NEW STATE LAWS AND REGULATIONS PASSED DURING 2024.

In 2024, several new laws were voted into effect, including changes to the Judiciary Act, the Dental Insurance Program, and changes to the Labor Code.

COMMISSION FOR THE REVIEW OF MISCARRIAGE ACT - THE DAVID AND JOYCE MILGAARD ACT

Under the Mistrial Justice Review Commission Act (David and Joyce Milgaard Act), the new commission is tasked with reviewing, investigating and deciding which criminal cases should be returned to the justice system for review due to potential miscarriages of justice.

All Canadian citizens must have confidence that the justice system is there to protect them and can be trusted. Although rare, wrongful convictions sometimes occur and can be discovered long after the criminal court process has ended. In addition, indigenous peoples, black people and members of marginalized communities are over-represented in the criminal justice system and may face greater challenges in managing it.

BILL C-58, AN ACT TO AMEND THE CANADA LABOUR CODE AND THE INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS BOARD REGULATIONS

The Bill would amend various provisions of the Canada Labour Code to strengthen the prohibition on the use of replacement workers during legal strikes and lockouts. Currently, the Canada Labour Code prohibits employers from using replacement workers during a legal strike or lockout for the demonstrated purpose of undermining a union’s representational capacity. The amendments would prohibit employers from using the services of employees, people who perform management functions, or people who are employed in a confidential capacity in matters relating to industrial relations, to perform the duties of the employees on strike or lockout. The prohibition would apply to employees and other persons hired after notice to bargain was given. This prohibition would also apply to contractors and to employees of another employer, irrespective of when they were hired.

The 2024 budget is strengthening Canada's social safety net by improving access to dental care so that every age demographic can have a fair shot at receiving affordable dental care.

The federal government is continuing to roll out the Canadian Dental Care Plan to provide dental coverage for uninsured Canadians with an adjusted family net income of less than $90,000. Since this measure was announced in Budget 2023, historic progress has been made to be able to cover one quarter of Canadian residents who don't have access to oral health coverage. Children under the age of 12 are already receiving dental care with the interim Canada Dental Benefit, which has supported over 450,000 children. To date, over 2 million applications have been approved for eligible seniors, many of whom are now able to visit an oral health provider.

On June 27, the Canadian Dental Care Plan will expand to include children under 18 and persons with a valid disability tax credit certificate. Eligible Canadians will be able to apply online through Service Canada. Coverage start date, details of coverage, and member cards will be sent to successful applicants by Sun Life, the contracted service provider, in a welcome package.

In 2025, online applications will open for uninsured Canadians between the ages of 18 and 64. Once fully implemented, the Canadian Dental Care Plan will cover 9 million Canadians, saving families money, significantly improving health outcomes, and making health care in Canada fairer for every generation.