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Brendan J. Weiler

Employment Services Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Associate

Talia K. Bregman

Management-side Employment Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Partner

On October 28, 2024, Ontario's Working for Workers Five Act, 2024 (Bill 190) received Royal Assent. As Ontario’s fifth and most recent legislative initiative introduced under the “Working for Workers” headline, Bill 190 makes further changes to Ontario’s Employment Standards Act, 2000, and the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

More Legislative Changes for Ontario Employers

More Legislative Changes for Ontario Employers as Ontario's Working for Workers Five Act, 2024 Receives Royal Assent

Carl Cunningham

As you may have heard or read in our earlier blog, <a rel="noopener noreferrer" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.bennettjones.com/Blogs-Section/More-Changes-to-Ontarios-Employment-Related-Legislation-Are-on-the-Horizon" target="_blank">More Changes to Ontario's Employment-Related Legislation Are on the Horizon</a>, the Ontario government introduced <a rel="noopener noreferrer" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-43/session-1/bill-79" target="_blank">Bill 79, Working for Workers Act, 2023</a> in late March 2023. On October 26, 2023, Bill 79 received Royal Assent, introducing changes to Ontario's Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) and other employment-related legislation in Ontario. Below is an overview of certain of the more material changes that came into force under Bill 79 on October 26, 2023 and which provincially-regulated employers in Ontario will need to be mindful of moving forward.

Changes to Ontarios Employment Related Legislation Have Arrived

Changes to Ontario's Employment-Related Legislation Have Arrived

On October 1, 2023, the general minimum wage rate that applies to most provincially-regulated employees in Ontario will increase from $15.50 to $16.55 per hour.
The minimum wage rates for students, liquor servers, hunting and fishing guides, wilderness guides and homeworkers in Ontario will also increase on October 1, 2023. The Ontario Ministry of Labour has posted a list of these increased rates on its <a rel="noopener noreferrer" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ontario.ca/document/your-guide-employment-standards-act-0/minimum-wage" target="_blank">website</a>.

General Minimum Wage in Ontario will rise to 16 55 per Hour on October 1 2023

General Minimum Wage in Ontario will Rise to $16.55 per Hour on October 1, 2023

On March 20, 2023, the Ontario government introduced <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-43/session-1/bill-79" target="_blank">Bill 79, Working for Workers Act, 2023</a>, which, if passed, will introduce changes to Ontario's Employment Standards Act, 2000 and other employment-related legislation in Ontario.

More Changes to Ontarios Employment Related Legislation Are on the Horizon

More Changes to Ontario's Employment-Related Legislation Are on the Horizon

Andrew Bozzato

Corporate, M&A, Securities Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Simon Grant

Banking & Finance Lawyer, Fintech Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Partner 

Matthew Flynn

Technology Transaction Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Canada's federal budget was released on November 4, 2025 and included some much-anticipated news for fintech. In this latest edition of our Fintech in Canada quarterly update, we look at the key announcements in Budget 2025 for the sector, including the unleashing of stablecoins, fintech-focused changes to financial legislation and momentum for open banking and how fintechs can navigate the evolving landscape.&nbsp;

Fintech in Canada Q3 2025

Martin Ignasiak KC

Regulatory Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Ashley M. White

Corporate, Commercial Transactions, Power & Energy Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Jessica Kennedy

Budget 2025 sets out Canada&rsquo;s Climate Competitiveness Strategy, reaffirming goals to attract clean investment, strengthen carbon pricing systems and position the country as an emerging energy superpower. The Strategy details updates to emissions regulations, clean technology tax credits, critical mineral programs and major project approvals, offering new signals for investors and industry.

Canadas Budget 2025 Canadas Climate Competitiveness Strategy

Canada's Budget 2025: Canada's Climate Competitiveness Strategy

J. Sébastien A. Gittens

Intellectual Property and Technology Commercialization Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Partner, Trademark Agent

Stephen D. Burns

Technology Lawyer, Intellectual Property Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

AI is rapidly integrating into enterprise workflows, yet vendor agreements often lag behind in safeguarding organizational risk. This article highlights the hidden hazards in standard AI terms and conditions, including data usage, IP ownership, liability limits and regulatory compliance gaps and outlines strategies to strengthen contractual oversight.

The Hidden Hazards of Vendor AI Terms and Conditions

"We signed what?!": The Hidden Hazards of Vendor AI Terms and Conditions

Luke Morrison

Energy Project Development, M&A, and Commercial Transaction Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Pamela Clark

Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary 

Associate 

The federal government has released a second wave of major projects recommended for expedited review by the Major Projects Office, with a focused shift toward critical minerals and energy development. The list includes strategic clean power, LNG, nickel, graphite, tungsten, and hydro initiatives across multiple provinces and territories. While the anticipated Alberta&ndash;BC pipeline was not included, the selected projects underscore Canada&rsquo;s intent to strengthen energy security, support Indigenous-led development, and accelerate investment in key resource sectors.

Second Wave of Fast Tracked Projects Unveiled including Critical Minerals and Energy Projects

Second Wave of Fast-Tracked Projects Unveiled including Critical Minerals and Energy Projects

Oliver Loxley

Corporate Lawyer at Bennett Jones Vancouver

Dom Sorbara

Banking & Financial Services Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

In the context of corporate debt, 'liability management' refers to a company taking steps to manage its existing debt obligations. This often involves a combination of one or more open market repurchases, redemptions/repayments, consent solicitations, tender offers or exchange offers and may involve other transactions. A repurchase of debt from a holder is one of the most straight-forward examples of liability management.

Independent Diagnostic Clinics Association

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