MINISTRY OF LABOUR, TRAINING AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT Ministry Employee Relations Committee (MERC) Meeting

November 20, 2019, 400 University Avenue, 7th Floor, Lanark Room, Toronto and by teleconference

In Attendance

For the Union For the Employer Guests Regrets

Neil Martin , Co-chair Leann Alderson, Co-chair* Jennifer Barton Leslie Aiston Ken Fox Melissa Faber Richard Hutchinson Sandra Lawson Dorothy Holster Glenna Caldwell Bill Roy Jeff Mcinnis

Minerva Papasin Bonnie Sweet *Chair

Date Tabled Business Arising Referred to Action

May 31, 2017 2017-010 Employer Employer to follow-up Field Training and respond .

Employer provided the Industrial training calendar that is underway and noted some of the changes in the curriculum such as more self-directed learning and learning in small groups and less classroom learning.

OPSEU inquired about how the Employer will measure the effectiveness of the new Inspector training and other training and to provide feedback to MERC.

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March 7, 2018 2018-009 Employer Employer to provide Health & Safety Activity Reports updates at the next

meeting. Employer will provide an update on the pilot project in Central East Region. OPSEU shared information on other ministries' activity reporting system.

May 9, 2018 2018-011 Employment Standards Program - Updates

Melissa Faber provided updates on the Employment Standards program including the roll-out of the Performance Measures training , ESQ recruitment and the ES Compliance Continuum.

May 9, 2018 2018-014 To be removed from the Mining Program - Status agenda.

Employer advised that the only change in the Mining Program was the move of the Mining Health and Safety Program to Northern Region .

September 19, 2018 2018-024 Best Practices for Investigating Employee Complaints

Parties will review the documents in light of the changes to the ministry. MERC will develop the communication to staff. Directors will review the materials with managers prior to communication to staff, to be completed by end of 2019.

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The final documents will be shared with other divisions in ML TSO and with inter-ministry Compliance Modernization Committee

December 19, 2018 2018-026 Efficiency Survey Results

Employer advised that the use of electronic approvals in the Corporate Management Services Division is not being pursued and other options to streamline the approvals process will be reviewed.

December 19, 2018 2018-027 Open for Business - Impact to Operations

A meeting on the pilot Health and Safety Compliance Continuum is scheduled next week. Updates will be provided at the next meeting.

Staff are encouraged to provide suggestions on regulatory changes to reduce burden, at William.H.Roy@ontario.ca.

December 19, 2018 2018-031 Multi-year Planning

Employer is currently developing next year's plan. OPS EU had requested for a copy of the multi­year plan and the Employer advised that they are unable to share it at this time.

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June 19, 2019 2019-017 To be removed from the Regulator's Code of Practice Meeting agenda.

Employer advised that field staff in regulatory ministries will be expected to be trained on the Code of Practice. ML TSO is currently participating in the train-the-trainer program.

September 18, 2019 2019-018 MERC and LERC Training

The parties will be looking at a date later in the year for MERC training.

A communication will be sent to LERC co-chairs Employer Employer to send out regarding Level 1 training dates in 2020. the communication to

LERCs.

September 18, 2019 2019-019 To be removed from the Use of Social Media agenda.

Parties agreed to remove this item from the agenda.

September 18, 2019 2019-020 Employer Employer to follow-up After-Hours Underground Economy (UE) and respond. Project and On-call

Jeff Mcinnis provided updates on the Underground Economy initiative and information on the Truck Repair Shop Project that ML TSO is working with MOF, MTO and MECP aimed at achievina burden reduction. OPSEU inquired as

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Date Tabled November 20, 2019

November 20, 2019

to how this project relates to the Apprenticeship Program.

OPSEU raised a concern with sec. 63 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Regulatory Modernization Act with respect to the sharing of information and the limitations posed by the legislations.

Employer will provide updates on the issue of Underground Economy and On-call at the next meeting.

New Business 2019-021 Overtime and Travel Time for New Inspector Training

Employer confirmed that new inspectors' travel to training outside of working hours incur travel time. Employer committed to reiterate this to the new hires.

2019-022 ESQ Lateral Move Date

OPSEU inquired if ESOs who have approved laterals can be moved earlier. Employer will take the issue for review and response.

OPSEU is also requesting that a firmer date for the move be identified for the new hire letters.

Referred to Action To be removed from the agenda.

Employer Employer to follow-up and respond by second week of December.

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Date Tabled New Business Referred to Action November 20, 2019 2019-023

Ministry Name Change and Impact to Members

Employer advised that the administrative activities to implement the announcement regarding the ministry change is underway. Changes in WIN to reflect the new ministry will not take effect until the new fiscal year. There are no changes to staff's day to day duties and responsibilities and reporting relationships.

November 20, 2019 2019-024 MERC Composition

Parties will discuss MERC composition to incorporate the changes to the ministry.

November 20, 2019 2019-025 Fleet Agreement Communications

A new Fleet Agreement was signed on November 8, 2019. A joint communication will be sent to staff shortly.

November 20, 2019 2019-026 Employer Employer to follow-up. OPSEU Attendance at Inspector Training

OP SEU inquired if their attendance at Inspector training has been scheduled. Employer to follow-up and respond.

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Date Tabled New Business Referred to Action November 20, 2019 2019-027

Accreditation and Employer Recognition Program

Bill Roy provided information on the new Accreditation and Employer Recognition Program.

November 20, 2019 2019-028 Auditor's Report

Employer advised that the Report is expected to be released by early December.

November 20, 2019 2019-029 Employer Employer will review and On-Call and Stand-by provide a response.

OPSEU inquired about the requirement for on-call inspectors to respond in less than 2 hours. If that is the expectation/business need, OPSEU stated that on-call Inspectors should be paid stand-by pay.

Employer responded that on-call Inspectors have two hours to respond , as per the SAC protocol.

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Date Tabled Standing Items Referred to Action 2013-002 Committee's Accomplishments

MERC would like to acknowledge Ken Fox's participation and contribution in this committee for the last several years. MERC wishes him well in his retirement.

The new Fleet Agreement was finalized and signed on November 8, 2019.

MERC also acknowledges all the work from the Employer and OPSEU on the ESO lateral transfer.

2013-016 Staff Reports

Employer provided staff reports for review.

July 16, 2014 2014-009 MERC Health and Safety

No updates at this time.

January 21, 2016 2016-003 Joint Disability, Employment Accommodation and Return to Work Program

No updates at this time.

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Date Tabled Standing Items Referred to Action March 23, 2016 2016-011

Transition Exit Initiative (TEI)

No updates at this time.

November 16, 2016 2016-034 New Hire Letters

No updates at this time.

January 24, 2017 2017-003 Digital Government

No updates at this time.

May 31, 2017 2017-009 Employee Engagement

No updates at this time.

Future Meetings:

January 28, 2020 April 28, 2020 June 23, 2020 September 22, 2020 November 24, 2020

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For the Union: For the Employer: ». Leann Alderson Co-chair, Management Date: November 20, 2019

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