*** Sent by Blind Copy CC to all Southern and Northern Alberta Locals ***
** For Wide Distribution **
Happy New Year all,
In the information below – you can be found important information, tools, resources and training opportunities for the new federal violence prevention regulations, which are now in effect. Should you have any questions about the new changes please do not hesitate to contact your local, your component or myself at any of the coordinates below. The prairie region will also be hosting a webinar in the near future where we will outline some of these new provisions.
Stay safe,
Clint Wirth
Regional Representative, Health and Safety- Prairie Region
Public Service Alliance of Canada
460-175 Hargrave St.
Winnipeg, MB
R3C 3R8
phone (204)815-5718
fax (204)943-0652
Proud member of the Canadian Union of Labour Employees
I would like to acknowledge I live and work in Treaty 1 territory and that the land is the traditional territory of the original lands of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene Peoples, and on the homeland of the Métis Nation.
I am dedicated to ensuring that the spirit of Reconciliation and Treaty 1 is honoured and respected. I respect the Treaties that were made on these territories, I acknowledge the harms and mistakes of the past, and I dedicate myself to move forward in partnership with Indigenous communities in a spirit of reconciliation and collaboration.
Good afternoon,
The Work Place Harassment and Violence Prevention Regulations (the Regulations), published in the Canada Gazette, Part II in June 2020, will come into force on January 1, 2021. The Regulations highlight the importance of harassment and violence prevention and make it easier for employers and employees in federally regulated workplaces to identify and understand their rights and duties.
As of January 1, 2021, employers must be ready to receive a notice of occurrence. Concurrently, the Labour Program will be ready to receive a complaint when the process outlined in the Regulations is not followed.
The Labour Program will continue education and awareness activities while employers continue to work to be in compliance:
- Have a workplace harassment and violence prevention policy jointly developed with the policy committee, the workplace committee, or the health and safety representative;
- Assess the risk of workplace harassment and violence;
- Respond within seven days when an incident of harassment or violence is reported;
- Keep records on every incident of harassment and violence in the workplace and report annually to the Labour Program; and
- Implement corrective measures in response to the investigation report of an investigator to prevent future occurrences of harassment and violence.
Employers have the following time periods to train their employees:
- By April 1, 2021, new employees must be trained
- By January 1, 2022, current employees must be trained, and employers have to take training themselves.
Tools and resources
The Government of Canada has developed new tools and resources in collaboration with stakeholders to help workplaces properly implement the Regulations and to raise awareness amongst employees:
- Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention Interpretations, Policy, Guidelines (IPG) to help with interpreting various aspects of the Act and Regulations
- Sample harassment and violence prevention user guide
- Risk assessment tool for guidance on how to identify risk factors, internal and external to the workplace, that contribute to harassment and violence in the workplace
- 4 downloadable and printable posters to raise awareness on harassment and violence at work
- More tools will soon be available on Canada.ca
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) offers courses on harassment and violence prevention, and the Canada School of Public Service provides training for the federal public service.
The Government is also working closely with stakeholders to co-develop a list of qualified and independent investigators as a resource for those workplaces who have not yet developed their own jointly developed list. Once complete, this list will be managed by the CCOHS.
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government recognizes that many employers are experiencing unforeseen disruptions in their workplace. We will continue to support workplaces that need help preparing for the coming into force.
If you have questions or need support preparing for the coming into force, I invite you to:
- read the news release
- contact us by email or call us toll-free at 1-800-641-4049
Please share this message with your members, partners, colleagues, family and friends to help us spread the word.
Yours sincerely,
Minister of Labour, Filomena Tassi