
section 17.16.
Same
(5) No
person shall proceed with a
Part II.3 project in a manner inconsistent with a
condition imposed by the Minister, the Lieutenant Governor in Council or the
Tribunal for proceeding with it.
Notification
of potential non-compliance
(6) If
approval has been given to proceed with a
Part II.3 project and a change in
circumstances may prevent a proponent from complying with the approval, the
proponent shall promptly notify the Minister.
(1) Subsection 17.4 (4) of the Act is amended by striking out “the
prescribed deadline” and substituting “the prescribed deadline, if any”.
(2) Section
17.4 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsection:
Different
deadlines
(13.1) For
the purpose of subsection (13), different deadlines may be prescribed for
proposed terms of reference in respect of which a matter is referred to
mediation under subsection (12) and for proposed terms of reference in respect
of which no referral is made.
striking out “a proponent” wherever it appears and substituting in each case
“the proponent”.
(2) Subsections
17.7 (7) and (8) of the Act are repealed and the following substituted:
Amendment
or withdrawal
(7) After
submitting the environmental assessment to the Ministry, the proponent may
amend it at any time before the prescribed deadline for amendments or may
withdraw it before the prescribed deadline for withdrawal.
Same
(8) The
proponent may amend or withdraw the environmental assessment after the
applicable deadline referred to in subsection (7) only upon such conditions as
the Minister may by order impose.
Subsection 17.9 (2) of the Act is amended by striking out “during the
preparation of the Ministry review” and substituting “when a decision is made
in respect of the application”.
proponent” and substituting “the proponent”.
Sections 17.11 to 17.13 of the Act are repealed and the following substituted:
Deficient
environmental assessment
17.11
(1) If the
Director considers that the environmental assessment is deficient in relation
to the approved terms of reference and the purpose of this Act, the Director
may, before the prescribed deadline, if any, give the proponent a statement
describing the deficiencies and specifying the date by which the deficiencies
must be remedied.
Remedying
deficiencies
(2) If
the proponent takes steps to remedy the deficiencies set out in the statement,
they shall complete those steps by the date specified in the statement.
Rejection
of environmental assessment
(3) The
Minister may reject the environmental assessment if the Director is not
satisfied that the deficiencies have been remedied by the specified date.
Notice
of rejection
(4) If
the Minister rejects the environmental assessment, the Director shall notify
the proponent, the public and the clerk of each municipality in which the
Part
II.3 project is to be carried out.
(1) Paragraph 3 of subsection 17.14 (3) of the Act is amended by
striking out “or 17.13 (2)” at the end.
(2) Subsection
17.14 (9) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:
Disclosure
(9) The
Minister shall make the report public promptly after the Minister makes a
decision under
section 17.15, the Minister notifies the proponent of the
Lieutenant Governor in Council’s decision under subsection 17.15.1 (4) or the
decision of the Tribunal under
section 17.16 becomes effective. The Minister
may make all or part of the report public before then only with the consent of
the parties to the mediation.
(1) Subsection 17.15 (1) of the Act is amended by striking out “with
the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council or of such ministers of the
Crown as the Lieutenant Governor in Council may designate, the Minister” in the
portion before clause (a).
(2) The
“matters” and substituting “things” in the portion before paragraph 1.
(3) Paragraph
4 of subsection 17.15 (3) of the Act is repealed.
(4) Paragraph
5 of subsection 17.15 (3) of the Act is amended by striking out “subsections 17.9 (2) and 17.13
(2)” and substituting “subsection 17.9 (2)” at the end.
(5) Subsection
17.15 (5) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:
Notice
to others
(5) The
Minister shall give notice of the decision to every person who submitted
comments to the Ministry under subsection 17.9 (2).
The Act is amended by adding the following section:
Referral
to Lieutenant Governor in Council
17.15.1
(1) The
Minister may refer an application to the Lieutenant Governor in Council for a
decision.
Powers
of Lieutenant Governor in Council
(2) The
Lieutenant Governor in Council may make any decision the Minister is permitted
to make under subsection 17.15 (1).
Basis
for decision
(3) The
Lieutenant Governor in Council shall consider the following things when
deciding an application:
1. The
purpose of this Act.
2. The
approved terms of reference for the environmental assessment.
3. The
environmental assessment.
4. The
comments submitted under subsection 17.9 (2).
5. The
mediator’s report, if any, given to the Minister under
section 17.14.
6. Such
other matters as the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers relevant to the
application.
Notice
to proponent
(4) The
Minister shall notify the proponent of the decision and shall give them the
Lieutenant Governor in Council’s written reasons for the decision.
Notice
to others
(5) The
Minister shall give notice of the decision to every person who submitted
comments to the Ministry under subsection 17.9 (2).
(1) Paragraph 4 of subsection 17.16 (3) of the Act is repealed.
(2) Paragraph
5 of subsection 17.16 (3) of the Act is amended by striking out “subsections 17.9 (2) and 17.13
(2)” and substituting “subsection 17.9 (2)” at the end.
(1) Subsection 17.17 (4) of the Act is repealed.
(2) Paragraph
3 of subsection 17.17 (5) of the Act is repealed.
(3) Paragraph
4 of subsection 17.17 (5) of the Act is amended by striking out “subsections 17.9 (2) and 17.13
(2)” and substituting “subsection 17.9 (2)” at the end.
Section 17.18 of the Act is repealed.
Section 17.19 of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:
Deadline,
Minister’s decisions
17.19
(1) By the
prescribed deadline, the Minister shall determine whether to refer a matter in
connection with an application to mediation under
section 17.14 or to the
Tribunal under
section 17.17.
Same
(2) By
the prescribed deadline, the Minister shall, with respect to an application,
(
a) decide
the application under
section 17.15;
(
b) refer
the application to the Lieutenant Governor in Council for a decision under
section 17.15.1; or
(
c) refer
the application to the Tribunal for a decision under
section 17.16.
Different
deadlines
(3) For
the purpose of subsection (2), different deadlines may be prescribed for
applications in which a matter is referred to mediation under
section 17.14 or
to the Tribunal under
section 17.17 and for applications in which no referral
is made.
Same
(4) If,
before the deadline referred to in subsection 17.7 (7), the
Minister gives the proponent written notice specifying a deadline that differs
from a deadline prescribed for the purposes of subsection (1), the prescribed
deadline does not apply with respect to the proponent’s application and the
deadline specified in the notice applies instead.
Reasons
(5) A
notice given under subsection (4) must include reasons for the deadline
specified in the notice.
Missed
deadline, reasons
(6) If
the Minister has not made a decision under subsection (2) by the prescribed
deadline or by the deadline specified in a notice given under subsection (4),
the Minister shall provide written reasons to the proponent indicating why a
decision was not made and when a decision is expected to be made.
The Act is amended by adding the following section:
Notice
of referral
17.20.1
(1) The
Minister shall notify the proponent and such other persons as the Minister
considers appropriate of a referral made under
section 17.15.1.
Same
(2) The
Minister shall notify the following persons of a referral made under
section
17.16, 17.17 or 17.20:
1. The
proponent.
2. Every
person who submitted comments under subsection 17.9 (2).
3. Such
other persons as the Minister considers appropriate.
Additional
information
(3) A
notification made under subsection (2) in respect of a referral made under
section 17.17 shall include the information given to the Tribunal under
subsection 17.17 (3).
Subsection 17.21 (4) of the Act is amended by striking out “17.13 (2)” at the
end and substituting “17.9 (2)”.
(1) Subsection 17.22 (2) of the Act is amended by striking out “at
any time before the Minister decides the application under
section 17.15” at
the end and substituting “at any time before an application is decided”.
(2) Subsection
17.22 (4) of the Act is amended by striking out “with the necessary approval”.
Section 17.24 of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:
Reconsideration
of decisions
17.24
(1) The
Minister may reconsider an approval to proceed with a
Part II.3 project,
whether the approval was given by the Minister, the Lieutenant Governor in
Council or the Tribunal, if there is a change in circumstances or there is new
information concerning the application and the Minister is of the opinion that
reconsideration is appropriate.
Same
(2) The
Minister may request the Tribunal to determine whether it is appropriate to
reconsider an approval.
Same
(3) The
Minister may request the Lieutenant Governor in Council or the Tribunal to
reconsider an approval given by the Minister, Lieutenant Governor in Council or
the Tribunal.
Minister
may require plans, etc.
(4) For
the purposes of making a decision under this section, the Minister or the
Tribunal may, by order, require the proponent of the
Part II.3 project to
provide plans, specifications, technical reports or other information and to
carry out and report on tests or experiments relating to the
Part II.3 project.
Amendment,
revocation
(5) If
the Minister, Lieutenant Governor in Council or the Tribunal reconsiders an
approval under this section, the approval may be amended or revoked by the body
or person that reconsidered it.
Rules,
etc.
(6) A
decision under this
section shall be made in accordance with any rules and
subject to any restrictions as may be prescribed.
Subsection 17.29 (1) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:
Commencing
project
(1) No
person shall proceed with a
Part II.4 project until the proponent has satisfied
the prescribed requirements for commencing the project, including the
completion of an environmental assessment process.
Same,
multiple proponents
(1.1) Despite
subsection (1), if a
Part II.4 project has more than one proponent and at least
one of them has satisfied the prescribed requirements for commencing the
project, no other proponent is required to satisfy those requirements.
Subsection 19 (1) of the Act is amended by striking out “any person who under
subsection 17.13 (3) requests the Minister to refer the application to the
Tribunal”.
Section 22 of the Act is amended by striking out “17.13 (2)” and substituting
“17.9 (2)”.
(1) Paragraph 3 of subsection 30 (1.1) of the Act is repealed.
