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…
Industry: Non-profit Organizations
Ontario Introduces ORPP and PRPP Legislation
On December 8, 2014, the Ontario government introduced Bill 56, the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan Act, 2014, legislation intended to address the issue of retirement undersavings. As we previously reported, the government initiated a public consultation process regarding Ontario retirement pension plan (“ORPP”) implementation through targeted questions to employees and employers in November, 2014. A…
Amendments Filed to Regulation Made Under Ontario Pension Benefits Act
The Ontario government has filed O. Reg. 235/14, amending Regulation 909 of the Pension Benefits Act (“PBA”) in respect of new rules regarding Statements of Investment Policies and Procedures (“SIP&Ps”), requirements to provide periodic statements to former and retired members and the content of annual member statements. Draft regulations (“Draft Regulations”) were previously released for…
Ontario Files Regulation under PBA Regarding SIPPs and Requirements for Disclosure Statements
On November 27, 2014, the Ontario government filed O. Reg. 235/14, amending Regulation 909 made under the Pension Benefits Act (“PBA”). O. Reg. 235/14 establishes new rules regarding Statements of Investment Policies and Procedures (“SIP&Ps”). It requires that a SIP&P be filed with the Superintendent of Financial Services within 60 days after January 1, 2016…
Arbitrators Address Off-Duty Social Media Comments
Two recent City of Toronto arbitrations have addressed the issue of discipline for off-duty social media comments. On November 12, 2014, Arbitrator Elaine Newman found that the social media comments of an off-duty Toronto firefighter, which disparaged women, the disabled and visible minorities (among others), constituted serious misconduct and damaged the reputation of the Toronto…
Deadline Extended for Alberta Pension Reform Plan Amendments
As discussed in our recent FTR Now, Alberta Introduces Significant Pension Reforms Effective September 1, 2014, the new Employment Pension Plans Act and accompanying Employment Pension Plans Regulation came into force on September 1, 2014. Pension plans registered in Alberta and plans registered elsewhere with members whose pension benefits are subject to Alberta pension legislation…
FSCO Extends Filing Deadline for EPPA-Related Plan Amendments
As we recently reported, on November 19, 2014, the Alberta government announced that plan sponsors or administrators could request and receive an extension of the deadline for filing plan amendments required under Alberta’s new Employment Pension Plans Act (“EPPA”) from December 31, 2014 to March 31, 2015. The Financial Services Commission of Ontario (“FSCO”) has…
Ontario Announces ORPP Consultation Process
On November 18, 2014, the Ontario government published additional information outlining the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan (“ORPP”) framework, and is presently soliciting feedback on the ORPP design and implementation process through a series of targeted questions for employers and employees. Verbal or written feedback may be provided directly to the Associate Minister of Finance. No…
Omnibus Workplace Laws Bill Receives Royal Assent (Bill 18)
On November 20, 2014, Bill 18, the Stronger Workplaces for a Stronger Economy Act, 2014 (“Bill 18”) received Royal Assent, as amended by the Standing Committee on General Government. Among other matters, effective February 20, 2015 (i.e. three months after Royal Assent): the $10,000 cap on orders to pay wages under s. 103(4) of the…
Plans May Request Relief For Alberta EPPA Amendment Filing Deadline
As we recently reported, Alberta’s new Employment Pension Plans Act (“EPPA”) became effective September 1, 2014, and amendments to comply with the new EPPA rules were to be filed with the Alberta pension regulator by December 31, 2014. On November 19, 2014, the Alberta government announced that a plan sponsor (or its legal, actuarial or third…