Bill 20 2003

An Act to amend the
Occupational Health and Safety Act
to increase the penalties for
contraventions of the Act
and regulations

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

1.  (1)  Subsection 66 (1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act is amended by striking out the portion after clause (c) and substituting the following:

is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine of not more than $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than two years, or to both.

(2)  Subsection 66 (2) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

Same

(2)  If a corporation is convicted of an offence under subsection (1), the maximum fine that may be imposed upon the corporation is $1,000,000 and not as provided therein.

(3)  Section 66 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsection:

Liability of directors and officers

(5)  If a corporation is guilty of an offence under subsection (1), every director or officer of the corporation who authorized, permitted or acquiesced in that offence is also guilty of an offence and, on conviction, is liable to a fine of not more than $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than two years, or to both.

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 Occupational Health and Safety Amendment Act, 2003.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill amends section 66 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act to increase the penalties for individuals and corporations for contraventions of the Act and regulations and to make directors and officers of corporations liable for contraventions of the Act and regulations by those corporations.