In December 2021, the Ontario government passed Bill 27 – Working for Workers Act, 2021 requiring employers with 25 or more employees to create a “Disconnecting from Work Policy” by June 2, 2022. The Ontario government is following the lead of France, Spain and Portugal — all of which have adopted similar legislation in recent

William Watson
Ontario to Move to Next Phase of Reopening on February 17, 2022
On February 14, 2022, the Ontario government announced that the province will be moving to the next phase of reopening earlier than anticipated, with further restrictions being eased on February 17, 2022 at 12:01 a.m.
The new measures include:
- Increasing social gathering limits to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors.
- Increasing organized public event
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Ontario Moves to a Modified Step 3 of the Roadmap to Reopen
On January 20, 2022 the Ontario government announced that the province will move to a modified Step 3 of the Roadmap to Reopen, pursuant to Ontario Regulation 25/22 Rules for Areas at Step 3 (the “Step 3 Regulation“).
The changes include:
- Increasing social gathering limits to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors.
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Canadian Employer Update 2022 Recap (Webinar & Takeaways Checklist)
Our two-part webinar series was designed to bring Canadian in-house counsel and human resources leaders up to speed on the top labour, employment and human rights law developments of 2021 and to prepare them for what’s on the horizon in 2022.
Using our “quick hits” format, we provided two content-rich presentations complete with practical takeaways…
Ontario Government Returns to Modified Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen
On January 3rd, 2022, the Ontario government announced that, in response to the dangers of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, the province is temporarily moving back into a modified Step Two of its Roadmap to Reopen. This is effective Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at 12:01 a.m., and will last for at least 21 days, subject…
Annual Canadian Employer Update: Reflecting on 2021 and Strategizing for 2022 (Webinar)
And we thought 2020 was a doozy! In terms of continuing challenges, unprecedented questions and shifting legal landscapes, 2021 delivered.
Between maintaining business continuity and keeping your workforce safe, we know there’s been little time to track the rapidly changing labour, employment, and human rights law landscape in Canada.
This two-part webinar series is designed…
Ontario Government Announces Plan to Reopen Ontario
On October 22nd, 2021, the Ontario government announced its plan to gradually lift all public health and workplace safety measures by March, 2022. The plan will be guided by public health indicators, including those tracking new COVID-19 variants, increases in hospitalizations, ICU occupancy and rapid increases in transmission.
Provisional Timeline for Removing COVID-19 Restrictions:
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- October
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Ontario Moves to Step Three of the Roadmap to Reopen Five Days Early
On July 9, 2021, the Ontario government announced that the province will enter Step Three of the Roadmap to Reopen on Friday, July 16, 2021, five days earlier than expected. Under Step Three, the following is permitted to operate:
- indoor dining with no limits on the number of patrons per table with physical distancing and
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Ontario Moves to Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen Two Days Early
On June 24, 2021, the Ontario government announced that the province will enter Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen two days earlier than expected, at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, June 30, 2021. Under Step Two, the following is permitted to operate:
- essential and other select retail at 50% capacity;
- non-essential retail at 25% capacity;
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Ontario Announces Stay-at-Home Order Expires, Moves to Step One of the Roadmap to Reopen on June 11th
The provincial stay-at-home order expired on June 2, 2021. However, as of June 7, 2021, all measures which were in place under the province-wide emergency break continue to remain in effect, including restrictions on gatherings, businesses, services and activities. You can find a list of the current restrictions under the emergency break here.
On…