The Ontario government has introduced the Working for Workers Six Act, 2024, building on the previous acts with measures to protect worker health, bring people into skilled trades, and keep costs down for Ontario workers.

In addition to creating new parental leave, long-term illness leave, expanded cancer coverage for firefighters, and WSIB changes to give more money back, the package supports workplace safety by cracking down on bad actor employers with mandatory minimum fines of $500,000 for corporations convicted of repeated offences within two years under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

The government is also proposing to expand roadside safety laws under the Highway Traffic Act to require motorists to slow down and move over for work-related vehicles such as highway maintenance crews.

If passed, the act would:

  • Require drivers to slow down and move over for work-related vehicles displaying flashing amber lights under the Highway Traffic Act (excluding construction zones with posted speed limits).
  • Create new parental leave for adoption and surrogacy, and a 27-week job-protected long-term illness leave.
  • Require properly fitting PPE for women in all sectors.
  • Improve cancer coverage for firefighters by removing age and service duration limits.
  • Invest up to $1.4 billion through the Skills Development Fund to train over 1 million workers and expand immigration pathways for health care workers.
  • Return over $2.5 billion through WSIB surplus rebates, reduce premium rates, and waive fees for first-time apprenticeship certification exams.
  • Create a new Skilled Trades Week in early November to honour experienced tradespeople.
  • Introduce new standards, fines, and lifetime bans for fraudulent immigration representatives.

Ontario is investing another $32 million in a programme to provide mental health supports to first responders and public safety personnel.

The Mental Health Supports for Public Safety Personnel programme (MHS4PSP) will offer specialised services to police, firefighters, correctional workers, paramedics, and others in Ontario’s public safety system.

This funding is part of $45.2 million announced in the 2022 Budget for early intervention, specialised mental health services, and an online inventory of supports. Employers reported a 140% increase in managing poor mental health year-on-year.

MHS4PSP will also create an Anti-Stigma Strategy to remove barriers to seeking help. Initiatives include a dedicated resource website, leadership support network, training for leaders, and recommended practices. The programme will roll out in phases with a funding application call in early 2025.

Imperial Oil Limited has been convicted under the Environmental Protection Act, fined $900,000 plus a $225,000 victim surcharge for discharging slop oil into the environment.

IOL’s Sarnia refinery uses steam tracer lines under pipeline insulation. A January 2021 tracer leak bored a hole in a slop oil line, spilling ~1,150 litres of waste composed of crude oil, water, and solids.

The spill caused eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, nausea, and strong odours for nearby businesses and Aamjiwnaang First Nation residents, disrupting property use and business operations.

IOL revised its steam leak prioritization to include community impact, classifying the January 2021 leak as highest priority for repairs moving forward.

Incidents of workplace violence and harassment at retail businesses are on the rise. To provide guidance and keep people safe, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services partnered with the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, Retail Council of Canada, and Toronto Police Service to develop a “Retail Safety & Security Guide.”

This toolkit, suitable for businesses of all sizes, helps Ontario retail businesses prevent and reduce crime incidents and keep customers and staff safe.

Based on consultations with retailers, security organizations, and police services, the guide:

  • Outlines methods to prevent and address common and severe retail crimes, including robbery, breaking and entering, fraud, and shoplifting.
  • Reviews techniques to address abusive or suspicious individuals and those experiencing mental health crises.
  • Provides measures to prevent violence between customers and staff.
  • Includes checklists and risk assessment tools for businesses to implement the advice.

To view the full guide, visit retailcouncil.org/retail-safety-and-security-guide-ontario/

SaskPower was sentenced and now faces a historic workplace fine of $840,000, the largest in Saskatchewan’s history.

The penalty follows three safety violations that led to the deaths of two experienced employees, Scott Bill and Cole Crooks, in October 2020 when their bucket tipped over in Weyburn. Family members and IBEW Local 2067 representatives attended the hearing.

The fine surpasses the previous record of $560,000 for a workplace fatality. SaskPower said it is reviewing the court’s decision and reaffirmed its commitment to safety.

At the Alberta Court of Justice, Mercer Peace River Pulp Ltd. was ordered to pay a $1 million fine after pleading guilty under the Fisheries Act.

On 14 April 2021, Mercer Peace River discharged 30,868,000 litres of acutely lethal effluent into the Peace River, violating the Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations and subsection 36(3) of the Fisheries Act.

Effluent from a maintenance shutdown exceeded the spill pond’s capacity, bypassing controls and killing fish. The company has since increased spill pond capacity and upgraded pumping systems.

The fine will go to Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund, and the conviction adds the company to the Environmental Offenders Registry.

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