Dear Friends, Well, the verdict is in. Six more weeks of winter according to our furry rodent weather prognosticators! And what better way to fill those cold blustery evenings than something interesting and topical to read? Welcome to the Winter 2014 Edition of Reaching Out, our newsletter specifically focussed on issues relevant, and of particular…
Practice Area: Employment Law
Ontario Introduces Legislation Tying Minimum Wage to CPI
Further to the Ontario government’s previously reported commitment to tie future minimum wage increases to the province’s Consumer Price Index, Bill 165, the Fair Minimum Wage Act, 2014 was introduced on February 26, 2014. Bill 165 would amend the Employment Standards Act, 2000 and create a new section 23.1, setting out a framework for the…
Ontario Introduces New Immigration Legislation
On February 19, 2014, the Ontario government introduced Bill 161, the Ontario Immigration Act, 2014, proposed legislation that would, if passed, create a new framework for the recruitment, selection and admission of skilled workers in the province, and establish a significant inspection, investigation and enforcement regime. Among other matters, Bill 161 provides for the establishment by…
Ontario Files ESA Regulatory Amendment Implementing New Minimum Wage Effective June 1, 2014
As previously reported, Ontario’s minimum wage is increasing to $11 effective June 1, 2014. On February 14, 2014, the Ontario government filed O. Reg. 31/14 amending O. Reg. 285/01 made under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (Exemptions, Special Rules and Establishment of Minimum Wage) to implement these changes.
Federal Budget 2014
On February 11, 2014, the Minister of Finance, the Honourable James Flaherty, tabled the 2014 Federal Budget “The Road to Balance: Creating Jobs and Opportunities” (Economic Action Plan 2014). This FTR Now focuses on some of the key proposals that are of particular interest to employers, human resources professionals and pension plan administrators. TAX INITIATIVES…
Federal Budget 2014 Introduced
Today, the federal government tabled its Budget 2014, The Road to Balance: Creating Jobs and Opportunities (Economic Action Plan 2014), a brief summary of which is outlined in a Department of Finance news release. Hicks Morley is in the process of reviewing the Budget. An FTR Now outlining the Budget’s highlights for employers and pension plan…
Ontario Minimum Wage Increasing to $11 on June 1, 2014
On January 30, 2014, the Ontario government announced that the general minimum wage will increase from $10.25 to $11 per hour, effective June 1, 2014. This regulatory change is intended to reflect the increase in the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”) since the last minimum wage increase, which occurred in 2010. A list of the new minimum…
2014 Winter Edition
FOCUS ON SOCIAL SERVICES Balancing interests – legal challenges in the social services sector LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS The changing status of family status Workplace investigations: avoiding common pitfalls PROFILE Class act Download PDF
Federal Government Amends Temporary Foreign Worker Regulations
Further to the federal government’s Budget 2013 commitment, regulatory amendments under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act were published on January 1, 2014. The Regulations Amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (“Regulations”) implement a new compliance verification and enforcement regime, including enhanced Citizenship and Immigration Canada (“CIC”) and Employment and Social Development Canada (“ESDC,”…
HRSDC Renamed Department of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
The Department of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (commonly known as “HRSDC”) has been rebranded as the Department of Employment and Social Development Canada (“ESDC”). As previously reported, this change was implemented by the coming into force of Bill C-4, the Economic Action Plan 2013 Act, No. 2.