Bill 105 explained in plain English
Protecting Ontario’s Workers and Economic Resilience Act, 2026
Ontario legislature bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.
At a glance
Official Legislative Assembly of Ontario snapshot for 44th Parliament, 1st Session. Representative vote breakdowns appear when the Assembly publishes an Ayes and Nays page for the bill.
Our plain-language take, written for civic education.
Source: By PoliticalData.ca
Bill 105, the Protecting Ontario’s Workers and Economic Resilience Act, 2026, enacts new regulations for talent agencies and amends several existing Ontario acts concerning employment standards, environmental assessments, labour relations, health workforce admissions, occupational health and safety, the Ombudsman's appointment, retirement homes, and workplace safety insurance.
This bill, the Protecting Ontario’s Workers and Economic Resilience Act, 2026, aims to strengthen worker protections, enhance economic resilience, and streamline government processes. It introduces new regulations for talent agencies, modifies employment standards related to uniforms, updates environmental assessment procedures, adjusts timelines in labour relations for the construction industry, allows for regulations regarding international medical graduates in Ontario, permits the collection of worker exposure data for occupational health and safety, clarifies the appointment process for the Ombudsman, transfers appointment authority for the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority board to the Minister, and amends provisions related to workplace safety and insurance benefits. The bill also enacts the Strengthening Talent Agency Regulation Act, 2026, which prohibits talent agencies from charging fees to entertainment workers except for prescribed commissions, sets limits on these commissions, and establishes rules for handling compensation and record-keeping. Enforcement powers are granted to a Director of Talent Agencies and compliance officers, with processes for complaints, orders, reviews, and penalties.
- Enacts the Strengthening Talent Agency Regulation Act, 2026, which governs talent agencies and their relationship with entertainment workers.
- Prohibits talent agencies from charging fees to entertainment workers, with exceptions for prescribed commissions and other fees.
- Limits the amount of commission talent agencies can charge and requires them to provide written statements to entertainment workers.
- Establishes rules for talent agencies regarding the handling of compensation received on behalf of entertainment workers.
- Grants powers to a Director of Talent Agencies and compliance officers to conduct inspections, investigations, and issue orders.
- Creates procedures for complaints, reviews of orders and notices of contravention, and establishes penalties for contraventions.
- Amends the Employment Standards Act, 2000 to prohibit employers from charging employees for uniforms and their repair or laundering, except in specific circumstances.
- Modifies the Environmental Assessment Act to streamline environmental assessment processes, including changes to project approval requirements and referral processes.
- Amends the Labour Relations Act, 1995 to change timelines for certain certification and termination applications in the construction industry.
- Amends the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Act to allow for regulations governing the admission of international medical graduates to Ontario's residency programs.
- Amends the Occupational Health and Safety Act to allow the Chief Prevention Officer to collect worker exposure data and to permit the Minister to recognize interprovincial standards for health and safety equipment.
- Amends the Ombudsman Act to require the Ombudsman to be proficient in English and French and to be selected by a panel of Assembly members.
- Amends the Retirement Homes Act, 2010 to transfer the authority to appoint directors to the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority board from the Lieutenant Governor in Council to the Minister.
- Amends the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 to allow for the payment of benefits to workers after age 65, increase loss of earnings and survivor benefit rates, and change rules for reviewing loss of earnings payments.
- Makes various consequential and transitional amendments across the affected legislation.
- Entertainment workers
- Talent agencies
- Employers
- Employees
- Proponents of environmental assessment projects
- Trade unions
- Construction industry employers and employees
- Graduates of medical schools outside of Canada seeking residency in Ontario
- Workers' compensation claimants and survivors
- Operators of residential care facilities and group homes
- The Ombudsman
- Directors of the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority
- The Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development
- The Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
- The Minister of Health
- The Minister of Labour
- The Minister of Training
- The Minister of Skills Development
- The Minister of Red Tape Reduction
- The Lieutenant Governor in Council
- Talent agencies are prohibited from charging fees to entertainment workers, except for prescribed commissions.
- Talent agencies must provide written statements and retain records related to commissions.
- Talent agencies must deposit compensation received on behalf of entertainment workers into a dedicated account and remit payments within specified timelines.
- Employers cannot charge employees for uniforms or their repair/laundering, unless specific conditions like loss or damage beyond normal wear and tear are met.
- Workers may be eligible for workplace safety insurance benefits after age 65 or later, based on specific requests and determinations by the Board.
- The Ombudsman must be proficient in English and French and selected through a specific panel process.
