Federal Budget Bill (C-45) Passes Third Reading

On December 5, 2012, Bill C-45, Jobs and Growth Act, 2012, passed Third Reading in the House of Commons and will proceed to the Senate for debate. As previously reported, Bill C-45 is the federal government’s second omnibus budget bill which, if passed, will give effect to certain initiatives contained in its Budget 2012. For…

Third Window for BPS Solvency Funding Relief Proposed

On December 5, 2012, the Ontario government posted a regulatory proposal regarding amendments to O. Reg. 178/11 (Solvency Funding Relief for Certain Public Sector Pension Plans), made under the Pension Benefits Act. Comments on the proposal are due by January 20, 2013. Under the proposal, the third and final window for solvency funding relief for…

Hicks Morley Congratulates Recipients of the 2012 Premier’s Awards

Hicks Morley was a proud sponsor of the 2012 Premier’s Awards for Outstanding Colleges Graduates and would like to extend a very special congratulations to all the organizations and individuals that won awards this year. The Premier’s Awards recognize the tremendous contribution Ontario’s college graduates make to the success of the province. View a listing…

An Aging Workforce and Hiring Practices

In a time where the workforce is aging, employers must ensure that their recruitment and interview processes involve objective criteria for assessing a job candidate’s qualifications, and do not discriminate against a candidate on the basis of age, either directly or indirectly. The jurisprudence of the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario is clear that age…

Changes Made to the WSIB Appeals Process

On November 29, 2012, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (“WSIB”) issued a Consultation Report entitled “Modernization of the WSIB’s Appeals Program.” The Report is the result of a consultation process commenced in June 2012, when the WSIB released a Consultation Paper containing certain key proposed features to increase efficiencies within the WSIB appeals process…

Non-Construction Employers and the Construction Industry Provisions of the Labour Relations Act

Employers that are bound to a construction collective agreement and that do not operate within the construction industry find themselves, from time to time, involved in some kind of construction activity. It is important that these employers are aware that in certain cases, their construction activities may keep them within the construction industry provisions of…

PEI Introduces Pension Benefits Legislation

On November 21, 2012, the Prince Edward Island government introduced Bill 12, Pension Benefits Act, in the legislature. The government has stated that with the exception of a few minor changes, Bill 12 is the same as Bill 41, pension legislation that was introduced in May 2012 but which did not pass first reading. Prince…

Bill Requiring Disclosure of Information by Labour Organizations Reported Back to House of Commons

On November 27, 2012, Bill C-377, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (requirements for labour organizations), was deemed reported without amendment back to the House of Commons from the Standing Committee on Finance. As previously reported, Bill C-377 is a private member’s bill which, if passed, will amend the Income Tax Act to…

Alberta Pension Reform Bill Passes Third Reading

On November 20, 2012, Bill 10, Employment Pension Plans Act, passed Third Reading in the Alberta Legislature. As previously reported, Bill 10 is an overhaul of the existing pension legislation in Alberta and will repeal and replace the Employment Pension Plans Act. The government of Alberta has issued an update outlining the key differences between…