(2) Paragraph
4 of subsection 30 (1.1) of the Act is amended by striking out “subsections
17.9 (2) and 17.13 (2)” and substituting “subsection 17.9 (2)” at the end.
(3) Paragraph
5 of subsection 30 (1.1) of the Act is amended by striking out “the Minister”
and substituting “the Minister, the Lieutenant Governor in Council”.
(1) Subsection 31 (3) of the Act is amended by adding the following
paragraph:
2.1 The
power to refer decisions to the Lieutenant Governor in Council under
section
17.15.1.
(2) Paragraph
4 of subsection 31 (3) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:
4. The
power under
section 17.24 to reconsider a decision.
Subsection 38.1 (1) of the Act is amended by adding “or
Schedule 2 to the Protecting Ontario’s Workers and Economic Resilience Act, 2026 ”
at the end.
The Act is amended by adding the following section:
Ministry
review, etc., continued
38.7
(1) If,
before the transition date, a proponent submitted an environmental assessment
under
section 17.7 in respect of a
Part II.3 project, the Act, as it read
immediately before the transition date, continues to apply in respect of the
Part II.3 project.
Same
(2) For
greater certainty, any deadlines prescribed in respect of a
Part II.3 project
referred to in subsection (1) continue to apply as they read immediately before
the transition date.
Transition
(3) Despite
subsection (1),
section 17.24, as it read on the transition date, applies in
respect of a
Part II.3 project referred to in subsection (1).
Definition
(4) In
this section,
“transition
date” means the day
section 17.11 is repealed by
section 9 of
Schedule 2 to the
Protecting Ontario’s Workers and Economic Resilience Act,
2026 .
Subsection 40 (2) of the Act is amended by striking out the portion before
clause (
a) and substituting the following:
Same
(2) A
regulation under clause (1) (
a) respecting the environmental assessment process
that must be completed before proceeding with a
Part II.4 project may limit the
assessment to specified environmental impacts, such as impacts on
archaeological resources, and may require persons to,
. . . .
Commencement
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, this
Schedule
comes into force on the day the Protecting Ontario’s
Workers and Economic Resilience Act, 2026 receives Royal Assent.
(2) The
following provisions come into force on a day to be named by order of the
Lieutenant Governor in Council:
1. Sections
1, 2 and 3.
2. Subsections
4 (3) and 6 (2).
3. Sections
7, 9 to 20, 22 to 25 and 27.
(3) Section
21 comes into force on the later of the day
section 30 of
Schedule 6 to the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act, 2020 comes into force and
the day the Protecting Ontario’s Workers and Economic
Resilience Act, 2026 receives Royal Assent.
(4) Section
28 comes into force on the later of the day
section 43 of
Schedule 6 to the COVID-19
Economic Recovery Act, 2020 comes into force and the day the Protecting
Ontario’s Workers and Economic Resilience Act, 2026 receives Royal Assent.
SCHEDULE
LABOUR RELATIONS ACT, 1995
(1) Section 127.3 of the Labour Relations Act,
1995 is repealed and the following substituted:
Application
for certification
127.3
(1) This
section applies if a trade
union and an employer have entered into a collective agreement.
Same
(2) Where
the collective agreement is for a term of not more than three years, another
trade union may apply to the Board for certification as bargaining agent of any
of the employees in the bargaining unit defined in the agreement only after the
commencement of the last month of its operation.
Same
(3) Where
the collective agreement is for a term of more than three years, another trade
union may apply to the Board for certification as bargaining agent of any of
the employees in the bargaining unit defined in the agreement only after the
commencement of the 36th month of its operation and before the commencement of
the 37th month of its operation and during the one-month period immediately
preceding the end of each year that the agreement continues to operate
thereafter or after the commencement of the last month of its operation, as the
case may be.
Same
(4) Where
a collective agreement referred to in subsection (2) or (3) provides that it
will continue to operate for any further term or successive terms if either
party fails to give to the other notice of termination or of its desire to
bargain with a view to renewal, with or without modifications, of the agreement
or to the making of a new agreement, another trade union may apply to the Board
for certification as bargaining agent of any of the employees in the bargaining
unit defined in the agreement during the further term or successive terms only
during the last month of each year that it so continues to operate, or after
the commencement of the last month of its operation, as the case may be.
Transition
(5) Despite
the amendment made by subsection 1 (1) of
Schedule 3 to the Protecting Ontario’s Workers and Economic Resilience Act, 2026 ,
this section, as it read immediately before that amendment came into force,
continues to apply for six months after the amendment comes into force.
(2) Subsection
(1) only applies if subsection 1 (3) of this
Schedule has not come into force.
(3) Section
127.3 of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:
Application
for certification
127.3
(1) This
section applies if a trade union and an employer have entered into a collective
agreement.
Same
(2) Where
the collective agreement is for a term of not more than three years, another
trade union may apply to the Board for certification as bargaining agent of any
of the employees in the bargaining unit defined in the agreement only during
the second last month of its operation.
Same
(3) Where
the collective agreement is for a term of more than three years, another trade
union may apply to the Board for certification as bargaining agent of any of
the employees in the bargaining unit defined in the agreement only after the
commencement of the 35th month of its operation and before the commencement of
the 36th month of its operation and during the second last month immediately
preceding the end of each year that the agreement continues to operate
thereafter or during the second last month of its operation, as the case may
be.
Same
(4) Where
a collective agreement referred to in subsection (2) or (3) provides that it
will continue to operate for any further term or successive terms if either
party fails to give to the other notice of termination or of its desire to
bargain with a view to renewal, with or without modifications, of the agreement
or to the making of a new agreement, another trade union may apply to the Board
for certification as bargaining agent of any of the employees in the bargaining
unit defined in the agreement during the further term or successive terms only
during the second last month of each year that it so continues to operate, or
during the second last month of its operation, as the case may be.
Transition
(5) Despite
the amendment made by subsection 1 (3) of
Schedule 3 to the Protecting Ontario’s Workers and Economic Resilience Act, 2026 ,
this section, as it read immediately before that amendment came into force,
continues to apply for six months after the amendment comes into force.
(4) Subsection
(3) only applies if subsection 1 (1) of this
Schedule has not come into force.
(5) Subsection
127.3 (5) of the Act is repealed.
(1) Section 132 of the Act is repealed and the following
substituted:
Application
for termination
(1) If a trade union does not make a collective
agreement with the employer within six months after its certification, any of
the employees in the bargaining unit determined in the certificate may apply to
the Board for a declaration that the trade union no longer represents the
employees in the bargaining unit.
Same,
agreement
(2) Any
of the employees in the bargaining unit defined in a first agreement between an
employer and a trade union, where the trade union has not been certified as the
bargaining agent of the employees of the employer in the bargaining unit, may
apply to the Board for a declaration that the trade union no longer represents
the employees in the bargaining unit after the 335th day of its operation and
before the 365th day of its operation.
Same,
agreement
(3) Any
of the employees in the bargaining unit defined in a collective agreement other
than a first agreement referred to in subsection (2) may, subject to
section
67, apply to the Board for a declaration that the trade union no longer
represents the employees in the bargaining unit,
(
a) in
the case of a collective agreement for a term of not more than three years,
only after the commencement of the last month of its operation;
(
b) in
the case of a collective agreement for a term of more than three years, only
after the commencement of the 36th month of its operation and before the
commencement of the 37th month of its operation and during the one-month period
immediately preceding the end of each year that the agreement continues to
operate thereafter or after the commencement of the last month of its
operation, as the case may be; and
(
c) in
the case of a collective agreement referred to in clause (
a) or (
b) that
provides that it will continue to operate for any further term or successive
terms if either party fails to give to the other notice of termination or of
its desire to bargain with a view to the renewal, with or without
modifications, of the agreement or to the making of a new agreement, only
during the last month of each year that it so continues to operate or after the
commencement of the last month of its operation, as the case may be.
Transition
(4) Despite
the amendment made by subsection 2 (1) of
Schedule 3 to the Protecting Ontario’s Workers and Economic Resilience Act, 2026 ,
this section, as it read immediately before that amendment came into force,
continues to apply for six months after the amendment comes into force.
(2) Section
132 of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:
Application
for termination
(1) If
a trade union does not make a collective agreement with the employer within six
months after its certification, any of the employees in the bargaining unit
determined in the certificate may apply to the Board for a declaration that the
trade union no longer represents the employees in the bargaining unit.
Same,
agreement
(2) Any
of the employees in the bargaining unit defined in a first agreement between an
employer and a trade union, where the trade union has not been certified as the
bargaining agent of the employees of the employer in the bargaining unit, may
apply to the Board for a declaration that the trade union no longer represents
the employees in the bargaining unit after the 305th day of its operation and
before the 335th day of its operation.
Same,
agreement
(3) Any
of the employees in the bargaining unit defined in a collective agreement other
than a first agreement referred to in subsection (2) may, subject to
section
67, apply to the Board for a declaration that the trade union no longer
represents the employees in the bargaining unit,
(
a) in
the case of a collective agreement for a term of not more than three years,
only during the second last month of its operation;
(
b) in
the case of a collective agreement for a term of more than three years, only
after the commencement of the 35th month of its operation and before the
commencement of the 36th month of its operation and during the second last
month immediately preceding the end of each year that the agreement continues
to operate thereafter or during the second last month of its operation, as the
case may be; and
(
c) in
the case of a collective agreement referred to in clause (
a) or (
b) that
provides that it will continue to operate for any further term or successive
terms if either party fails to give to the other notice of termination or of
its desire to bargain with a view to the renewal, with or without
modifications, of the agreement or to the making of a new agreement, only
during the second last month of each year that it so continues to operate or
during the second last month of its operation, as the case may be.
