Summary

The Ministry’s key activities are: Occupational Health and Safety Enforcement and Prevention, Employment Rights and Responsibilities and Labour Relations. In this context, the Ministry provides advice and information to the government on labour and workplace issues; establishes and implements a provincial occupational health and safety strategy to ensure the alignment of health and safety activities across all system partners; designates, funds and maintains oversight over Health and Safety Associations; establishes standards for training programs, training providers, as well as training and other requirements for certification of joint health and safety committee members; develops policies; sets and enforces standards and legislation; carries out investigations; informs employers and workers about their workplace rights and responsibilities; ensures the provision of assistance in negotiating collective agreements and establishing arbitration boards; assists in building cooperative workplace relationships; and administers, interprets, and applies relevant labour legislation.

Ministry Program Summary

Operating expense

Vote Program Estimates 2016‑17 Estimates 2015‑16 Difference between 2016‑17 and 2015‑16 Actual 2014‑15
1601 Ministry Administration Program $21,013,700 $21,372,300 ($358,600) $20,515,894
1602 Pay Equity Commission Program $3,598,000 $3,669,400 ($71,400) $3,236,433
1603 Labour Relations Program $23,305,200 $23,305,200 - $22,074,103
1604 Occupational Health and Safety Program $221,222,000 $220,582,000 $640,000 $219,139,964
1605 Employment Rights and Responsibilities Program $39,157,900 $40,480,400 ($1,322,500) $38,953,295
  Total operating expense to be voted $308,296,800 $309,409,300 ($1,112,500) $303,919,689
  Statutory appropriations $65,014 $65,014 - $91,271
  Ministry total operating expense $308,361,814 $309,474,314 ($1,112,500) $304,010,960
  Total including consolidation and other adjustments $308,361,814 $309,474,314 ($1,112,500) $304,010,960

Capital expense

Vote Program Estimates 2016‑17 Estimates 2015‑16 Difference between 2016‑17 and 2015‑16 Actual 2014‑15
1601 Ministry Administration Program $651,000 $221,000 $430,000 -
1604 Occupational Health and Safety Program $491,000 $744,300 ($253,300) $490,000
1605 Employment Rights and Responsibilities Program - $66,700 ($66,700) -
  Total capital expense to be voted $1,142,000 $1,032,000 $110,000 $490,000
  Statutory appropriations $2,000 $2,000 - -
  Ministry total capital expense $1,144,000 $1,034,000 $110,000 $490,000

Capital assets

Vote Program Estimates 2016‑17 Estimates 2015‑16 Difference between 2016‑17 and 2015‑16 Actual 2014‑15
1601 Ministry Administration Program $1,000 $1,000 - -
1604 Occupational Health and Safety Program $1,000 $1,000 - -
  Total capital assets to be voted $2,000 $2,000 - -
  Ministry total capital assets $2,000 $2,000 - -
  Ministry total operating and capital including consolidation and other adjustments (not including assets) $309,505,814 $310,508,314 ($1,002,500) $304,500,960

Reconciliation to previously published data

Operating expense 2015‑16 Estimates 2014‑15 Actual
Total operating expense previously published footnote 1 $309,474,314 $287,837,263
Change in accounting    
Change in accounting - $16,173,697
Restated total operating expense $309,474,314 $304,010,960

Ministry Administration Program - vote 1601

This Program coordinates the decision making processes of the Ministry and provides technical and professional services to support the design, implementation and effective delivery of Ministry programs. The Program includes the Minister’s Office, Parliamentary Assistant’s Office and Deputy Minister’s Office.

