Employers should be aware that a provision of Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (“CASL”) is coming into force on January 15, 2015 which may have an impact on employers’ bring your own devices (“BYOD”) policies. Section 8 of CASL prohibits a person from installing or “causing to be installed”, in the course of commercial activity, a computer…
Industry: Education
Alberta Extends Important Pension Reform Deadlines
As we previously reported, Alberta’s new Employment Pension Plans Act (the “EPPA”) and the accompanying Employment Pension Plans Regulation (“EPPA Regulations”) came into force on September 1, 2014. The new EPPA and the EPPA Regulations completely overhauled the existing pension legislation in Alberta, requiring significant alterations to pension plan terms and administrative practices of pension…
Alberta Amends Deadlines Relating to EPPA Reforms
On December 18, 2014, the Alberta government implemented a number of amendments to its Employment Pension Plans Regulation (“EPPA Regulations”), which came into force on September 1, 2014. Among other matters, the amendments provide the following: Extended Deadline – File EPPA Plan Amendments by June 30, 2015. Pension plans registered in Alberta and plans registered elsewhere…
Update on Ontario ORPP and PRPP Legislation
On December 8, 2014 the Ontario government introduced Bill 56, the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan Act, 2014 proposed legislation intended to institute the new Ontario Retirement Pension Plan (“ORPP”). That same day, the government also introduced Bill 57, the Pooled Registered Pension Plans Act, 2014, legislation that will, if passed, provide the legal framework for…
Ontario Releases ORPP Consultation Paper
On December 17, 2014, the Ontario government released a consultation paper inviting feedback on key design details and essential components of the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan (“ORPP”), including: defining a “comparable workplace pension plan,” to clarify membership in the ORPP; a minimum earnings threshold below which low-income workers would be exempt from contributions; and retirement…
Maintaining a Workplace Free of Sexual Harassment
Over the past several months, the issue of workplace sexual harassment has been in the spotlight and the subject of considerable discussion. In response to recent media attention, the Ontario Human Rights Commission recently issued a statement reiterating the legal duty of employers to prevent sexual harassment and to respond to any complaints in the…
BPS Compensation and Accountability Legislation Receives Royal Assent
On December 11, 2014, Bill 8, the Public Sector and MPP Accountability and Transparency Act, 2014 (formerly Bill 179), received Royal Assent, as amended by the Standing Committe on General Government. Highlights of the Committee amendments and the impact of the legislation on affected organizations is now available in our FTR Now, “BPS Accountability Legislation Passes…
BPS Accountability Legislation Passes with Significant Amendments
On December 9, 2014, the Ontario government passed Bill 8, the Public Sector and MPP Accountability and Transparency Act, 2014, which gives the government the authority to create comprehensive compensation frameworks for certain employers in the broader public sector (“BPS”), and implements a number of measures to enhance “accountability and transparency” in the government and…
Wage Loss Replacement Plans: Canada Revenue Agency Updates Tax Withholding Requirements
Effective January 1, 2015, the Canada Revenue Agency (“CRA”) is changing the tax withholding requirements for benefits paid under a “wage loss replacement plan” (“WLRP”). The CRA will now require the withholding of income tax from benefit payments under a WLRP, even if the benefits are not subject to Canada Pension Plan (“CPP”) contributions or…
After Keewatin: The Use of Exclusions
Overview In a recent case, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario served clear notice that excluding a student under s. 265(m) of the Education Act, because of behavioural issues arising from the student’s disability, must not offend human rights principles. In R.B. v. Keewatin Patricia District School Board, the Tribunal found that the exclusion of…