On September 11, 2014, the federal government announced the introduction of the Small Business Job Credit (“Credit”), which is intended to provide tax relief for small employers. The Credit effectively lowers the Employment Insurance (“EI”) premium rate for eligible businesses from the current, legislated rate of $1.88, to $1.60 per $100 of insurable earnings in…
Industry: Education
Arbitrator Rules that Collective Agreements Include Memoranda of Understanding
Arbitrator George Surdykowski has rendered a significant award in which he concludes that the Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) between the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (“OECTA”) and the Ontario Government formed part of a school board’s 2012-14 collective agreements with OECTA. This award addresses an outstanding issue about the status of the collective agreements imposed…
Another Reminder to Employers: Draft Termination Notice Provisions with Care
The Ontario Superior Court has reaffirmed that if a termination provision in an employment contract does not strictly comply with the requirements of the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (“ESA”), it will be considered null and void. In Miller v. A.B.M. Canada Inc., the plaintiff, Mr. Miller, was a management accountant. He was hired into the position…
New Alberta Employment Pension Plans Act Regulation
On July 22, 2014 the Alberta government enacted a supporting regulation to that province’s Employment Pension Plans Act (the “Act”), legislation enacted in December 2012 following recommendations from the Joint Expert Panel on Pension Standards. The Act and the new Employment Pension Plans Regulation will come into force on September 1, 2014. A government summary…
Ontario Passes Budget Bill, Adjourns
On July 24, 2014, the Ontario government passed Bill 14, Building Opportunity and Securing Our Future Act (Budget Measures), 2014, and the House adjourned for the summer break. It will resume sitting in October. More information on Bill 14 and its impact on your organization is available in our FTR Now of July 17, 2014, “Ontario…
Ontario Reintroduces Legislation Amending Workplace Laws (Formerly Bill 146)
On July 16, 2014, the Ontario government introduced Bill 18, the Stronger Workplaces for a Stronger Economy Act, 2014 (“Bill 18”), proposed legislation that would, if passed, make significant changes to a number of employment-related statutes, including the Employment Standards Act, 2000, the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act,…
Ontario Budget 2014
On Monday, July 14, 2014, the newly elected Liberal government introduced the 2014 Ontario Budget. As was pledged by Premier Wynne during the election campaign, the new Budget is virtually identical to the version that was first tabled on Thursday, May 1, 2014 (and which triggered the recent election). The newly tabled Budget is still…
Ontario Government Re-Introduces Budget 2014, New Budget Bill
On July 14, 2014, the Ontario government re-introduced its 2014 Budget, entitled Building Opportunity, Securing Our Future (the “Budget”). On the same day, it tabled Bill 14, Building Opportunity and Securing Our Future Act (Budget Measures), 2014. The amendments outlined in Bill 14 are similar, but not identical, to measures proposed in the May 2014 Budget Bill…
Ontario Re-Introduces BPS Accountability, Transparency Legislation (Formerly Bill 179)
On July 8, 2014, the Ontario government re-introduced broader public sector (“BPS”) accountability and transparency legislation. If passed, proposed measures in Bill 8, the Public Sector and MPP Accountability and Transparency Act, 2014, would give the government the authority to create comprehensive compensation frameworks for certain employers in the BPS, and would implement a number…
Common Law Notice – Can Employers Deduct STD and LTD Payments?
As demonstrated by the Ontario Superior Court’s recent decision in Diamantopoulos v. KPMG LLP (“KPMG“), the answer to this question is still “it depends.” In determining the issue, courts will look at a number of contextual factors to determine “the intention of the parties” when they entered the employment agreement. In KPMG, the plaintiff commenced a…