Transition
(4) Despite
the amendment made by subsection 2 (2) of
Schedule 3 to the Protecting Ontario’s Workers and Economic Resilience Act, 2026 ,
this section, as it read immediately before that amendment came into force,
continues to apply for six months after the amendment comes into force.
(3) Subsection
132 (4) of the Act is repealed.
(1) Subsection 125 (1) of the Act is amended by adding the following
clause:
(j.3) governing
or modifying the application of
section 67 where the time periods in
section
127.3 and 132 are amended;
(2) Section
125 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsections:
Transitional
regulations
(6) The
Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations providing for any
transitional matter that the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers necessary
or advisable in connection with the implementation of the amendments made by
Schedule 3 to the Protecting Ontario’s Workers and
Economic Resilience Act, 2026 .
Conflict
with transitional regulations
(7) In
the event of a conflict between this Act and a regulation made under subsection
(6), the regulation prevails.
Commencement
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, this
Schedule
comes into force on a day to be named by order of the Lieutenant Governor in
Council.
(2) Subsections
1 (2) and (4) come into force on the day the Protecting
Ontario’s Workers and Economic Resilience Act, 2026 receives Royal
Assent.
(3) Subsection
2 (1) comes into force on the day subsection 1 (1) of this
Schedule comes into
force.
(4) Subsections
2 (2) and 3 (1) come into force on the day subsection 1 (3) of this
Schedule
comes into force.
SCHEDULE 4
MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND LONG-TERM CARE ACT
Subsection 12 (1) of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term
Care Act is amended by adding the following clause:
(
i) governing
the admission of graduates of a medical school outside of Canada to an Ontario
medical residency program, including,
(
i) prescribing
processes to prioritize the admission of graduates who have a connection to
Ontario,
(ii) specifying
when a graduate has a connection to Ontario,
(iii) defining
“medical school outside of Canada” and “Ontario medical residency program”.
Commencement
This
Schedule comes into force on the day the Protecting
Ontario’s Workers and Economic Resilience Act, 2026 receives Royal
Assent.
SCHEDULE 5
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT
Act is amended by striking out “occupational diseases” wherever it
appears and substituting in each case “occupational illnesses”.
(1) The Act is amended by adding the following section:
Protective
headwear reimbursements
21.1
(1) Subject
to subsections (2), (3) and (4), the Minister may reimburse such employers and
constructors as may be prescribed for the cost of purchasing such protective
headwear as may be prescribed.
Eligibility
(2) Prescribed
protective headwear is eligible for reimbursement under subsection (1) only if
it is purchased by the constructor or employer with respect to work performed
on a project in respect of which they are a constructor or employer.
Regulations
(3) The
Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations governing reimbursements
under this section, including but not limited to, establishing maximum amounts
for reimbursements and prescribing conditions that must be satisfied in order
for reimbursements to occur.
Minister’s
determinations
(4) The
Minister may determine the form and timing of reimbursements under this
section
and, subject to any regulations made by the Lieutenant Governor in Council
respecting the reimbursements, may specify conditions that must be satisfied in
order for reimbursements to occur.
(2) Section
21.1 of the Act, as enacted by subsection (1), is repealed.
Subsection 22.3 (1) of the Act is amended by adding the following clause:
(b.1) develop
and maintain a worker occupational exposure registry;
(1) Section 22.3.1 of the Act is amended by adding the following
subsection:
Same,
occupational exposure
(1.1) The
Chief Prevention Officer may collect personal information directly from a
worker about the worker’s exposure to a physical, chemical or biological agent
at a workplace, for the purpose of maintaining a worker occupational exposure
registry and for the purposes referred to in subsection (1).
(2) Subsection
22.3.1 (2) of the Act is amended by adding “or (1.1)” after “subsection (1)”.
(3) Subsection
22.3.1 (3) of the Act is amended by adding “or (1.1)” after “subsection (1)”.
(4) Section
22.3.1 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsection:
Same
(4.1) Unless
required to do so by law, the Chief Prevention Officer shall not disclose
personal information collected directly under subsection (1.1) to any person
other than the worker from whom it was collected.
The title of
Part III.1 of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:
PART III.1
APPROVAL OF CODES OF PRACTICE AND INTERJURISDICTIONAL RECOGNITION OF STANDARDS
Subsections 32.2 (2) and (3) of the Act are repealed and the following
substituted:
Minister’s
order – interjurisdictional recognition of standards
(2) Despite
any legal requirement in this Act or the regulations, the Minister may issue an
order recognizing standards for training, personal protective equipment or
other equipment that comply with the requirements in another Canadian
jurisdiction or the requirements under an agreement entered into between
Ontario and another Canadian jurisdiction if the Minister is satisfied that the
standard is appropriate for use in Ontario and provides adequate protection for
the health and safety of workers.
Terms,
conditions
(3) An
approval or recognition order made under this
section may be subject to such
or particular in its application.
Withdrawal
of approval or recognition order
(3.1) The
Minister may withdraw an approval or recognition order made under this section.
Legislation Act, 2006 ,
Part III
(3.2) Part
III (Regulations) of the Legislation Act, 2006 does
not apply with respect to an approval or recognition order made under this
section or the withdrawal of such an approval or recognition order.
Section 32.3 of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:
Publication
of approval or recognition order, etc.
32.3
(1) An approval or recognition order
or a withdrawal of an approval or recognition order shall be published in The Ontario Gazette .
Effect
of publication
(2) Publication
of an approval or recognition order, or of the withdrawal of an approval or
recognition order in The Ontario Gazette ,
(
a) is,
in the absence of evidence to the contrary, proof of the approval, recognition
order or withdrawal; and
(
b) shall
be deemed to be notice of the approval, recognition order or withdrawal to
everyone affected by it.
Judicial
notice
(3) Judicial
notice shall be taken of an approval, recognition order or withdrawal published
in The Ontario Gazette .
The Act is amended by adding the following section:
Effect
of recognition order
32.5 Subject to any terms or
conditions set out in the order, compliance with a standard recognized in an
order made under subsection 32.2 (2) is deemed to be compliance with the legal
requirement specified in the order.
Commencement
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, this
Schedule
comes into force on the day the Protecting Ontario’s
Workers and Economic Resilience Act, 2026 receives Royal Assent.
(2) Section
2 comes into force on a day to be named by order of the Lieutenant Governor in
Council.
SCHEDULE 6
OMBUDSMAN ACT
Subsection 2 (3) of the Ombudsman Act is repealed
and the following substituted:
Conditions for appointment
(3) An order shall be made
under subsection (2) only if the person to be appointed,
French; and
(
b) has been selected by unanimous
agreement of a panel composed of one member of the Assembly from each
recognized party and chaired by the Speaker who is a non-voting member, unless
decided otherwise by unanimous consent of the Assembly.
Conditions for appointment
(3) An order shall be made under subsection (2)
only if,
(
a) the person to be appointed is
(
b) unless decided otherwise by
unanimous consent of the Assembly, the person to be appointed has been selected
by unanimous agreement of a panel composed of one member of the Assembly from
each recognized party and chaired by the Speaker who is a non-voting member.
Commencement
This
Schedule comes into force on the day the Protecting
Ontario’s Workers and Economic Resilience Act, 2026 receives Royal
Assent.
SCHEDULE 7
RETIREMENT HOMES ACT, 2010
(1) Subsection 12 (4) of the Retirement Homes
Act is amended by striking out “Lieutenant Governor in Council” and
substituting “Minister”.
(2) Section
12 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsections:
Term
of appointment
(4.1) The
Minister shall set out the term of appointment in the appointment of each
person whom the Minister appoints to the board.
Appointments
at pleasure
(4.2) A
director appointed to the board by the Minister holds office at the pleasure of
the Minister during the director’s term.
(3) Subsection
12 (5) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:
Not
majority
(5) When
exercising either of the powers conferred by subsections (3) and (4), the
Minister shall ensure that the directors appointed by the Minister do not
constitute a majority of the number of directors required to be on the board.
(4) Subsections
12 (6) and (7) of the Act are amended by striking out “Lieutenant Governor in
Council” wherever it appears and substituting in each case “Minister”.
(5) Section
12 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsection:
Transition
to ministerial appointments
(15) Any
director who was appointed to the board by the Lieutenant Governor in Council
under subsection (4) before the day subsection 1 (1) of
Schedule 7 to the Protecting Ontario’s Workers and Economic Resilience Act, 2026
came into force is deemed to have been appointed to the board by the Minister.
Subsection 29 (2) of the Act is amended by striking out “Lieutenant Governor in
Council” at the end and substituting “Minister”.
(1) Subsection 75 (3) of the Act is amended by striking out “a
person mentioned in paragraph 1, 2 or 3” in the portion before paragraph 1 and
substituting “the following persons”.
(2) Paragraphs
2 and 3 of subsection 75 (3) of the Act are repealed and the following
substituted:
2. A
member of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.
3. Any
other person prescribed by the regulations.
Commencement
This
Schedule comes into force on the day the Protecting
Ontario’s Workers and Economic Resilience Act, 2026 receives Royal
Assent.
SCHEDULE 8
STRENGTHENING TALENT AGENCY REGULATION ACT, 2026
CONTENTS
PART I
INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION
Definitions
Application
contracting out
Separate
persons treated as one talent agency
Civil
proceedings not affected
PART II
FEES AND COMMISSION
fees charged to entertainment workers
Restrictions
on commission
Compensation
received on behalf of performers, etc.
PART III
WHO ENFORCES THIS ACT AND WHAT THEY CAN DO
Minister
responsible
Director
Compliance
officers
Powers
and duties of officers
Investigation
and inspection powers
Warrant
PART IV
COMPLAINTS AND ENFORCEMENT
Complaints
Definition
Complaints
Inspection
of certain complaints
Reassigning
investigations and inspections
Evidence Gathering
Meeting
may be required
Requirement
to provide evidence, etc.