Vote summary

Operating expense

Item number Item Estimates 2016‑17 Estimates 2015‑16 Difference between 2016‑17 and 2015‑16 Actual 2014‑15
1 Ministry Administration $21,013,700 $21,372,300 ($358,600) $20,515,894
  Total operating expense to be voted $21,013,700 $21,372,300 ($358,600) $20,515,894
S Minister’s salary, the Executive Council Act $47,841 $47,841 - $49,301
S Parliamentary Assistant’s salary, the Executive Council Act $16,173 $16,173 - $17,608
S Bad debt expense, the Financial Administration Act $1,000 $1,000 - $24,362
  Total statutory appropriations $65,014 $65,014 - $91,271
  Total operating expense $21,078,714 $21,437,314 ($358,600) $20,607,165

Capital expense

Item number Item Estimates 2016‑17 Estimates 2015‑16 Difference between 2016‑17 and 2015‑16 Actual 2014‑15
3 Ministry Administration $651,000 $221,000 $430,000 -
  Total capital expense to be voted $651,000 $221,000 $430,000 -
S Amortization, the Financial Administration Act $1,000 $1,000 - -
  Total statutory appropriations $1,000 $1,000 - -
  Total capital expense $652,000 $222,000 $430,000 -

Capital assets

Item number Item Estimates 2016‑17 Estimates 2015‑16 Difference between 2016‑17 and 2015‑16 Actual 2014‑15
2 Ministry Administration $1,000 $1,000 - -
  Total capital assets to be voted $1,000 $1,000 - -
  Total capital assets $1,000 $1,000 - -

Standard account by item and sub-items

Operating expense

Vote-item number Standard account by item and sub-items Amount Amount
1601-1 Ministry Administration    
  Salaries and wages   $8,487,700
  Employee benefits   $1,028,900
  Transportation and communication   $821,400
  Services   $10,357,400
  Supplies and equipment   $318,300
  Total operating expense to be voted   $21,013,700
  Sub-items:    
  Main office    
  Salaries and wages $2,018,100  
  Employee benefits $245,600  
  Transportation and communication $77,500  
  Services $966,100  
  Supplies and equipment $51,400 $3,358,700
  Financial and administrative services    
  Salaries and wages $1,563,400  
  Employee benefits $192,600  
  Transportation and communication $52,900  
  Services $732,600  
  Supplies and equipment $33,300 $2,574,800
  Corporate services    
  Salaries and wages $997,000  
  Employee benefits $120,100  
  Transportation and communication $19,600  
  Services $216,700  
  Supplies and equipment $11,800 $1,365,200
  Strategic human resources    
  Salaries and wages $1,092,600  
  Employee benefits $132,900  
  Transportation and communication $39,400  
  Services $237,300  
  Supplies and equipment $26,800 $1,529,000
  Communications services    
  Salaries and wages $2,754,100  
  Employee benefits $327,900  
  Transportation and communication $124,500  
  Services $281,100  
  Supplies and equipment $25,000 $3,512,600
  Legal services    
  Salaries and wages $62,500  
  Employee benefits $9,800  
  Transportation and communication $507,500  
  Services $7,344,700  
  Supplies and equipment $170,000 $8,094,500
  Audit services    
  Services $252,100 $252,100
  Information systems    
  Services $326,800 $326,800
  Total operating expense to be voted   $21,013,700
  Statutory appropriations    
Statutory Minister’s salary, the Executive Council Act   $47,841
Statutory Parliamentary Assistant’s salary, the Executive Council Act   $16,173
  Statutory appropriations    
  Other transactions    
Statutory Bad debt expense, the Financial Administration Act   $1,000
  Total operating expense for Ministry Administration Program   $21,078,714

Capital expense

Vote-item number Standard account by item and sub-items Amount
1601-3 Ministry Administration  
  Other transactions $651,000
  Total capital expense to be voted $651,000
  Statutory appropriations  
  Other transactions  
Statutory Amortization, the Financial Administration Act $1,000
  Total capital expense for Ministry Administration Program $652,000

Capital assets

Vote-item number Standard account by item and sub-items Amount
1601-2 Ministry Administration  
  Land and marine fleet - asset costs $1,000
  Total capital assets to be voted $1,000
  Total capital assets for Ministry Administration Program $1,000

Pay Equity Commission Program - vote 1602

The mandate of the Pay Equity Office (PEO) is to administer and enforce Ontario’s Pay Equity Act, which is intended to redress systemic gender discrimination in the compensation of work primarily performed by women. To carry out this mandate, the PEO provides education and advice to employers, employees and bargaining agents in the public and private sectors to achieve and maintain pay equity in their workplaces. The PEO also investigates complaints, conducts monitoring programs, attempts to effect settlements of pay equity issues between the parties and issues Orders for compliance where necessary.

