Further to its Economic Action Plan 2012, the federal government has announced the creation of a Panel on Labour Market Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities. The Panel has been charged with identifying private sector successes and best practices regarding labour market participation of persons with disabilities. It will also identify barriers and disincentives to employment…
Industry: Social Services
Letters of Credit Regulation Proposed to Implement Pension Reform Measures
On July 30, 2012, the Ontario Ministry of Finance posted details of a proposed, supporting regulation to implement the new framework for letters of credit under the yet to be proclaimed section 55.2 of the Pension Benefits Act (“PBA”). As noted in our “Pension Reform Measures in Ontario Have Arrived” FTR Now of July 27,…
Temporary solvency relief extended for specified Ontario MEPPs
The Ontario government filed regulatory amendments extending temporary solvency relief another five years for specified Ontario multi-employer pension plans (“SOMEPPs”). O. Reg. 203/12 amends sections 6.01(2), 6.0.3(2) and 6.04(1)(b) of General Regulation 909 to extend the solvency funding relief to valuations dated on or before August 31, 2017, and is now in force. We anticipate…
House of Commons Adjourns Until September 17, 2012
On Thursday, June 21, 2012, the federal House of Commons adjourned until 11:00 a.m. (EDT) on Monday, September 17, 2012.
EI Regulations Giving Effect to Federal Budget 2012 Initiatives Now in Force
On June 20, 2012, Regulations Amending The Employment Insurance Regulations (“Regulations”) were registered and are now in force. Pilot Project No. 14, Pilot Project for Calculating Benefit Rate Based on Claimant’s 14 Highest Weeks of Insurance Earnings (Best 14 Weeks), previously scheduled to end on June 23, 2012, is extended by the Regulations and will…
Regulatory Amendments Proposed to Allow CPPIB/PSPIB to Rely on Prudent Person Standard
On June 23, 2012, the federal government published a proposed amendment to the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Regulations which would repeal section 12 of the Regulations. That section establishes quantitative investment limits in respect of Canadian resource and real properties. Repeal of this section would align the Regulations with the Pension Benefits Standards Regulation,…
Federal Budget Bill Receives Royal Assent
On June 29, 2012, Bill C-38, Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act, received Royal Assent. Bill C-38 is omnibus legislation intended to give effect to certain key initiatives outlined in the federal government’s Budget 2012. For more information about Bill C-38, see our April 27, 2012 blog post and our FTR Now, “Federal Budget 2012…
Gender Identity, Gender Expression Amendments to Human Rights Code Now In Force
On June 19, 2012, Bill 33, Toby’s Act (Right to be Free from Discrimination and Harassment Because of Gender Identity or Gender Expression), 2012 received Royal Assent and came into force on that date. As previously reported, Bill 33 amends the Human Rights Code to specify that every person has a right to equal treatment…
Significant Amendments to PBA Now in Force
On July 1, 2012, significant amendments to the Pension Benefits Act made under the following acts were proclaimed into force: Pension Benefits Amendment Act, 2010 Securing Pension Benefits Now and For the Future Act, 2010 Better Tomorrow for Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2011 Creating the Foundation for Jobs and Growth Act, 2010 As previously reported,…
Amendments to Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations Proposed
On June 16, 2012, the federal government published draft regulations made under the Canada Labour Code which propose amendments to, among other things, the Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations. Generally, the proposed amendments would repeal the requirement for organizations to seek the approval of the Minister of Labour to deliver first-aid courses. This would…