Bill 14 2003

An Act to amend the
Remembrance Day
Observance Act, 1997

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

1. Section 4 of the Remembrance Day Observance Act, 1997 is repealed and the following substituted:

Leave from work

4. (1) On each Remembrance Day, an employee may take a leave of absence from work without pay for not more than three hours between the hours of10 a.m. and 1 p.m. for the purpose of participating in observances for those who died serving their country in wars and in peacekeeping efforts.

No penalty

(2) No employer shall impose on or exact from an employee any penalty by reason of the employee's taking a leave of absence described in subsection (1).

Salary or wages

(3) Nothing in this section prohibits an employer from paying an employee who takes a leave of absence from work in accordance with subsection (1) salary or wages for the time period of the leave of absence.

Exception, essential services

(4) Subsection (1) does not apply to employees who are necessary to ensure that the provision of essential services is not disrupted during the hours mentioned in that subsection.

Definition

(5) In this section,

"essential services" means services that are necessary to prevent,

(a) danger to life, health or safety,

(b) destruction or serious deterioration of machinery, equipment or premises, or

(c) serious environmental damage.

Commencement

2. This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

3. The short title of this Act is the Remembrance Day Observance Amendment Act, 2003.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill grants employees the right to take a leave of absence from work without pay of up to three hours between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on each Remembrance Day so that they may participate in observances for those who died serving their country in wars and in peacekeeping efforts.