The Pay Equity Hearings Tribunal, a quasi-judicial tri-partite administrative tribunal, is responsible for adjudicating disputes arising under the Pay Equity Act.

Vote summary

Operating expense

Item number Item Estimates 2016‑17 Estimates 2015‑16 Difference between 2016‑17 and 2015‑16 Actual 2014‑15
1 Pay Equity Office $3,099,700 $3,171,100 ($71,400) $2,972,494
2 Pay equity hearings tribunal $498,300 $498,300 - $263,939
  Total operating expense to be voted $3,598,000 $3,669,400 ($71,400) $3,236,433
  Total operating expense $3,598,000 $3,669,400 ($71,400) $3,236,433

Standard account by item and sub-items

Operating expense

Vote-item number Standard account by item and sub-items Amount
1602-1 Pay Equity Office  
  Salaries and wages $2,347,100
  Employee benefits $266,100
  Transportation and communication $50,000
  Services $366,500
  Supplies and equipment $20,000
  Transfer payments  
  Gender wage gap transfer payment $50,000
  Total operating expense to be voted $3,099,700
1602-2 Pay equity hearings tribunal  
  Salaries and wages $275,100
  Employee benefits $39,700
  Transportation and communication $15,000
  Services $167,500
  Supplies and equipment $1,000
  Total operating expense to be voted $498,300
  Total operating expense for Pay Equity Commission Program $3,598,000

Labour Relations Program - vote 1603

The role of Labour Relations is to promote a stable labour relations climate and harmonious workplace relationships in the province. This is achieved through collective agreement conciliation and mediation, appointment of arbitrators, modernized collective bargaining information services, relationship building and training.

The Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) is an independent, quasi-judicial tribunal which mediates and adjudicates a variety of employment and labour relations-related matters under various Ontario statutes, including appeals of decisions of employment standards officers and occupational health and safety inspectors.

The Crown Employees Grievance Settlement Board (GSB) is an independent quasi-judicial tribunal that mediates and adjudicates the labour relations disputes of Ontario Crown Employees. The GSB also provides financial and administrative services to the Public Service Grievance Board, an agency of the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services.

Dispute Resolution Services provides neutral, third-party assistance to trade unions and employers through collective agreement conciliation and mediation, appointment of arbitrators, collective bargaining information, relationship building and training.

Vote summary

Operating expense

Item number Item Estimates 2016‑17 Estimates 2015‑16 Difference between 2016‑17 and 2015‑16 Actual 2014‑15
1 Ontario Labour Relations Board $12,775,000 $12,775,000 - $12,168,948
2 Grievance Settlement Board $1,483,600 $1,483,600 - $1,428,326
3 Dispute resolution services $9,046,600 $9,046,600 - $8,476,829
  Total operating expense to be voted $23,305,200 $23,305,200 - $22,074,103
  Total operating expense $23,305,200 $23,305,200 - $22,074,103

Standard account by item and sub-items

Operating expense

Vote-item number Standard account by item and sub-items Amount
1603-1 Ontario labour relations board  
  Salaries and wages $7,897,900
  Employee benefits $962,800
  Transportation and communication $448,900
  Services $3,383,200
  Supplies and equipment $82,200
  Total operating expense to be voted $12,775,000
1603-2 Grievance settlement board  
  Salaries and wages $426,800
  Employee benefits $63,500
  Transportation and communication $176,400
  Services $2,064,800
  Supplies and equipment $23,200
  Subtotal $2,754,700
  Less: recoveries $1,271,100
  Total operating expense to be voted $1,483,600
1603-3 Dispute resolution services  
  Salaries and wages $6,135,200
  Employee benefits $746,200
  Transportation and communication $528,300
  Services $1,563,000
  Supplies and equipment $73,900
  Total operating expense to be voted $9,046,600
  Total operating expense for Labour Relations Program $23,305,200

Occupational Health and Safety Program - vote 1604

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Program’s primary mandate is the setting, communicating and enforcing of the occupational health and safety legislation and regulations, and coordinating Ontario’s workplace injury and illness prevention system to reduce or eliminate workplace injury or illness.

