ESA 2000, GEA 2001 now in force

Two statutes affecting Ontario employment and labour legislation have received royal assent. The Government Efficiency Act, 2001 (GEA) and the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) came into force on June 29, 2001 and September 4, 2001 respectively.

With the coming into force of the ESA, seven new regulations are also in effect. These regulations deal with benefit plans, building services providers, penalties, exemptions, the minimum wage, posting of information concerning rights and obligations, termination and severance of employment, and terms and conditions of employment in defined industries.

The GEA is an omnibus bill affecting many pieces of legislation, including the ESA, the Hospital Labour Disputes Arbitration Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997.

For more information, see Employment Standards Act Amendments – Bill 147″ on our What’s New page and “Parental leave, overtime rules among major changes in new Employment Standards Act on our Publications page.

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