- The Minister, not the Lieutenant Governor in Council, will appoint directors to the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority board.
- The Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent, unless otherwise provided.
- Provisions in Schedule 1 of the Employment Standards Act, 2000 concerning uniforms come into force on January 1, 2027.
- Section 3 of Schedule 1 comes into force on a day to be named by order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council.
- Most provisions in Schedule 2 come into force on a day to be named by order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council.
- Provisions in Schedule 3 come into force on a day to be named by order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council.
- Schedule 4 comes into force on the day the Act receives Royal Assent.
- Section 2 of Schedule 5 comes into force on a day to be named by order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council.
- Schedule 6 comes into force on the day the Act receives Royal Assent.
- Schedules 7 and 9 come into force on the day the Act receives Royal Assent.
- Schedule 8 (Strengthening Talent Agency Regulation Act, 2026) comes into force on a day to be named by order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council.
- The bill may result in talent agencies having to repay improperly charged fees to entertainment workers.
- The bill may require employers to bear the cost of uniforms and their maintenance, rather than employees.
- Amendments to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 may affect the calculation and duration of benefits paid to injured workers and survivors.
- The Strengthening Talent Agency Regulation Act, 2026 establishes offences and penalties for contraventions by individuals and corporations, with enhanced penalties for repeat corporate offenders.
- Contraventions of the Employment Standards Act, 2000 regarding improper charges for uniforms are enforceable as wages owing.
- Compliance officers under the Strengthening Talent Agency Regulation Act, 2026 have powers to inspect, investigate, issue orders, and seek injunctions.
- The Act establishes a notice of contravention system with penalties, and provides for reviews of orders and notices before the Ontario Labour Relations Board.
- The exact timing for the commencement of various provisions is dependent on orders from the Lieutenant Governor in Council.
- The scope of 'prescribed' fees, commissions, items, and circumstances under the Strengthening Talent Agency Regulation Act, 2026 will be defined by future regulations.
- The definition of 'entertainment worker' and 'talent agency' may be further clarified by regulations.
- The application of certain provisions may be subject to future regulations or specific conditions outlined in the legislation.
- The precise details of reimbursements for protective headwear under the Occupational Health and Safety Act will be subject to regulations.
Prohibits employers from requiring employees to pay for uniforms or their repair/laundering, except in specified circumstances. Amends rules for apportioning money collected in enforcement matters to prioritize employee payment. Adds provisions for assigning complaints for inspection and refusing certain complaints.
Source: Schedule 1
Re-enacts section 15 to authorize prescribed class environmental assessments. Repeals sections 17.11 to 17.13 related to ministry review and Tribunal referral. Amends sections related to project approval, multiple proponents, and decision-making processes. Removes the requirement for Lieutenant Governor in Council approval for certain Minister decisions.
Source: Schedule 2
Shortens the timelines within which another trade union can apply for certification or for a declaration that a trade union no longer represents employees in the construction industry, from two months to one month.
Source: Schedule 3
Adds authority to make regulations governing the admission of international medical graduates to Ontario residency programs, including prioritizing those with an Ontario connection.
Source: Schedule 4
Changes references from 'occupational diseases' to 'occupational illnesses'. Allows the Chief Prevention Officer to collect personal information for a worker occupational exposure registry. Permits the Minister to recognize interprovincial health and safety standards. Allows for reimbursements to employers for prescribed protective headwear.
Source: Schedule 5
Re-enacts subsection 2 (3) to require the Ombudsman to be proficient in English and French and to be selected by a panel composed of one member from each recognized party, chaired by the Speaker.
Source: Schedule 6
Transfers the authority to appoint directors to the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority board from the Lieutenant Governor in Council to the Minister. Amends reporting requirements for certain incidents.
Source: Schedule 7
Allows workers to request the Board to determine if they will continue working past age 65 or past two years after injury, potentially extending benefit eligibility. Increases loss of earnings and survivor benefit rates from 85% to 90%. Changes rules for reviewing loss of earnings payments and deems residential care facilities and group homes to be subject to the insurance plan.
Source: Schedule 9
Removes a reference to a category of healthcare practitioners under this now-repealed Act.
Source: Schedule 7
Establishes new rules for talent agencies, including prohibitions on charging fees to entertainment workers, limits on commissions, and requirements for handling compensation and record-keeping. It also outlines enforcement powers and procedures.
Source: Schedule 8
Generated using AI from official bill text. Not legal advice. It is written by PoliticalData.ca for civic education, automatically checked and spot-reviewed before publishing.
