Ontario considers new rule for thousands of workers that would provide them with benefits
Gig workers in Ontario could one day have access to a portable benefits program, giving them continuous health and dental coverage even as they jump from job to job with platform-based employers.
The idea is now being explored by Premier Doug Ford's government after it received a report from The Ontario Workforce Recovery Advisory Committee, which included a number of recommendations on how to improve the working conditions for employees who fall outside of the Ontario Employment Standards Act.
While some of the 21 recommendations -- such as limiting the use of non-compete clauses -- have already made their way into legislation, the committee says the province can take additional steps by creating a new class of employee to cover the estimated 18 per cent of Canadians who work for platform-based services such as Uber.
"Many frustrated app-based workers said they lack basic employment protections and deserve more transparency and accountability from the algorithms that manage their work," the report states.
The committee recommends creating a new "dependent contractor" designation which would give gig workers access to basic employment rights such as minimum wage, benefits and severance, according to a report from an advisory committee on the province's employment standards.
In an interview with CTV News Toronto, Labour Minister Monte McNaughton said the province is actively considering legislating both measures if app-based companies don’t implement similar measures on their own.
FILE - This Wednesday, June 21, 2017, file photo shows the building that houses the headquarters of Uber, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)
“My message to Uber, to Skip The Dishes, to these gig companies, if they're not going to look after their workers, then we'll take action to ensure that those workers are protected,” McNaughton said.
McNaughton said a portable benefits package wouldn’t only benefit gig workers, but would also help restaurant and retail employees and include health, dental and vision coverage that are largely reserved for full-time employees in the province.
“I'm really excited about the portable benefits, recommendation and that’s something we're going to look at over the coming weeks,” McNaughton said.
The minister wouldn’t say whether the province would have to foot the bill for the benefits, or whether employers and employees would be expected to enter into a co-pay arrangement.
While McNaughton admitted “there is no timeline” for when a portable benefits package, or dependent contractor designation could become a reality – he hinted that the government could be willing to table legislation as early as Febuary 2022 when politicians return to Queen’s Park for the first time after the winter break.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Alice Munro, Nobel literature winner revered as short story master, dead at 92
Nobel laureate Alice Munro, the Canadian literary giant who became one of the world's most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history's most honoured short story writers, has died at age 92.
Latest updates on air quality alerts, and when the smoke may reach Ontario and Quebec
Wildfires have led Environment Canada to issue air quality advisories for parts of B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, as forecasters warn the smoke could drift farther east.
Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
Attack on prison van in France kills 2 officers, inmate escapes
Armed assailants killed two French prison officers and seriously wounded three others in an attack on a convoy in Normandy on Tuesday and an inmate escaped, officials said.
Steal a car, lose your driver's licence for 10 years under new Ontario proposal
Repeat car thieves may face lengthy licence bans under proposed changes to Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act.
$1.6B parts plant for Honda electric vehicle batteries coming to Niagara Region
A Japanese company has announced it will build an approximately $1.6-billion plant in Ontario's Niagara Region that will make a key electric vehicle battery component as part of Honda's supply chain in the province.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Manitoba premier to visit areas impacted by wildfire
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew will get a close-up look at the devastation from a large wildfire burning in northern Manitoba Tuesday.
1 killed, 3 injured including toddler, after Hwy. 417 crash in Ottawa
Ontario Provincial Police are responding to a fatal collision involving two vehicles on Highway 417 in Ottawa's west end on Tuesday morning.