Compliance
with investigations and inspections
Orders re Fees and Payments
Order
to repay fees
Order
to pay
Time
limit on recovery, worker’s complaint
Worker
cannot be found
Compliance Orders
Compliance
order
Injunction
proceedings
Liability of Directors of
Talent Agencies
Order
against directors
Further
order
Director
liability
Notices of Contravention
Notice
of contravention
Enforcement – General Matters
Limitation
period
Refusal
to issue order
Service
of orders and notices of contravention
Compliance
with orders
Money
paid when no review
Settlement
Settlement
Worker
cannot be found
PART V
REVIEWS OF ORDERS AND NOTICES
Review
of orders
Same,
powers of Board
Review
of notice of contravention
Same,
powers of Board
Rules
of practice
Settlement
through labour relations officer
Money
held in trust pending review
PART VI
COLLECTIONS
Collections
PART VII
OFFENCES AND PROSECUTIONS
General
offence
Additional
orders
Offence
re directors’ liability
Offence
re permitting offence by corporation
Prosecution
of compliance officer
Where
prosecution may be heard
Publication
re convictions
Limitation
period
PART VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Copy
constitutes evidence
Officers
not compellable
Persons
from Board not compellable
Service
of documents
PART IX
REGULATIONS
Regulations
PART X
COMMENCEMENT
Commencement
Short
title
PART I
INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION
Definitions
1 In this Act,
“Board”
means the Ontario Labour Relations Board; (“Commission”)
“business
day” means a day from Monday to Friday, other than a holiday as defined in
section 87 of the Legislation Act, 2006 ; (“jour
ouvrable”)
“collector”
means a person, other than a compliance officer, who is authorized by the
Director to collect an amount owing under this Act; (“agent de recouvrement”)
“compliance
officer” means a person described in subsection 11 (1); (“agent de conformité”)
“Director”
means the Director of Talent Agencies appointed by the Minister under
subsection 10 (1); (“directeur”)
“entertainment
worker” means a performer and any other prescribed individual who performs work
or supplies services for monetary compensation in the entertainment industry;
(“travailleur du spectacle”)
“labour
relations officer” means a labour relations officer appointed under the Labour Relations Act, 1995 ; (“agent des relations de
travail”)
“Minister”
means the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development or
such other member of the Executive Council to whom the administration of this
Act is assigned under the Executive Council Act ;
(“ministre”)
“Ministry”
means the ministry of the Minister; (“ministère”)
“performer”
means, subject to the regulations, an individual who, for monetary
compensation, acts, sings, dances or otherwise performs in any medium and
includes background performers and extras; (“artiste”)
“prescribed”
means prescribed by the regulations; (“prescrit”)
“regulations”
means the regulations made under this Act; (“règlements”)
“talent
agency” means, subject to the regulations, a person who, for a fee, represents
an entertainment worker who is seeking to perform work or supply services in
the entertainment industry. (“agence artistique”)
Application
2 This Act applies to talent agencies and
entertainment workers.
contracting out
3 No talent agency or entertainment worker shall
contract out of or waive any right provided in this Act and any such
contracting out or waiver is void.
Separate
persons treated as one talent agency
(1) If associated or related
activities or businesses are or were carried on by or through a talent agency
and one or more other persons, the talent agency and those persons shall be
treated as one talent agency for the purposes of this Act.
Businesses
need not be carried on at the same time
(2) Subsection
(1) applies even if the activities or businesses are not carried on at the same
time.
Exception,
individuals
(3) Subsection
(1) does not apply with respect to a corporation and an individual who is a
shareholder of the corporation unless the individual is a member of a
partnership and the shares are held for the purposes of the partnership.
Joint
and several liability
(4) Persons
who are treated as one talent agency under this
section are jointly and
severally liable for any contravention of this Act or the regulations and for
any amounts owing to an entertainment worker by any of them.
Civil
proceedings not affected
5 No civil remedy of an entertainment worker
against a talent agency is affected by this Act.
PART II
FEES AND COMMISSION
fees charged to entertainment workers
(1) No talent agency shall, directly
or indirectly, charge a fee to an entertainment worker.
Exception
(2) Subsection
(1) does not apply in respect of a commission described in
section 7 or any
other prescribed fee.
Fees
(3) Except
as otherwise prescribed, a fee referred to in subsection (1) includes an annual
fee, a registration fee and any other fee in respect of representing an
entertainment worker who is seeking to perform work or supply services in the
entertainment industry.
Restrictions
on commission
(1) A talent agency that represents
an entertainment worker shall not charge a commission exceeding the prescribed
amount in respect of work performed or services supplied by the entertainment
worker.
Statements
(2) If
an entertainment worker owes commission to a talent agency, the agency shall,
within the prescribed time period, give the entertainment worker a written
statement setting out the prescribed information.
Retention
(3) A
talent agency shall retain, or arrange for another person to retain, a
statement required under subsection (2) for three years after it is provided to
the entertainment worker.
Availability
(4) A
talent agency shall ensure that the records required to be retained under this
section are readily available as required by a compliance officer, even if the
talent agency has arranged for another person to retain them.
Compensation
received on behalf of performers, etc.
(1) If a talent agency receives
payment for work performed or services supplied by an entertainment worker whom
it represents, the agency shall,
(
a) ensure
the amount of the payment is deposited into a bank account used exclusively for
funds owing to such entertainment workers; and
(
b) unless
the regulations provide otherwise, pay the amount to the entertainment worker
within 10 business days of receiving the payment.
Exception
(2) Despite
subsection (1), a talent agency may deduct any commission charged in accordance
with
section 7 and any other fee prescribed for the purposes of subsection 6
(2) from the payment required to be deposited.
PART III
WHO ENFORCES THIS ACT AND WHAT THEY CAN DO
Minister
responsible
(1) The Minister is responsible for
the administration of this Act.
Delegation
of powers
(2) The
Minister or Deputy Minister may, in writing, delegate to any Ministry employee
any power or duty granted to or vested in the Minister or Deputy Minister under
this Act subject to such limitations, restrictions, conditions and requirements
as the Minister or Deputy Minister may set out in the delegation.
Director
(1) The
Minister shall appoint a Ministry employee to be the Director of Talent
Agencies to administer this Act and the regulations.
Acting
Director
(2) The
Director’s powers may be exercised and the Director’s duties may be performed
by a Ministry employee appointed as Acting Director if,
(
a) the
Director is absent or unable to act; or
(
b) an
individual who was appointed Director has ceased to be the Director and no new
Director has been appointed.
Same
(3) An
Acting Director shall be appointed by the Director or, in the Director’s
absence, the Deputy Minister.
Policies
(4) The
Director may establish policies respecting the
interpretation, administration
and enforcement of this Act.
Delegation
(5) The
Director may, in writing, delegate to any Ministry employee any power or duty
granted to or vested in the Director under this Act, subject to such
limitations, restrictions, conditions and requirements as the Director may set
out in the delegation.
Hearing
not required
(6) The
Director is not required to hold a hearing in exercising any power or making
any decision under this Act.
Compliance
officers
(1) Such
persons as are considered necessary to enforce this Act and the regulations may
be appointed under
Part III of the Public Service of
Ontario Act, 2006 as compliance officers.
Certificate
of appointment
(2) The
Deputy Minister shall issue a certificate of appointment bearing the Deputy
Minister’s signature or a facsimile of it to every compliance officer.
Powers
and duties of officers
(1) A
compliance officer may exercise the powers and shall perform the duties
conferred or imposed on compliance officers under this Act.
Officers
to follow policies
(2) A
compliance officer shall follow any policies established by the Director under
subsection 10 (4).
Hearing
not required
(3) A
compliance officer is not required to hold a hearing in exercising any power or
making any decision under this Act.
Investigation
and inspection powers
(1) A
compliance officer may, without a warrant, enter and inspect any place in order
to investigate a possible contravention of this Act or to perform an inspection
to ensure that this Act is being complied with.
Time
of entry
(2) The
power to enter and inspect a place without a warrant may be exercised only
during the place’s regular business hours or, if it does not have regular
business hours, during daylight hours.
Dwellings
(3) The
power to enter and inspect a place without a warrant shall not be exercised to
enter and inspect a part of the place that is used as a dwelling unless the
occupier of the dwelling consents.
Use
of force
(4) A
compliance officer is not entitled to use force to enter and inspect a place.
Identification
(5) A
compliance officer shall produce, on request, evidence of the officer’s
appointment.
Powers
of officer
(6) A
compliance officer conducting an investigation or inspection may,
(
a) examine
a record or other thing that the officer thinks may be relevant to the
investigation or inspection;
(
b) require
the production of a record or other thing that the officer thinks may be
relevant to the investigation or inspection;
(
c) remove
for review and copying a record or other thing that the officer thinks may be
relevant to the investigation or inspection;
(
d) in
order to produce a record in readable form, use data storage, information
processing or retrieval devices or systems that are normally used in carrying
on business in the place; and
(
e) question
any person on matters the officer thinks may be relevant to the investigation
or inspection.
Written
demand
(7) A
demand that a record or other thing be produced must be in writing and must
include a statement of the nature of the record or thing required.
Obligation
to produce and assist
(8) If
a compliance officer demands that a record or other thing be produced, the
person who has custody of the record or thing shall produce it and, in the case
of a record, shall on request provide any assistance that is reasonably
necessary to interpret the record or to produce it in a readable form.
Records
and things removed from place
(9) A
compliance officer who removes a record or other thing under clause (6) (
c) shall provide a receipt and return the record or thing to the person within a
reasonable time.
Copy
admissible in evidence
(10) A
copy of a record that purports to be certified by a compliance officer as being
a true copy of the original is admissible in evidence to the same extent as the
original and has the same evidentiary value.
