Fines in Ontario have been increased for corporations convicted under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
After receiving Royal Assent last week, the province now has the ability to charge companies up to $2 million if they are convicted under the legislation. This gives Ontario the title of having the highest maximum fines allowed for workplace health and safety legislation across the country.
Previously, the highest amount allowed to be charged was $1.5 million.
In 2022, the province levied $8,625,000 in fines, encompassing 147 convictions, on companies that have been prosecuted under the OHSA. So far this year, there have been over $5.5 million in fines handed out across Ontario covering 84 convictions.
Currently, there are no prosecutions under the act in Thunder Bay for 2023, but there were $190,000 in fines regarding four convictions in 2022.