Largely through inspections and investigations of workplaces, the OHS program monitors compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (the Act), and assists workplace parties in securing a healthy and safe working environment. Through the administration and enforcement of the Act and its regulations, it encourages employers and workers to cooperatively identify and control health and safety hazards.

The Prevention Office is responsible for initiatives aimed at preventing occupational injuries, illness and fatalities in Ontario. This includes the development of a province-wide health and safety strategy to align OHS priorities across all system partners, and related implementation activities such as mandatory workplace health and safety training, standards, research and awareness. The Office establishes standards for, and approval of high risk training programs and providers; as well as requirements for certification of joint health and safety committee members. It also oversees prevention research and innovation grants programs which provide funding to recipients who meet specific eligibility criteria. Through transfer payment agreements, the office designates and maintains oversight of Health and Safety Associations, who offer specific training, consulting and clinical services.

The Office of the Worker Adviser (OWA) provides advisory, representation and educational services to non-unionized injured workers and survivors in workplace insurance cases, including representation before the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal. The OWA also provides the same range of services to non-unionized workers in reprisal complaint cases under Section 50 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, including representation at the Ontario Labour Relations Board.

The Office of the Employer Adviser (OEA) provides advisory and educational services to all Ontario employers and representation services primarily to smaller employers, with fewer than 100 employees, with regard to workplace safety insurance matters before the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal. The OEA also provides representation services to employers with fewer than 50 workers at the Ontario Labour Relations Board in reprisal complaint cases under Section 50 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Vote summary

Operating expense

Item number Item Estimates 2016‑17 Estimates 2015‑16 Difference between 2016‑17 and 2015‑16 Actual 2014‑15
1 Occupational health and safety $89,930,900 $89,146,900 $784,000 $87,044,545
2 Workplace safety and insurance advisory program administration $606,300 $606,300 - $605,300
3 Office of the worker adviser $11,401,900 $11,401,900 - $11,652,523
4 Office of the employer adviser $3,825,500 $3,825,500 - $3,705,325
7 Prevention office $115,457,400 $115,601,400 ($144,000) $116,132,271
  Total operating expense to be voted $221,222,000 $220,582,000 $640,000 $219,139,964
  Total operating expense $221,222,000 $220,582,000 $640,000 $219,139,964

Capital expense

Item number Item Estimates 2016‑17 Estimates 2015‑16 Difference between 2016‑17 and 2015‑16 Actual 2014‑15
6 Occupational health and safety $1,000 $254,300 ($253,300) -
8 Prevention office capital $490,000 $490,000 - $490,000
  Total capital expense to be voted $491,000 $744,300 ($253,300) $490,000
S Amortization, the Financial Administration Act $1,000 $1,000 - -
  Total statutory appropriations $1,000 $1,000 - -
  Total capital expense $492,000 $745,300 ($253,300) $490,000

Capital assets

Item number Item Estimates 2016‑17 Estimates 2015‑16 Difference between 2016‑17 and 2015‑16 Actual 2014‑15
5 Occupational health and safety $1,000 $1,000 - -
  Total capital assets to be voted $1,000 $1,000 - -
  Total capital assets $1,000 $1,000 - -