Warrant
(1) A
justice of the peace may issue a warrant authorizing a compliance officer named
in the warrant to enter premises specified in the warrant and to exercise any
of the powers mentioned in subsection 13 (6), if the justice of the peace is
satisfied on information under oath that,
(
a) the
officer has been prevented from exercising a right of entry to the premises
under subsection 13 (1) or has been prevented from exercising a power under
subsection 13 (6);
(
b) there
are reasonable grounds to believe that the officer will be prevented from
exercising a right of entry to the premises under subsection 13 (1) or will be
prevented from exercising a power under subsection 13 (6); or
(
c) there
are reasonable grounds to believe that an offence under this Act or the
regulations has been or is being committed and that information or other
evidence will be obtained through the exercise of a power mentioned in
subsection 13 (6).
Expiry
of warrant
(2) A
warrant issued under this
section shall name a date on which it expires, which
date shall not be later than 30 days after the warrant is issued.
Extension
of time
(3) Upon
application without notice by the compliance officer named in a warrant issued
under this section, a justice of the peace may extend the date on which the
warrant expires for an additional period of no more than 30 days.
Use
of force
(4) A
compliance officer named in a warrant issued under this
section may call upon a
police officer for assistance in executing the warrant.
Time
of execution
(5) A
warrant issued under this
section may be executed only between 8 a.m. and 8
p.m., unless the warrant specifies otherwise.
Other
matters
(6) Subsections
13 (4) to (10) apply with necessary modifications to an officer executing a
warrant issued under this section.
Same
(7) Without
restricting the generality of subsection (6), if a warrant is issued under this
section, the matters on which an officer executing the warrant may question a
person under clause 13 (6) (
e) are not limited to those that aid in the
effective execution of the warrant but extend to any matters that the officer
thinks may be relevant to the investigation or inspection.
PART IV
COMPLAINTS AND ENFORCEMENT
Complaints
Definition
(1) In this
Part and
Part V,
“director”
means a director of a talent agency that is a corporation and includes a
shareholder who is a party to a unanimous shareholder agreement.
Same
(2) For
greater certainty, in this Part and
Part V, “Director” has the same meaning as
section 1.
Complaints
(1) A
person alleging that this Act has been or is being contravened may file a
complaint with the Ministry in a written or electronic form approved by the
Director.
Effect
of failure to use form
(2) A
complaint that is not filed in a form approved by the Director is deemed not to
have been filed.
Limitation
(3) A
complaint regarding a contravention that occurred more than two years before
the day on which the complaint was filed is deemed not to have been filed.
Inspection
of certain complaints
(1) The
Director may assign a complaint filed under
section 16 in respect of any of the
following provisions to a compliance officer to perform an inspection for the
purposes of determining whether the provision is being complied with:
1. Subsection
7 (2).
2. Clause
8 (1) (a).
3. Any
other prescribed provision.
Investigations
(2) Nothing
in subsection (1) prevents the Director from assigning a complaint filed under
section 16 to a compliance officer to investigate a possible contravention.
Refusal
(3) The
Director may refuse to assign a complaint filed under
section 16 to a
compliance officer for investigation or inspection if the Director is satisfied
that,
(
a) the
complaint is frivolous, vexatious or an abuse of process;
(
b) there
is insufficient information to substantiate the complaint;
(
c) a
proceeding relating to the subject matter of the complaint has been commenced
before, or has been decided by, a court, tribunal, arbitrator or other
adjudicative body; or
(
d) any other prescribed criteria have been met.
Reassigning
investigations and inspections
(1) The
Director may terminate the assignment of a compliance officer to the
investigation of a complaint and may assign the investigation to another
compliance officer.
Same
(2) If
the Director terminates the assignment of a compliance officer to the
investigation of a complaint,
(
a) the
officer whose assignment is terminated shall no longer have any powers or
duties with respect to the investigation of the complaint or the discovery
during the investigation of any similar potential entitlement of another
entertainment worker related to the complaint; and
(
b) the
new compliance officer assigned to the investigation may rely on evidence
collected by the first officer and any findings of fact made by that officer.
Inspections
(3) This
section applies with necessary modifications to inspections by compliance
officers.
Evidence Gathering
Meeting
may be required
(1) A
compliance officer may, after giving at least 15 days written notice, require
any of the persons referred to in subsection (2) to attend a meeting with the
officer in the following circumstances:
1. The
officer is investigating a complaint against a talent agency.
2. The
officer, while inspecting a place under
section 13 or 14, comes to have
reasonable grounds to believe that a talent agency has contravened this Act or
the regulations with respect to an entertainment worker.
3. The
officer acquires information that suggests to the officer the possibility that
the talent agency may have contravened this Act or the regulations.
Attendees
(2) Any
of the following persons may be required to attend the meeting:
1. The
entertainment worker.
2. The
talent agency.
Notice
(3) The
notice referred to in subsection (1) shall specify the time and place at which
the person is to attend and shall be served on the person in accordance with
section 58.
Documents
(4) The
compliance officer may require the person to bring to the meeting or make
available for the meeting any records or other documents specified in the
notice.
Same
(5) The
compliance officer may give directions on how to make records or other
documents available for the meeting.
Compliance
(6) A
person who is served with a notice under this
section shall comply with it.
Use
of technology
(7) The
compliance officer may direct that a meeting under this
section be held using
technology, including but not limited to teleconference and videoconference
technology, that allows the persons participating in the meeting to participate
concurrently.
Same
(8) If
a compliance officer gives directions under subsection (7) respecting a
meeting, the notice referred to in subsection (1) shall include such
information additional to that required by subsection (3) as the officer
considers appropriate.
Same
(9) Participation
in a meeting by means described in subsection (7) is attendance at the meeting
for the purposes of this section.
Determination
if person fails to attend, etc.
(10) If
a person served with a notice under this
section fails to attend the meeting or
fails to bring or make available any records or other documents as required by
the notice, the officer may determine whether a talent agency has contravened
or is contravening this Act on the basis of the following factors:
1. If
the talent agency failed to comply with the notice,
i. any
evidence or submissions provided by or on behalf of the talent agency before
the meeting, and
ii. any
evidence or submissions provided by or on behalf of the entertainment worker
before or during the meeting.
2. If
the entertainment worker failed to comply with the notice,
i. any
evidence or submissions provided by or on behalf of the entertainment worker
before the meeting, and
ii. any
evidence or submissions provided by or on behalf of the talent agency before or
during the meeting.
3. Any
other factors that the officer considers relevant.
Talent
agency includes representative
(11) For
the purposes of subsection (10), if the talent agency is a corporation, a
reference to a talent agency includes a director, employee or agent of the
corporation who was served with a notice requiring them to attend the meeting
or to bring or make available any records or other documents.
Requirement
to provide evidence, etc.
(1) A
compliance officer may, in any of the following circumstances and after giving
notice, require an entertainment worker or a talent agency to provide evidence
or submissions to the officer within the time that the officer specifies in the
notice:
1. The
officer is investigating a complaint against a talent agency.
2. The
officer, while inspecting a place under
section 13 or 14, comes to have
reasonable grounds to believe that a talent agency has contravened this Act or
the regulations.
3. The
officer acquires information that suggests to the officer the possibility that
a talent agency may have contravened this Act or the regulations.
Service
of notice
(2) The
notice shall be served in accordance with
section 58.
Determination
if person fails to respond
(3) If
a person served with a notice under this
section fails to provide evidence or
submissions as required by the notice, the officer may determine whether the
talent agency has contravened or is contravening this Act or the regulations on
the basis of the following factors:
1. Any
evidence or submissions provided by or on behalf of the talent agency or the
entertainment worker before the notice was served.
2. Any
evidence or submissions provided by or on behalf of the talent agency or the
entertainment worker in response to and within the time specified in the
notice.
3. Any
other factors that the officer considers relevant.
Compliance
with investigations and inspections
(1) No
person shall hinder, obstruct or interfere with or attempt to hinder, obstruct
or interfere with a compliance officer conducting an investigation or
inspection.
Same
(2) No
person shall,
(
a) refuse
to answer questions on matters that a compliance officer thinks may be relevant
to an investigation or inspection; or
(
b) provide
a compliance officer with information that the person knows to be false or
misleading on matters the officer thinks may be relevant to an investigation or
inspection.
Separate
inquiries allowed to be made
(3) No
person shall prevent or attempt to prevent a compliance officer from making
inquiries of any person separate and apart from another person under clause 13
(6) (e).
Orders re Fees and Payments
Order
to repay fees
(1) If a
compliance officer finds that a talent agency charged a fee to an entertainment
worker in contravention of
section 6, the officer may,
(
a) arrange
with the agency that it repay the amount of the fee directly to the
entertainment worker;
(
b) order
the talent agency to repay the amount of the fee to the entertainment worker;
(
c) order
the talent agency to pay the amount of the fee to the Director in trust.
Contents
of order
(2) A
single order may be issued for more than one entertainment worker, and the
order must include information describing the nature of the amount owing to
each worker or be accompanied by that information.
Administrative
costs
(3) An
order issued under clause (1) (
c) shall also require the talent agency to pay
to the Director an amount for administrative costs equal to the greater of $100
and 10 per cent of the amount owing.
Order
to pay
(1) If a
compliance officer finds that a talent agency has not paid an entertainment
worker in contravention of
section 8, the officer may,
(
a) arrange
with the agency that it pay the amount directly to the entertainment worker;
(
b) order
the talent agency to pay the amount to the entertainment worker; or
(
c) order
the talent agency to pay the amount to the Director in trust.
Contents
of order
(2) A
single order may be issued for more than one entertainment worker, and the
order must include information describing the nature of the amount owing to
each worker or be accompanied by that information.
