2311 Results

School Board Update

IN THIS ISSUE Arbitrator Provides Helpful Award in Ontario’s First TPA Discharge Arbitration Divisional Court Re-Affirms the Importance of Time Limits Pay Equity Remains a Priority Legal Issue for School Boards Accommodating Scent Sensitivities in the Workplace Ontario Human Rights Tribunal Endorses Employer Control Over Accommodation Process Integrated Accessibility Standards under the AODA OMERS Omissions…

Are You Prepared for the AODA?

As the new year approaches, some key compliance deadlines under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (“AODA“) are also approaching. In this FTR Now, we review what needs to be done by employers by January 1, 2012. ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE By January 1, 2012, private and not-for-profit organizations should be in…

Federal Pooled Registered Pension Plan (“PRPP”) Legislation Introduced

On November 17, 2011, the Minister of State (Finance) and the Minister of Industry announced the introduction of Bill C-25, An Act relating to pooled registered pension plans and making related amendments to other Acts, new legislation implementing the framework for the federal component of the PRPP. The government will shortly release draft tax rules…

Human Rights Tribunal is not a Judicial Review Body

The Supreme Court of Canada has issued a significant decision limiting the jurisdiction of a human rights tribunal to consider matters that have already been dealt with in another proceeding. In British Columbia (Workers’ Compensation Board) v. Figliola, the Supreme Court considered whether the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal had jurisdiction to hear a matter that…

2012 EI Premium Rate Parameters Set, Work-Share Program Enhancement Extended

On November 8, 2011, the federal government announced a reduction in the maximum potential increase in Employment Insurance (“EI”) premium rates for 2012 from 10 cents, to 5 cents. Under these new parameters, the 2012 premium rate will not exceed $1.83 per $100 of insurable earnings. In addition, the government announced a temporary extension of…

2012 Pension and Retirement Savings Limits Announced

The Canada Revenue Agency (“CRA”) has released the 2012 limits for pension plan and retirement savings plans: The 2012 annual pension for the year in which a pension commences to be paid under a Defined Benefit pension plan will be limited to $2,646.67 per year of service. The 2012 Money Purchase (Defined Contribution) limit will…

New Legislative Tax Proposals for Benefits, Tuition Awards and Shareholders

On October 31, 2011, the federal government proposed a number of legislative reforms to sections in the Income Tax Act (“ITA”), that if adopted, would in part amend the rules dealing with the valuation and deeming of benefits in respect of employment, benefits conferred on shareholders and rules respecting prohibited investments made by multi-employer pension…

Paul Broad Quoted in Canadian Lawyer Magazine

Hicks Morley’s Paul Broad was quoted in the October 24, 2011 edition of Canadian Lawyer magazine. In an article entitled “An odd, but sensible, ruling,” Paul comments on the October 17, 2011 decision of OLRB Chair Bernard Fishbein, authorizing a former Vice Chair of the OLRB to continue to preside over an ongoing certification application…

Regulatory amendment proposed for CPP Post-Retirement Benefit elections

The federal government has proposed a regulatory amendment to the Canada Pension Plan Regulations which prescribes the manner of employee elections (or revocations) regarding the new Post-Retirement Benefit (PRB), which will be available under the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) effective January 1, 2012.  The PRB extends participation in the CPP to those employees (and self-employed…