The Regulatory Jurisdiction

• Author: Paul Wearing
• Pages: 1-4

• 1

CHAPTER ONE

The Regulatory Jurisdiction

What You Should Know

Employment relationships in companies regulated by the laws of Canada

are governed by federal statutes (laws). In Ontario, companies that don’t

fall into the federal jurisdiction are governed by Ontario workplace legis-

lation and regulations.

A. IS YOUR COMPANY FEDERALLY OR PROVINCIALLY

REGULATED?

The rights and responsibilities of employers and employees are regulated

by federal laws (statutes of Canada) or provincial laws (statutes of Ontario)

depending on the nature of the business. If the business can be said to

be a “federal work or undert aking,” it is within the legislative authority of

the federal Parliament. Some businesses are statutorily def‌ined under the

Canada Labour Code as “federal works or under takings.”1 These busi-

nesses are as follows:

• banks

• marine shipping, ferry, and port serv ices

• air transportation, including airpor ts and airlines

• railway and road transportation that involves crossing provincial or

international borders

• canals, pipelines, tunnels , and bridges that cross provincial borders

• telephone, telegraph, and cable systems