Administrative
costs
(3) An
order issued under clause (1) (
c) shall also require the talent agency to pay
to the Director in trust an amount for administrative costs equal to the
greater of $100 and 10 per cent of the amount owing.
Time
limit on recovery, worker’s complaint
(1) If an
entertainment worker files a complaint alleging a contravention of this Act or
the regulations, the compliance officer investigating the complaint shall not
issue an order under
section 22 or 23 for any amount that became due to the
worker more than two years before the day on which the complaint was filed.
Same,
another worker’s complaint
(2) If,
in the course of investigating a complaint, a compliance officer finds that a
talent agency has contravened this Act or the regulations with respect to an
entertainment worker who did not file a complaint, the officer shall not issue
an order under
section 22 or 23 for any amount that became due to the worker
more than two years before the day on which the complaint was filed.
Same,
inspection
(3) If,
in the course of an inspection, a compliance officer finds that a talent agency
has contravened this Act or the regulations with respect to an entertainment
worker, the officer shall not issue an order under
section 22 or 23 for any
amount that became due to the worker more than two years before the day on
which the inspection commenced.
Worker
cannot be found
(1) If a
compliance officer has arranged with a talent agency or ordered a talent agency
to pay an amount to an entertainment worker under clause 22 (1) (
a) or (
b) or
23 (1) (
a) or (
b) and the talent agency is unable to locate the entertainment
worker despite having made reasonable efforts to do so, the talent agency shall
pay the amount to the Director in trust.
When
money vests in Crown
(2) Money
paid to or held by the Director in trust under this
section vests in the Crown
but may, without interest, be paid out to the entertainment worker, the
entertainment worker’s estate or such other person as the Director considers is
entitled to it.
Compliance Orders
Compliance
order
(1) If a
compliance officer finds that a person has contravened a provision of this Act
or the regulations, the officer may,
(
a) order
that the person cease contravening the provision;
(
b) order
what action the person shall take or refrain from taking in order to comply
with the provision; and
(
c) specify
a date by which the person must do so.
Payment
may not be required
(2) No
order under this
section shall require the payment of fees or other monetary
amounts.
Injunction
proceedings
(1) At the
instance of the Director, the contravention of an order made under
section 26
may be restrained upon an application, made without notice, to a judge of the
Superior Court of Justice.
Same
(2) Subsection
(1) applies with respect to a contravention of an order in addition to any
other remedy or penalty for its contravention.
Liability of Directors of Talent
Agencies
Order
against directors
(1) If a
compliance officer issues an order under this Act against a talent agency for
an amount owing to an entertainment worker, the officer may issue an order for
which directors of the talent agency are liable under
section 30 against some
or all of the directors.
Orders,
insolvent talent agency
(2) A
compliance officer may issue an order for which directors of a talent agency
are liable under
section 30 against some or all of the directors if,
(
a) the
talent agency is insolvent;
(
b) an
entertainment worker has caused a claim for an amount owing to be filed with
the receiver appointed by a court with respect to the talent agency or with the
talent agency’s trustee in bankruptcy; and
(
c) the
claim has not been paid.
Effect
of order
(3) If
a director does not comply with an order issued under this
section or does not
apply to have it reviewed, the order becomes final and binding against the
director even if a review hearing is held to determine another person’s
liability under this Act.
Maximum
liability
(4) Nothing
in this
section shall be construed to increase the maximum liability of a
director beyond the amount, if any, prescribed for the purposes of subsection
30 (6).
Payment
to Director
(5) At
the discretion of the Director, a director who is subject to an order under
this
section may be ordered to pay the amount owing in trust to the Director.
Further
order
(1) A
compliance officer may issue an order for which directors of a talent agency
are liable under
section 30 against some or all of the directors who were not
the subject of an order under
section 28 if,
(
a) an
amount required to be paid under an order issued under
section 22 or 23 against
the talent agency has not been paid and the talent agency has not applied to
have the order reviewed;
(
b) an
amount required to be paid under an order issued under subsection 28 (1) or
(2) has not been paid and neither the talent agency nor a director has applied to
have the order reviewed;
(
c) the
Board has issued, amended or affirmed an order under
section 40 that, as
issued, amended or affirmed, requires the talent agency or the directors to pay
an amount and the amount set out in the order has not been paid.
Payment
to Director
(2) At
the discretion of the Director, a director who is subject to an order under
this
section may be ordered to pay the amount in trust to the Director.
Director
liability
Application
(1) This
section applies with respect to shareholders described in the definition of
“director” in
section 15 only to the extent that the directors are relieved,
under subsection 108 (5) of the Business Corporations Act
or subsection 146 (5) of the
Canada Business Corporations
Act , of their liability to pay wages to the employees of the
corporation.
Non-application
(2) This
section does not apply with respect to directors of corporations to which the Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, 2010 or the Co-operative Corporations Act applies.
Same
(3) This
section does not apply with respect to directors of corporations,
(
a) that
have been incorporated in another jurisdiction;
(
b) that
have objects that are similar to the objects of corporations to which the Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, 2010 applies or to which
the Co-operative Corporations Act applies; and
(
c) that
are carried on without the purpose of gain.
Directors’
liability for amounts owing
(4) The
directors of a talent agency are jointly and severally liable for amounts owing
to an entertainment worker as provided in this
section if,
(
a) the
talent agency is insolvent, the entertainment worker has caused a claim for an
amount owing to the entertainment worker to be filed with the receiver
appointed by a court with respect to the talent agency or with the talent
agency’s trustee in bankruptcy and the claim has not been paid;
(
b) an
amount required to be paid to the entertainment worker under an order issued
under
section 22 or 23 against the talent agency has not been paid and the
talent agency has not applied to have the order reviewed;
(
c) an
amount required to be paid to the entertainment worker under an order issued
under subsection 28 (1) or (2) has not been paid and neither the talent agency
nor a director has applied to have the order reviewed;
(
d) the
Board has issued, amended or affirmed an order under
section 40 that, as
issued, amended or affirmed, requires the talent agency or the directors to pay
an amount to the entertainment worker and the amount set out in the order has
not been paid.
Talent
agency primarily responsible
(5) Despite
subsection (4), the talent agency is primarily responsible for an amount owing
to an entertainment worker but proceedings against the talent agency under this
Act do not have to be exhausted before proceedings may be commenced to collect
amounts owing from directors under this section.
Directors’
maximum liability
(6) The
directors of a talent agency are jointly and severally liable to an
entertainment worker for debts owing under this Act that became payable while
they were directors, not exceeding the prescribed amount, if any.
Contribution
from other directors
(7) A
director who has satisfied a claim for an amount owing to an entertainment
worker is entitled to a contribution in relation to the amount owing from other
directors who are liable for the claim.
Limitation
period
(8) A
limitation period set out in
section 32 prevails over a limitation period in
any other Act, unless the other Act states that it is to prevail over this Act.
relief by contract, etc.
(9) No
provision in a contract, in the articles of incorporation or the by-laws of a
corporation or in a resolution of a corporation relieves a director from the
duty to act according to this Act or relieves the director from liability for
breach of it.
Indemnification
of directors
(10) A
talent agency may indemnify a director, a former director and the heirs or
legal representatives of a director or former director against all costs,
charges and expenses, including an amount paid to satisfy an order under this
Act reasonably incurred by the director with respect to any civil or
administrative action or proceeding to which the director is a party by reason
of being or having been a director of the talent agency if,
(
a) the
director has acted honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests
of the talent agency; and
(
b) in
the case of a proceeding or action that is enforced by a monetary penalty, the
director had reasonable grounds for believing that the director’s conduct was
lawful.
Civil
remedies protected
(11) No
civil remedy that a person may have against a director or that a director may
have against a person is suspended or affected by this section.
Notices of Contravention
Notice
of contravention
(1) If a
compliance officer believes that a person has contravened a provision of this
Act, the officer may issue a notice to the person setting out the officer’s
belief and specifying the amount of the penalty for the contravention.
Amount
of penalty
(2) The
amount of the penalty shall be determined in accordance with the regulations.
Penalty
within range
(3) If
a range has been prescribed as the penalty for a contravention, the compliance
officer shall determine the amount of the penalty in accordance with the
prescribed criteria, if any.
Information
(4) The
notice shall contain or be accompanied by information setting out the nature of
the contravention.
Deemed
contravention
(5) The
person is deemed to have contravened the provision set out in the notice if,
(
a) the
person fails to apply to the Board for a review of the notice within the period
set out in subsection 41 (1); or
(
b) the
person applies to the Board for a review of the notice and the Board finds that
the person contravened the provision set out in the notice.
Penalty
(6) A
person who is deemed to have contravened this Act shall pay to the Minister of
Finance the penalty for the deemed contravention and the amount of any
collector’s fees and disbursements added to the amount under subsection 46
(10).
Same
(7) The
payment under subsection (6) shall be made within 30 days after the day the
notice of contravention was served or, in the case described in clause (5) (b),
within 30 days after the Board finds that there was a contravention.
Publication
re notice of contraventions
(8) If
a person, including an individual, is deemed under subsection (5) to have
contravened this Act after being issued a notice of contravention, the Director
may publish or otherwise make available to the general public the name of the
person, a description of the deemed contravention, the date of the deemed
contravention and the penalty for the deemed contravention.
Internet
publication
(9) Authority
to publish under subsection (8) includes authority to publish on the Internet.
Disclosure
(10) Any
disclosure made under subsection (8) is deemed to be in compliance with clause
42 (1) (
e) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of
Privacy Act .
Other
means not a bar
(11) A
compliance officer may issue a notice to a person under this
section even
though an order has been or may be issued against the person under
section 22,
23 or 26 or the person has been or may be prosecuted for or convicted of an
offence with respect to the same contravention.
