On April 20, the Ontario government introduced Bill 105, Protecting Ontario’s Workers and Economic Resilience Act, 2026 (the POWER Act) for first reading. This legal update summarizes elements of the POWER Act that amend or enact employment and labour legislation.

Bill 105’s proposed amendments would amend (or enact) the following statutes:

• Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA)
• Environmental Assessment Act
• Labour Relations Act, 1995 (LRA)
• Ministry of Health and Long-term Care Act
• Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA)
• Ombudsman Act
• Retirement Homes Act, 2010
• Strengthening Talent Agency Regulation Act, 2026 (STAR Act)
• Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 (WSIA)

This update focuses on the ESA, LRA, OHSA, STAR Act and WSIA. All the in-force timelines set out below assume Bill 105 is passed as currently drafted at first reading.

Employment Standards Act, 2000

The following will come into effect upon the date Bill 105 receives royal assent:

• Complaints and inspections. The Director of Employment Standards will be able to assign (or refuse to assign) an employment standards officer to investigate certain complaints. The complaints subject to potential inspections relate to employer compliance with job posting requirements, issuance of disconnecting from work policies and electronic monitoring policies, compliance with temporary help agency rules, and any other prescribed rules.

The following will come into effect as of January 1, 2027:

• No charging for uniforms. An...

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