b'GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS2023 REVIEW OFONTARIOLEGISLATION By Sarah B. HoodCHANGES AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS ARE SHIFTING THE GTAS CONSTRUCTION LANDSCAPEAT THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL, theIn November, Bill 39, the BetterSafety and Insurance Board (WSIB) to most significant recent legislativeMunicipal Governance Act, added thedistribute $1.3 million back to employers change for Toronto builders was the cityscomplementary power to introduce aout of an insurance-fund surplus.decision last July to raise developmentbylaw with only one-third council support charges for residential buildings by if it advances a provincial priority. AnotherBill 88, Working for Workers Act, 2022: 46 per cent and for non-residentialcontroversial move from the provinceAs of last October, employers with buildings by 40 cent. These increaseswas the removal last December of25 or more employees must have a will pay for the increased capital costsenvironmental protection on Greenbeltwritten policy with respect to electronic required because of greater needs forland, which opens up almost 3,000monitoring of employees (Schedule 2) services arising from development. hectares for development around theand must provide naloxone kits and Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA). comply with related requirements if At the provincial level, the wild cardthe employer becomes aware, or ought in the pack is Bill 3, the StrongAlso of interest are the following pieces reasonably to be aware, that there may Mayors, Building Homes Act. As of lastof legislation. be a risk of a worker having an opioid September, it gives the mayors of Torontooverdose at work. (Schedule 4). It and Ottawa (and perhaps others later)Bill 43, Build Ontario Act (Budgetfurther imposes stiff fines for convictions new powers, including the ability to hireMeasures), 2021: Schedule 9 amendedunder the act, with a maximum of and fire senior managers (except certainthe Employment Standards Act to$1.5 million (up from $100,000) for positions such as Clerk, Treasurer andincrease the hourly minimum wage todirectors or officers of corporations and Chief Building Official), to call for policy$15 on January 1, 2022, and $15.50 on$500,000 for other individuals. proposals, to draft and table budgets,October 1, 2022. Now, every October 1 anApart from the steep increase in fines, to reorganize departments and to selectinflationary increase will be applied. the controversial thing about this is committee and board chairs. the idea that an employer ought to have Bill 27, Working for Workers Act, 2021: Inknown, says Ian Cunningham, president The most discussed provision is theirDecember 2021, the Working for Workersof the Council of Ontario Construction new power to veto a bylaw supported byAct amended the Employment StandardsAssociations (COCA). Also, under fewer than two-thirds of councillors if itAct to require employers with moreSchedule 4, the period for the term of hinders a provincial priority. Currently,than 25 employees to have a policy onexecuting a prosecution is extended from these priorities are building 1.5 milliondisconnecting from work that describesone year to two years. Two years is a new residential units by 2031 andwhen workers are not required to respondlong time. Before the evidence is widely construction and maintenance ofto work-related email, texts, phone orknown and corrective actions can be infrastructure to support acceleratedvideo calls. taken, there is a delay.supply and availability of housing including, but not limited to, transit,Schedule 6 amends the Workplace SafetyBill 93, Getting Ontario Connected Act, roads, utilities and servicing. and Insurance Act to allow the Workplace2022: Schedule 2 amends the Ontario 30Quarter 12023 BUILDERSDIGEST'