Director
(12) This
section does not apply with respect to a contravention of this Act by a
director or officer of a talent agency.
Enforcement – General Matters
Limitation
period
(1) A
compliance officer shall not issue an order under
section 22, 23, 28 or 29, or
a notice of contravention under
section 31, with respect to a contravention of
this Act relating to an entertainment worker in any of the following
circumstances:
1. The
entertainment worker filed a complaint in respect of the contravention and more
than two years have elapsed since the day on which the complaint was filed.
2. Another
entertainment worker represented by the same talent agency filed a complaint,
the compliance officer discovered the contravention relating to the
entertainment worker while investigating that complaint and more than two years
have elapsed since the day on which the other entertainment worker filed the
complaint.
3. Paragraphs
1 and 2 do not apply and more than two years have elapsed since the day on
which a compliance officer commenced an inspection of the talent agency for the
purpose of determining whether a contravention occurred.
Restriction
on rescission or amendment
(2) A
compliance officer shall not amend or rescind an order issued under
section 22,
23, 28 or 29 or a notice of contravention issued under
section 31 after the
last day on which the officer could have issued that order or notice under
subsection (1) unless the talent agency against whom the order was issued and
the entertainment worker with respect to whom it was issued consent to the
rescission or amendment.
Refusal
to issue order
(1) If,
after a person files a complaint alleging a contravention of this Act in
respect of which an order could be issued under this Part, a compliance officer
assigned to investigate the complaint refuses to issue such an order, the
officer shall, in accordance with
section 58, serve a letter on the person
advising the person of the refusal.
Deemed
refusal
(2) If
no order is issued with respect to a complaint described in subsection
(1) within two years after it was filed, a compliance officer is deemed to have
refused to issue an order and to have served a letter on the person advising
the person of the refusal on the last day of the second year.
Service
of orders and notices of contravention
(1) An order
or notice of contravention issued under this Part shall be served in accordance
with
section 58.
Same
(2) An
order served under subsection 28 (1) shall be accompanied by a copy of the
order against the talent agency.
Notice
to entertainment worker
(3) A
compliance officer who issues an order with respect to an entertainment worker
under this Part shall advise the entertainment worker of its issuance by
serving a letter, in accordance with
section 58, on the entertainment worker.
Compliance
with orders
(1) A person
who is served with an order under this Part shall comply with it according to
its terms.
Effect
of order
(2) If
a person fails to apply under
section 39 for a review of an order issued under
this Part within the time allowed for applying for that review, the order
becomes final and binding against the person.
Money
paid when no review
(1) Money
paid to the Director in accordance with an order issued under
section 22, 23,
28 or 29 shall be paid to each entertainment worker with respect to whom the
order was issued unless an application for review is made under
section 39
within the period required under that section.
Money
distributed rateably
(2) If
the money referred to in subsection (1) is insufficient to pay each
entertainment worker the full amount owing under the order, the Director shall
distribute the money, including any amount received for administrative costs
under subsection 22 (3) or 23 (3), among them in proportion to their
entitlement.
proceeding against Director
(3) No
proceeding shall be instituted against the Director for acting in compliance
with this section.
Settlement
Settlement
(1) Subject
to subsection (8), if an entertainment worker and a talent agency who have
agreed to a settlement respecting a contravention or alleged contravention of
this Act inform a compliance officer in writing of the terms of the settlement
and do what they agreed to do under it,
(
a) the
settlement is binding on the parties;
(
b) any
complaint filed by the entertainment worker respecting the contravention or
alleged contravention is deemed to have been withdrawn;
(
c) any
order made in respect of the contravention or alleged contravention is void;
and
(
d) any
proceeding, other than a prosecution, respecting the contravention or alleged
contravention is terminated.
Compliance
orders
(2) Clause
(1) (
c) does not apply with respect to an order issued under
section 26.
Notices
of contravention
(3) This
section does not apply with respect to a notice of contravention.
Payment
by officer
(4) If
a compliance officer receives money for an entertainment worker under this
section, the officer may pay it directly to the entertainment worker or to the
Director in trust.
Same
(5) If
money is paid in trust to the Director under subsection (4), the Director shall
pay it to the entertainment worker.
Administrative
costs and collector fees
(6) If
the settlement relates to an order issued under clause 22 (1) (
c) or 23 (1) (
c) that included administrative costs or collector’s fees and disbursements, the
Director is, despite clause (1) (c), entitled to the be paid,
(
a) an
amount that is the same proportion of the administrative costs ordered to be
paid as the proportion of the fees or payments that the entertainment worker is
entitled to receive under the settlement; and
(
b) an
amount that is the same proportion of the collector’s fees and disbursements
that were added to the order under subsection 46 (10) as the proportion of the
fees or payments that the entertainment worker is entitled to receive under the
settlement.
Restrictions
on settlements
(7) No
person shall enter into a settlement which would permit or require that person
or any other person to engage in future contraventions of this Act.
Application
to void settlement
(8) If,
upon application to the Board, the entertainment worker demonstrates that they
entered into the settlement as a result of fraud or coercion,
(
a) the
settlement is void;
(
b) the
complaint is deemed never to have been withdrawn;
(
c) any
order made in respect of the contravention or alleged contravention is
reinstated;
(
d) any
proceedings respecting the contravention or alleged contravention that were
terminated shall be resumed.
Worker
cannot be found
(1) If a
compliance officer has received money for an entertainment worker under a
settlement but the entertainment worker cannot be located, the money shall be
paid to the Director in trust.
When
money vests in Crown
(2) Money
paid to or held by the Director in trust under this
section vests in the Crown
but may, without interest, be paid out to the entertainment worker, the
entertainment worker’s estate or such other person as the Director considers is
entitled to it.
PART V
REVIEWS OF ORDERS AND NOTICES
Review
of orders
(1) A person
against whom an order has been issued under
Part IV is entitled to a review of
the order by the Board if, within 30 days after the day on which the order is
served, the person,
(
a) applies
to the Board in writing for a review; and
(
b) in
the case of an order under clause 22 (1) (
c) or 23 (1) (c), pays the amount
owing under the order to the Director in trust or provides the Director with an
irrevocable letter of credit acceptable to the Director in that amount.
Entertainment
worker seeks review of order
(2) If
an order has been issued under
section 22 or 23 with respect to an
entertainment worker, the entertainment worker is entitled to a review of the
order by the Board if, within 30 days after the day on which the letter
advising of the order is served, the entertainment worker applies to the Board
in writing for a review.
Entertainment
worker seeks review of refusal
(3) If
an entertainment worker has filed a complaint alleging a contravention of this
Act or the regulations and an order could be issued under
Part IV with respect
to such a contravention, the entertainment worker is entitled to a review of a
compliance officer’s refusal to issue such an order if, within 30 days after
the day on which the letter advising of the refusal is served, the
entertainment worker applies to the Board in writing for such a review.
Extension
of time
(4) The
Board may extend the time for applying for a review under this
section if it
considers it appropriate in the circumstances to do so and, in the case of an
application under subsection (1),
(
a) the
Board has enquired of the Director whether collector’s fees or disbursements
have been added to the amount of the order under subsection 46 (10) and, if so,
the Board is satisfied that the fees and disbursements have been paid to the
Director; and
(
b) the
Board has enquired of the Director whether the Director has paid to the
entertainment worker the fees or payment that were the subject of the order and
is satisfied that the Director has not done so.
Hearing
(5) Subject
to subsection 43 (2), the Board shall hold a hearing for the purposes of the
review.
Parties
(6) The
following are parties to the review:
1. The
applicant for the review of an order.
2. If
the person against whom an order was issued applies for the review, the
entertainment worker with respect to whom the order was issued.
3. If
the entertainment worker applies for the review of an order, the person against
whom the order was issued.
4. If
the entertainment worker applies for a review of a refusal to issue an order
under
Part IV, the person against whom such an order could be issued.
5. If
a director of a corporation applies for the review, the applicant and each
director, other than the applicant, on whom the order was served.
6. The
Director.
7. Any
other persons specified by the Board.
Parties
given full opportunity
(7) The
Board shall give the parties full opportunity to present their evidence and
make their submissions.
Practice
and procedure for review
(8) The
Board shall determine its own practice and procedure with respect to a review
under this section.
Same,
powers of Board
(1) This
section sets out the Board’s powers in a review under
section 39.
Persons
to represent groups
(2) If
a group of parties has the same interest or substantially the same interest,
the Board may designate one or more of the parties in the group to represent
the group.
Quorum
(3) The
chair or a vice-chair of the Board constitutes a quorum for the purposes of
this
section and is sufficient for the exercise of the jurisdiction and powers
of the Board under it.
Powers
of Board
(4) The
Board may, with necessary modifications, exercise the powers conferred on a
compliance officer under this Act and may substitute its findings for those of
the officer who issued the order or refused to issue the order.
Dealing
with order
(5) Without
restricting the generality of subsection (4),
(
a) on
a review of an order, the Board may amend, rescind or affirm the order or issue
a new order; and
(
b) on
a review of a refusal to issue an order, the Board may issue an order or affirm
the refusal.
Labour
relations officers
(6) Any
time after an application for review is made, the Board may direct a labour
relations officer to examine any records or other documents and make any
inquiries it considers appropriate, but it shall not direct a compliance
officer to do so.
Powers
of labour relations officers
(7) Sections
13 and 14 apply with necessary modifications with respect to a labour relations
officer acting under subsection (6).
Decision
final
(8) A
decision of the Board is final and binding upon the parties to the review and
any other parties as the Board may specify.
Judicial
review
(9) Nothing
in subsection (8) prevents a court from reviewing a decision of the Board under
this section, but a decision of the Board concerning the
interpretation of this
Act shall not be overturned unless the decision is unreasonable.
