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OntarioIn Progress44th Parliament, 1st Session

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

Jurisdiction
Ontario Legislature
Legislature / Parliament
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Session
44th Parliament, 1st Session
Bill number
Bill 105
Full title
Protecting Ontario’s Workers and Economic Resilience Act, 2026
Current status
In Progress
Latest event
Ordered for Third Reading
Last updated
May 25, 2026

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.

Chamber
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Current Stage
Ordered for Third Reading
Latest Activity
May 25, 2026
Plain-language explanation
In plain English (our explanation)

Our plain-language take, written for civic education.

Source: By PoliticalData.ca

AI-assisted, reviewed before publishing
Short Version

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.

What It Means

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.

What This Bill Does
  • 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.
Who Is Affected
  • 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
Rights, Duties, Or Obligations
  • 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.
Important Dates
  • 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.
Financial Or Tax Impacts
  • 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.
Enforcement Or Penalties
  • 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.
Uncertainties Or Limits
  • 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.
Laws Or Regulations Affected
Employment Standards Act, 2000
amends

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

Environmental Assessment Act
amends

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

Labour Relations Act, 1995
amends

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

Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Act
amends

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

Occupational Health and Safety Act
amends

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

Ombudsman Act
amends

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

Retirement Homes Act, 2010
amends

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

Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997
amends

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

Drugless Practitioners Act
repeals

Removes a reference to a category of healthcare practitioners under this now-repealed Act.

Source: Schedule 7

Strengthening Talent Agency Regulation Act, 2026
enacts

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 text

Process Snapshot

Step 1
First reading
Apr 20, 2026
Step 2
Second reading
May 25, 2026
Step 3
Committee review
May 25, 2026
Step 4
Third reading
Date not listed
Step 5
Royal assent
Not reached yet

Vote Summary

Yes
90
No
13
Abstain
0
Absent / Other
0
Latest recorded vote
May 4, 2026
103 representative positions are recorded in this official snapshot for this vote.
Sponsor
Andrea Khanjin
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Barrie—Innisfil
Jurisdiction
Ontario Legislature

Representative Voting Breakdown

Vote badges include text labels so the table stays readable for everyone, even without color cues alone.

RepresentativeRoleRidingPartyVoteNotes
MPPParkdale—High ParkNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPWindsor—TecumsehProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPEssexProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPScarborough—AgincourtProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPAlgoma—ManitoulinProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPRenfrew—Nipissing—PembrokeProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPMarkham—UnionvilleProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPCambridgeProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPSimcoe—GreyProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPWaterlooNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPOttawa CentreNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPOttawa West—NepeanNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPSpadina—Fort YorkNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPPeterborough—KawarthaProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPScarborough CentreProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPNewmarket—AuroraProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPMississauga—MaltonProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPOakville North—BurlingtonProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPNickel BeltNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPCarletonProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPMushkegowuk—James BayNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPBarrie—InnisfilProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPYork—SimcoeProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPBrampton CentreProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPNorthumberland—Peterborough SouthProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPBarrie—Springwater—Oro-MedonteProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPOxfordProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPTimminsProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPBrampton NorthProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPParry Sound—MuskokaProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPKenora—Rainy RiverProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPSimcoe NorthProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPThunder Bay—AtikokanProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPHuron—BruceProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPVaughan—WoodbridgeProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPAurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond HillProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPKitchener—ConestogaProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPMississauga—StreetsvilleProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPStormont—Dundas—South GlengarryProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPMarkham—StouffvilleProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPPickering—UxbridgeProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPBrampton SouthProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPScarborough NorthProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPElgin—Middlesex—LondonProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPNiagara WestProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPOakvilleProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPKing—VaughanProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPLeeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau LakesProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPDurhamProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPChatham-Kent—LeamingtonProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPNipissingProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPSudburyNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPNiagara CentreNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPSt. CatharinesNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPOshawaNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPKitchener South—HespelerProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPUniversity—RosedaleNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPLanark—Frontenac—KingstonProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPTimiskaming—CochraneNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPWellington—Halton HillsProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPToronto CentreNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPThornhillProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPWindsor WestNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPThunder Bay—Superior NorthNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPMarkham—ThornhillProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPWhitbyProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPDavenportNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPPerth—WellingtonProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPEglinton—LawrenceProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPYork South—WestonProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPHamilton MountainProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPBurlingtonProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPBruce—Grey—Owen SoundProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPLondon WestNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPToronto—DanforthNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPHastings—Lennox and AddingtonProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPHamilton CentreNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPMississauga—LakeshoreProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPHamilton West—Ancaster—DundasNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPMississauga—Erin MillsProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPMississauga East—CooksvilleProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPKiiwetinoongNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPGlengarry—Prescott—RussellProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPLambton—Kent—MiddlesexProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPLondon North CentreNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPLondon—FanshaweNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPHumber River—Black CreekNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPBay of QuinteProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPNiagara FallsNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPBrantford—BrantProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPDon Valley EastOntario Liberal PartyNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPKitchener CentreGreen Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPScarborough—GuildwoodOntario Liberal PartyNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPHaldimand—NorfolkIndependentNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPDon Valley NorthOntario Liberal PartyNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPKanata—CarletonOntario Liberal PartyNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPEtobicoke—LakeshoreOntario Liberal PartyNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPBeaches—East YorkOntario Liberal PartyNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPGuelphGreen Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPAjaxOntario Liberal PartyNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPToronto—St. Paul'sOntario Liberal PartyNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPKingston and the IslandsOntario Liberal PartyNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPNepeanOntario Liberal PartyNoRecorded 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