On September 9, 2013, the federal Government announced that it would be cancelling its planned EI premium hike for 2014. Instead, EI premiums will be frozen at the 2013 level of $1.88 per $100 of insurable earnings. The Government also stated that the rate would not exceed $1.88 for 2015 or 2016. On the same date,…
Industry: Professional & Technical Services
Confidentiality Provisions: Important, Effective and Enforceable
In most unionized workplaces, many grievances are settled before the parties present their evidence and before an arbitrator issues a public decision. In most instances, when a grievance is settled, the terms of that settlement are recorded in written form. The parties often agree that the settlement must be kept confidential and include a confidentiality…
Parliament to be Prorogued
The Prime Minister has announced that he will ask the Governor General to prorogue Parliament until October 2013. Parliament was previously set to resume sitting on September 16, 2013. With prorogation, the unfinished business of Parliament will “die” on the Order Paper, including government bills which have not yet received Royal Assent. These bills can…
Alberta Court of Appeal Upholds Conviction in Calf-Roping Machine Case
In its decision Alberta v. XI Technologies Inc., the Alberta Court of Appeal upheld the conviction of XI Technologies in relation to the death of an employee who was operating a faulty calf-roping machine at an employer hosted-event, concluding that the employer failed to do all that was reasonably practicable to avoid the foreseeable risks…
OCA Affirms Termination Clause in Employment Contract Does Not Violate ESA
The Court of Appeal for Ontario has upheld a motion judge’s finding that a termination provision in an employment contract was not an attempt to contract out of the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (“ESA”). In Dimson v. KTI Kanatek Technologies Inc., the plaintiff had been terminated and in accordance with his employment contract, he was…
Québec Publishes Private Sector Solvency Deficiency Draft Regulation for Comment
On July 10, 2013, the Québec government published a draft regulation made under the Supplemental Pension Plans Act (“Act”) entitled “Pension plans in the private sector – New relief measures for the funding of solvency deficiencies” (“Draft Regulation”). The Draft Regulation offers relief measures for the funding of deficiencies in private sector defined benefit plans…
WSIB Announces 2014 Premium Rates
On July 12, 2013, the WSIB announced that its premium rates for Schedule 1 employers will remain at current levels for 2014. The maximum insurable earnings ceiling for 2014 will be $84,100, an increase of 1.1% from $83,200 in 2013.
Canadian Human Rights Act Amended to Delete Discriminatory Practice Relating to “Hate Messages”
On June 26, 2013, a federal private member’s Bill, Bill C-304, An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act (protecting freedom), received Royal Assent. Bill C-304 amends the Canadian Human Rights Act (“Act”) by repealing section 13 “Hate Messages” as a discriminatory practice, to ensure compliance with the freedom of expression guarantee in the…
PBA Amendment Repealing Provisions Relating to Withdrawal of Locked-In Retirement Funds in Force January 1, 2014
Section 4 of Schedule 44 of the Strong Action for Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2012 has been proclaimed into force effective January 1, 2014. Section 4 amends the Pension Benefits Act by repealing certain provisions relating to the Superintendent’s involvement in approving withdrawals from locked-in retirement savings arrangements. As previously reported, a supporting regulation to…
PBA Amendment Relating to Retroactivity of Certain Regulations Now in Force
Schedule 11 of the Prosperous and Fair Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2013 has been proclaimed into force effective June 21, 2013. Among other things, Schedule 11 amends the Pension Benefits Act to add a provision allowing for the retroactive effect of regulations relating to the funding of a defined benefit pension plan by allowing a…