Review
of notice of contravention
(1) A person
against whom a notice of contravention has been issued under
section 31 may
dispute the notice if the person makes a written application to the Board for a
review,
(
a) within
30 days after the date of service of the notice; or
(
b) if
the Board considers it appropriate in the circumstances to extend the time for
applying, within the period specified by the Board.
Hearing
(2) The
Board shall hold a hearing for the purposes of the review.
Parties
(3) The
parties to the review are the person against whom the notice was issued and the
Director.
Onus
(4) On
a review under this section, the onus is on the Director to establish, on a
balance of probabilities, that the person against whom the notice of
contravention was issued contravened the provision of this Act indicated in the
notice.
Decision
(5) The
Board may,
(
a) find
that the person did not contravene the provision and rescind the notice;
(
b) find
that the person did contravene the provision and affirm the notice; or
(
c) find
that the person did contravene the provision but amend the notice by reducing
the penalty.
Collector’s
fees and disbursements
(6) If
the Board finds that the person contravened the provision and if it extended
the time for applying for a review under clause (1) (b),
(
a) before
issuing its decision, it shall inquire of the Director whether a collector’s
fees and disbursements have been added to the amount set out in the notice
under subsection 46 (10); and
(
b) if
they have been added to that amount, the Board shall advise the person of that
fact and of the total amount, including the collector’s fees and disbursements,
when it issues its decision.
Parties
given full opportunity
(7) The
Board shall give the parties full opportunity to present their evidence and
make their submissions.
Practice
and procedure for review
(8) The
Board shall determine its own practice and procedure with respect to a review
under this section.
Same,
powers of Board
(1) This
section sets out the Board’s powers in a review under
section 41.
Quorum
(2) The
chair or a vice-chair of the Board constitutes a quorum for the purposes of
this
section and is sufficient for the exercise of the jurisdiction and powers
of the Board under it.
Decision
final
(3) A
decision of the Board is final and binding upon the parties to the review and
any other parties as the Board may specify.
Judicial
review
(4) Nothing
in subsection (3) prevents a court from reviewing a decision of the Board under
this section, but a decision of the Board concerning the
interpretation of this
Act shall not be overturned unless the decision is unreasonable.
Rules
of practice
(1) The
chair of the Board may make rules,
(
a) governing
the Board’s practice and procedure and the exercise of its powers; and
(
b) providing
for forms and their use.
Expedited
decisions
(2) The
chair of the Board may make rules to expedite decisions about the Board’s
jurisdiction, and those rules,
(
a) may
provide that the Board is not required to hold a hearing; and
(
b) despite
subsection 39 (7), may limit the extent to which the Board is required to give
full opportunity to the parties to present their evidence and to make their
submissions.
Conflict
with Statutory Powers Procedure Act
(3) If
there is a conflict between the rules made under this
section and the Statutory Powers Procedure Act , the rules under this
section prevail.
Rules
not regulations
(4) Rules
made under this
section are not regulations within the meaning of
Part III
(Regulations) of the Legislation Act, 2006 .
Settlement
through labour relations officer
(1) The
Board may authorize a labour relations officer to attempt to effect a
settlement of the matters raised in an application for review under
section 39.
Certain
matters not bar to settlement
(2) A
settlement may be effected under this
section even if,
(
a) the
compliance officer who issued the order or refused to issue the order does not
participate in the settlement discussions or is not advised of the discussions
or settlement; or
(
b) the
review under
section 39 has started.
Compliance
orders
(3) A
settlement respecting a compliance order shall not be made if the Director has
not approved the terms of the settlement.
Effect
of settlement
(4) If
the parties to a settlement under this
section do what they agreed to do under
the settlement,
(
a) the
settlement is binding on the parties;
(
b) if
the review concerns an order, the order is void; and
(
c) the
review is terminated.
Application
to void settlement
(5) If,
upon application to the Board, the entertainment worker demonstrates that they
entered into the settlement as a result of fraud or coercion,
(
a) the
settlement is void;
(
b) if
the review concerned an order, the order is reinstated; and
(
c) the
review shall be resumed.
Distribution
(6) If
the order that was the subject of the application required the payment of money
to the Director in trust, the Director shall distribute the amount held in
trust with respect to fees or payments in accordance with the settlement.
Administrative
costs and collector fees
(7) If
the settlement relates to an order including administrative costs or
collector’s fees and disbursements, the Director is, despite clause (4) (b),
entitled to the be paid,
(
a) an
amount that is the same proportion of the administrative costs ordered to be
paid as the proportion of the fees or payments that the entertainment worker is
entitled to receive under the settlement; and
(
b) an
amount that is the same proportion of the collector’s fees and disbursements
that were added to the order under subsection 46 (10) as the proportion of the
fees or payments that the entertainment worker is entitled to receive under the
settlement.
Money
held in trust pending review
(1) This
section applies if money with respect to an order to repay fees or make a
payment is paid to the Director in trust and the person against whom the order
was issued applies to the Board for a review of the order.
settlement
(2) If
the matter is settled under
section 37 or 44, the amount paid into trust shall,
subject to subsection 37 (6) or 44 (7), be paid out in accordance with the
settlement.
no settlement
(3) If
the matter is not settled under
section 37 or 44, the amount paid into trust
shall be paid out in accordance with the Board’s decision.
PART VI
COLLECTIONS
Collections
(1) If a
talent agency is liable to repay fees or make a payment under this Act, the
Director may collect or arrange for the collection of the amount owing in
accordance with the regulations and may exercise such collection powers as are
prescribed.
Director
may authorize collector
(2) The
Director may authorize a collector to exercise those powers that the Director
specifies in the authorization to collect amounts owing under this Act.
Same
(3) The
Director may specify the Director’s prescribed collection powers and the
Board’s powers under
section 19 of the Statutory Powers
Procedure Act in an authorization under subsection (2).
Costs
of collection
(4) Despite
clause 22 (
a) of the Collection and Debt Settlement
Services Act , the Director may also authorize the collector to collect a
reasonable fee or reasonable disbursements or both from each person from whom
the collector seeks to collect amounts owing under this Act.
Same
(5) The
Director may impose conditions on an authorization under subsection (4) and may
determine what constitutes a reasonable fee or reasonable disbursements for the
purposes of that subsection.
Exception
re disbursements
(6) The
Director shall not authorize a collector who is required to be registered under
the Collection and Debt Settlement Services Act to
collect disbursements.
Disclosure
(7) The
Director may disclose, or allow to be disclosed, information collected under
the authority of this Act or the regulations to a collector for the purpose of
collecting an amount owing under this Act.
Same
(8) Any
disclosure of personal information made under subsection (7) is deemed to be in
compliance with clause 42 (1) (
d) of the Freedom of
Information and Protection of Privacy Act .
Collector’s
powers
(9) A
collector may exercise any of the powers specified in an authorization of the
Director under subsection (2).
Fees
and disbursements part of order or notice of contravention
(10) If
a collector is seeking to collect an amount owing under an order or a notice of
contravention, any fees and disbursements authorized under subsection (4) are
deemed to be added to the amount of the order or notice of contravention and
deemed to be owing to the collector.
PART VII
OFFENCES AND PROSECUTIONS
General
offence
47 A person who
contravenes this Act or the regulations or fails to comply with an order,
direction or other requirement under this Act or the regulations is guilty of
an offence and on conviction is liable,
(
a) if
the person is an individual, to a fine of not more than $100,000 or to
imprisonment for a term of not more than 12 months or to both;
(
b) subject
to clause (c), if the person is a corporation, to a fine of not more than
$100,000; and
(
c) if
the person is a corporation that has previously been convicted of an offence
under this Act or a predecessor to it,
(
i) if
the person has one previous conviction, to a fine of not more than $250,000,
and
(ii) if
the person has more than one previous conviction, to a fine of not more than
$500,000.
Additional
orders
(1) If a
talent agency is convicted under
section 47 of contravening a provision of this
Act or the regulations, the court shall, in addition to any fine or term of
imprisonment that is imposed, assess any amount owing to an entertainment
worker affected by the contravention and order the talent agency to pay the
amount assessed to the Director.
Collection
by Director
(2) The
Director shall attempt to collect the amount ordered to be paid under
subsection (1) and, if the Director is successful, shall distribute it to the
entertainment worker.
Enforcement
of order
(3) An
order under subsection (1) may be filed by the Director in a court of competent
jurisdiction and upon filing is deemed to be an order of that court for the
purposes of enforcement.
Offence
re directors’ liability
(1) A
director of a talent agency is guilty of an offence if the director,
(
a) fails
to comply with an order of a compliance officer under
section 28 or 29 and has
not applied for a review of that order; or
(
b) fails
to comply with an order issued under
section 28 or 29 that has been amended or
affirmed by the Board on a review of the order under
section 39 or with a new
order issued by the Board on such a review.
Penalty
(2) A
director convicted of an offence under subsection (1) is liable to a fine of
not more than $50,000.
Offence
re permitting offence by corporation
(1) If a
corporation contravenes this Act or the regulations, an officer, director or
agent of the corporation or a person acting or claiming to act in that capacity
who authorizes or permits the contravention or acquiesces in it is a party to
and guilty of the offence and is liable on conviction to the fine or
imprisonment provided for the offence.
Same
(2) Subsection
(1) applies whether or not the corporation has been prosecuted or convicted of
the offence.
prosecution without consent
(3) No
prosecution shall be commenced under this
section without the consent of the
Director.
Proof
of consent
(4) The
production of a document that appears to show that the Director has consented
to a prosecution under this
section is admissible as evidence of the Director’s
consent.
Prosecution
of compliance officer
(1) No
prosecution of a compliance officer shall be commenced with respect to an
alleged contravention of subsection 12 (2) without the consent of the Deputy
Attorney Gen