Official textProcess Snapshot
Vote Summary
Representative Voting Breakdown
Vote badges include text labels so the table stays readable for everyone, even without color cues alone.
| Representative | Role | Riding | Party | Vote | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MPP | Parkdale—High Park | New Democratic Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
MPP | MPP | Windsor—Tecumseh | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
| MPP | Essex | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Scarborough—Agincourt | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Algoma—Manitoulin | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
MPP | MPP | Markham—Unionville | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
| MPP | Cambridge | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Simcoe—Grey | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Waterloo | New Democratic Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Ottawa Centre | New Democratic Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Ottawa West—Nepean | New Democratic Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
MPP | MPP | Spadina—Fort York | New Democratic Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
MPP | MPP | Peterborough—Kawartha | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
MPP | MPP | Scarborough Centre | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
| MPP | Newmarket—Aurora | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
MPP | MPP | Mississauga—Malton | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
| MPP | Oakville North—Burlington | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Nickel Belt | New Democratic Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Carleton | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Mushkegowuk—James Bay | New Democratic Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Barrie—Innisfil | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | York—Simcoe | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Brampton Centre | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Northumberland—Peterborough South | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Oxford | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Timmins | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Brampton North | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Parry Sound—Muskoka | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Kenora—Rainy River | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Simcoe North | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Thunder Bay—Atikokan | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Huron—Bruce | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Vaughan—Woodbridge | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Kitchener—Conestoga | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Mississauga—Streetsville | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Markham—Stouffville | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Pickering—Uxbridge | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Brampton South | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Scarborough North | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Elgin—Middlesex—London | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Niagara West | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Oakville | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | King—Vaughan | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Durham | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Chatham-Kent—Leamington | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Nipissing | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
MPP | MPP | Sudbury | New Democratic Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
MPP | MPP | Niagara Centre | New Democratic Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
| MPP | St. Catharines | New Democratic Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Oshawa | New Democratic Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
MPP | MPP | Kitchener South—Hespeler | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
MPP | MPP | University—Rosedale | New Democratic Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
MPP | MPP | Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
MPP | MPP | Timiskaming—Cochrane | New Democratic Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
| MPP | Wellington—Halton Hills | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Toronto Centre | New Democratic Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
MPP | MPP | Thornhill | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
MPP | MPP | Windsor West | New Democratic Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
| MPP | Thunder Bay—Superior North | New Democratic Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Markham—Thornhill | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
MPP | MPP | Whitby | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
MPP | MPP | Davenport | New Democratic Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
MPP | MPP | Perth—Wellington | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
| MPP | Eglinton—Lawrence | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | York South—Weston | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Hamilton Mountain | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Burlington | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
MPP | MPP | Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
| MPP | London West | New Democratic Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
MPP | MPP | Toronto—Danforth | New Democratic Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
MPP | MPP | Hastings—Lennox and Addington | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
MPP | MPP | Hamilton Centre | New Democratic Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
| MPP | Mississauga—Lakeshore | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
MPP | MPP | Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas | New Democratic Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
| MPP | Mississauga—Erin Mills | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Mississauga East—Cooksville | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
MPP | MPP | Kiiwetinoong | New Democratic Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
| MPP | Glengarry—Prescott—Russell | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Lambton—Kent—Middlesex | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | London North Centre | New Democratic Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | London—Fanshawe | New Democratic Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Humber River—Black Creek | New Democratic Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Bay of Quinte | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
MPP | MPP | Niagara Falls | New Democratic Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
MPP | MPP | Brantford—Brant | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
MPP | MPP | Don Valley East | Ontario Liberal Party | No | Recorded without an additional note. |
| MPP | Kitchener Centre | Green Party of Ontario | No | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Scarborough—Guildwood | Ontario Liberal Party | No | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Haldimand—Norfolk | Independent | No | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Don Valley North | Ontario Liberal Party | No | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Kanata—Carleton | Ontario Liberal Party | No | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Etobicoke—Lakeshore | Ontario Liberal Party | No | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Beaches—East York | Ontario Liberal Party | No | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Guelph | Green Party of Ontario | No | Recorded without an additional note. | |
MPP | MPP | Ajax | Ontario Liberal Party | No | Recorded without an additional note. |
| MPP | Toronto—St. Paul's | Ontario Liberal Party | No | Recorded without an additional note. | |
MPP | MPP | Kingston and the Islands | Ontario Liberal Party | No | Recorded without an additional note. |
MPP | MPP | Nepean | Ontario Liberal Party | No | Recorded without an additional note. |
Official sources
Status, sponsor, votes, and timeline on this page are drawn from these official legislative sources and public records. Each summary above is attributed to its own source.
How this data is sourced