On Monday, July 12, 2010, Bill C-9, the Jobs And Economic Growth Act, received Royal Assent. As previously reported, Bill C-9 was introduced on March 29, 2010 and is omnibus legislation that amends various Acts to implement certain key measures outlined in the federal government’s 2010 Budget. Amendments to the Pension Benefits Standards Act (“PBSA”)…
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Final Pension Regulations Released for Private Pension Plan Members
On June 25, 2010, the federal government released final regulations amending the Pension Benefits Standards Regulations, 1985. The regulations follow the publication of previously reported draft regulations on May 8, 2010, and are intended to enhance protections for private pension plan members by reducing funding volatility and modernizing the rules for investments by pension funds….
House of Commons Adjourns Until September 20, 2010
On Thursday, June 17, 2010, the federal House of Commons adjourned until 11:00 a.m. (EDT) on Monday, September 20, 2010.
Federal Amendments to PIPEDA Introduced
On May 25, 2010, the federal government introduced two Bills that, if passed, would significantly amend PIPEDA: Bill C-29, the Safeguarding Canadians’ Personal Information Act and Bill C-28, the Fighting Internet and Wireless Spam Act. Bill C-29 would: specify the elements of valid consent for the collection, use or disclosure of personal information; permit the…
Department of Finance Proposes Changes to HST Calculation Rules Affecting Investment Funds
On May 19, 2010, the Department of Finance released proposed changes to the Harmonized Sales Tax (“HST”) rules covering the supply of financial services relating to the calculation of the provincial component of the HST under the Excise Tax Act. As outlined in the government Backgrounder, the proposed changes would affect, among others, mutual funds,…
New Federal Pension Regulation Amendments Proposed
On May, 8, 2010, the Federal government published proposed amendments to the Pension Benefits Standards Regulations, 1985. The proposed amendments would: amend the funding rules to adopt a new standard for establishing minimum funding requirements on a solvency basis using average (rather than current) solvency ratios to determine minimum funding requirements; introduce a solvency margin…
Mandatory Reporting of Internet Child Pornography by “Persons” Providing an Internet Service
On May 6, 2010, the Federal government introduced Bill C-22, the Protecting Children From Online Sexual Exploitation Act, legislation that would impose mandatory duty on “persons” (defined to include individuals, corporations, partnerships, unincorporated associations or organizations) providing an “internet service” (internet access, e-mail or internet content hosting) to report child pornography in specific cases. This…
Federal Budget Bill Carries at Second Reading, Sent to Committee
On April 19, 2010, Bill C-9, the Jobs And Economic Growth Act, carried at Second Reading and was referred to the Finance Committee. Introduced on March 29, 2010, Bill C-9 is omnibus legislation designed to amend various Acts and implement certain key measures outlined in the federal government’s 2010 Budget. In part, the Bill outlines…
Ontario and BC Privacy Commissioners Release Guidance on Violence Prevention at Universities and Colleges
The Ontario and BC Privacy Commissioners have released a Practice Tool for Exercising Discretion in the context of violence prevention at universities, colleges and other educational institutions. A copy of the Practice Tool can be found here. The Practice Tool is an important part of the Commissioners’ attempts to educate institutions about their abilities to…
The Supreme Court Weighs in on the Obligations of Departing Employees
The Supreme Court of Canada has confirmed that there is an implied obligation of good faith owed by employees to their employers. In a decision released yesterday, RBC Dominion Securities Inc. v. Merrill Lynch Canada Inc., the Court found that a manager of investment advisors breached his duty of good faith when he orchestrated a…