Standard account by item and sub-items

Operating expense

Vote-item number Standard account by item and sub-items Amount Amount
1604-1 Occupational health and safety    
  Salaries and wages   $60,065,500
  Employee benefits   $8,948,500
  Transportation and communication   $4,162,700
  Services   $15,082,600
  Supplies and equipment   $1,380,600
  Transfer payments    
  Grants to radiation safety institute of canada $40,000  
  Grants to promote improved health and safety practices $251,000 $291,000
  Total operating expense to be voted   $89,930,900
1604-2 Workplace safety and insurance advisory program administration    
  Salaries and wages   $506,200
  Employee benefits   $75,900
  Transportation and communication   $8,200
  Services   $5,600
  Supplies and equipment   $10,400
  Total operating expense to be voted   $606,300
1604-3 Office of the worker adviser    
  Salaries and wages   $7,783,100
  Employee benefits   $1,790,100
  Transportation and communication   $300,000
  Services   $1,428,700
  Supplies and equipment   $100,000
  Total operating expense to be voted   $11,401,900
1604-4 Office of the employer adviser    
  Salaries and wages   $2,582,700
  Employee benefits   $594,100
  Transportation and communication   $154,300
  Services   $404,600
  Supplies and equipment   $89,800
  Total operating expense to be voted   $3,825,500
1604-7 Prevention office    
  Salaries and wages   $9,221,100
  Employee benefits   $1,227,900
  Transportation and communication   $317,300
  Services   $4,519,200
  Supplies and equipment   $147,600
  Transfer payments    
  Health and safety associations $90,100,400  
  Prevention research $8,269,900  
  Prevention grants $1,654,000 $100,024,300
  Total operating expense to be voted   $115,457,400
  Total operating expense for occupational health and safety program   $221,222,000

Capital expense

Vote-item number Standard account by item and sub-items Amount
1604-6 Occupational health and safety  
  Other transactions $1,000
  Total capital expense to be voted $1,000
  Statutory appropriations  
  Other transactions  
Statutory Amortization, the Financial Administration Act $1,000
1604-8 Prevention office capital  
  Transfer payments  
  Health and safety associations capital $490,000
  Total capital expense to be voted $490,000
  Total capital expense for Occupational Health and Safety Program $492,000

Capital assets

Vote-item number Standard account by item and sub-items Amount
1604-5 Occupational health and safety  
  Land and marine fleet - asset costs $1,000
  Total capital assets to be voted $1,000
  Total capital assets for Occupational Health and Safety Program $1,000

Employment Rights and Responsibilities Program - vote 1605

The Employment Rights and Responsibilities Program (ERRP) is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Employment Standards Act, 2000 and its regulations, the Employment Protection for Foreign Nationals Act, and the Protecting Child Performers Act.

The ERRP ensures that Ontario workers are protected by minimum standards of employment covering wages and working conditions. It promotes compliance with these standards through inspections, investigations and enforcement initiatives, and encourages self-reliance through education, outreach and partnership efforts.

Vote summary

Operating expense

Item number Item Estimates 2016‑17 Estimates 2015‑16 Difference between 2016‑17 and 2015‑16 Actual 2014‑15
1 Employment Standards $39,157,900 $40,480,400 ($1,322,500) $38,953,295
  Total operating expense to be voted $39,157,900 $40,480,400 ($1,322,500) $38,953,295
  Total operating expense $39,157,900 $40,480,400 ($1,322,500) $38,953,295

Capital expense

Item number Item Estimates 2016‑17 Estimates 2015‑16 Difference between 2016‑17 and 2015‑16 Actual 2014‑15
- Employment standards capital - $66,700 ($66,700) -
  Total capital expense to be voted - $66,700 ($66,700) -
  Total capital expense - $66,700 ($66,700) -

Standard account by item and sub-items

Operating expense

Vote-item number Standard account by item and sub-items Amount
1605-1 Employment standards  
  Salaries and wages $26,708,800
  Employee benefits $3,936,800
  Transportation and communication $1,388,200
  Services $6,789,100
  Supplies and equipment $333,000
  Transfer payments  
  Grants to promote improved employment practices $2,000
  Total operating expense to be voted $39,157,900
  Total operating expense for Employment Rights and Responsibilities Program $39,157,900