Sexual Misconduct Legislation for Ontario Colleges and Universities Carries on Second Reading

Summary

On November 14, 2022, Invoice 26 – Strengthening Write-up-secondary Institutions and Pupils Act, 2022, handed second reading in the Ontario legislature. If passed, Monthly bill 26 will be productive on July 1, 2023, and will rework how write-up-secondary establishments and personal profession schools handle sexual misconduct by school and employees.

Invoice 26’s crucial modifications will be:

• Sexual misconduct will be described as: (a) actual physical sexual relations with a scholar, including touching of sexual mother nature or behaviour or remarks of a sexual character toward a college student, or (b) reprisals or risk of reprisal for rejection of sexual solicitation and advancements. The definition of sexual misconduct also encompasses functions that constitute an offence beneath the Prison Code, functions that infringe the ideal to be absolutely free from a sexual solicitation or progress less than the Human Rights Code, and acts that contravene an institution’s sexual abuse and misconduct guidelines.
• It would allow an establishment to discharge and self-discipline an staff for an act of sexual misconduct. Sexual misconduct will constitute just result in for all disciplinary applications, and the personnel would not be entitled to notice of termination, termination pay back, or any other type of payment or restitution. An adjudicator just cannot substitute the penalty imposed by the establishment.
• It would prevent an institution from rehiring an worker who was discharged or who resigned after they were being uncovered to have dedicated sexual misconduct.
• It would avoid institutions from coming into into agreements, which include collective agreements or settlement agreements, which preclude the establishment from disclosing that an allegation has been manufactured that an personnel of the establishment dedicated an act of sexual misconduct toward a scholar of the institution. The Bill’s newest edition supplies for an exception to this prohibition in circumstances wherever a pupil requests a non-disclosure settlement and: (a) the college student had an opportunity to receive independent lawful assistance, (b) there have been no undue attempts to affect the student with regard to the request, (c) the agreement features an chance for the college student to waive their have confidentiality in the potential and the procedure for undertaking so, and (d) the agreement is of a set and confined duration.
• It would have to have all establishments to have an staff sexual misconduct coverage, irrespective of whether a standalone policy or as component of another coverage. This coverage ought to specify the institution’s guidelines about sexual conduct in between personnel and pupils. It should also contain examples of opportunity disciplinary actions. The policy might specify what form of perform quantities to sexual misconduct.

Important factors

Bill 26 will have critical implications for put up-secondary institutions and private profession schools in Ontario. They will have to review and alter their guidelines to make sure compliance with the new provisions. The Invoice will also have an effect on their technique to employee willpower and discharge for sexual misconduct, and how this sort of scenarios are litigated. Pursuing the proposed adjustments, the only challenge in any ensuing litigation would be irrespective of whether the establishment has established sexual misconduct.

If you have any inquiries, you should get hold of a member of our staff.

Specific thanks to Anton Rizor for his support with this blog.