Does the employer have to provide a former employee with a copy of their personnel file (in Ontario, Canada)?

Question

If a former employee wants a copy of their H/R file, do we have to provide it? It would be a provincially legislated company in Ontario subject to the Employment Standards Act.

Answer 1

It is the property of the employer, and remains such unless subpeonaed by the courts for release.  More easily, you might be compelled to allow them to view a copy of the file, but not to allow them to take or copy it.