The legalization of recreational cannabis, which came into effect on October 17, 2018, has raised many questions for employers about cannabis use in the workplace, as well as potential coverage of cannabis under benefit plans. In this video, Mariana Kamenetsky and Kathryn Meehan talk about coverage for medical cannabis under Ontario’s workers’ compensation system.
Practice Area: Pension, Benefits & Executive Compensation
Federal Budget 2019 – Something for (Almost) Everyone?
On March 19, 2019, the federal government tabled its 2019 Budget, “Investing in the Middle Class.” This is an election year, and there is a wide array of initiatives sprinkled throughout the Budget, covering many groups and sectors. There is something for (almost) everyone. In this FTR Now, we focus on the key employment, labour, executive compensation, pension and employee benefits announcements of most interest to employers, human resources professionals, plan sponsors and administrators.
EI Changes – Parental Sharing Benefit Coming into Force on March 17, 2019
Changes to the Employment Insurance Act will come into effect on March 17, 2019 to implement the additional Parental Sharing Benefit announced in the 2018 Federal Budget. Additional employment insurance (EI) parental benefits (up to 5 weeks of standard parental benefits or up to 8 weeks of extended parental benefits) will be available to…
Notice of Intended Decision Considers Whether Vacation Pay Forms Part of Pensionable Earnings
The Ontario Superintendent of Financial Services (Superintendent) issued a Notice of Intended Decision (NOID) in late 2018 that considered whether vacation pay should be factored into a pension plan’s definition of pensionable earnings. The NOID indicates that, in the absence of clear exclusionary language, the Superintendent will interpret the phrase “base pay” to include vacation…
Ontario Tables Health Care Reform Legislation
On February 26, 2019, the Ontario government tabled Bill 74, The People’s Health Care Act, 2019, which proposes significant changes to Ontario’s health care system.
Supreme Court of Canada Grants Appeal in Case Which Considered Constructive Dismissal, Long-Term Incentive Plan Entitlements and Duty of Good Faith
The Supreme Court of Canada has granted leave to appeal from a decision which considered long-term incentive plan entitlements as part of a constructive dismissal claim, and, in the dissent, the duty of good faith and honesty in the performance of employment contacts. In Ocean Nutrition Canada Ltd. v. Matthews, an employee resigned from employment…
FTR Quarterly – Issue 12
In This Issue: Year in Review – Key Human Resources Law Developments of 2018, The Road Ahead: Human Resources Trends and Issues to Watch in 2019 and more!
Federal Government Proposes Legislative Amendments to Address Salary Overpayments
On January 15, 2019 the federal government announced proposed amendments to the Income Tax Act (ITA), Employment Insurance Act (EI Act) and Canada Pension Plan (CPP) that would more readily facilitate the correction of salary overpayments made to employees.
Tribunal Finds that Denial of Coverage for Medical Cannabis under Employer’s Benefit Plan is not Discriminatory
The Ontario Human Rights Tribunal (the Tribunal) recently held that the decision to deny coverage for medical cannabis coverage under an employer’s benefit plan is not discrimination under the Ontario Human Rights Code (Code) when the decision to deny coverage is unrelated to an applicant’s disability or another protected ground. In Rivard v. Essex (County),…
Senate Passes Bill Proposing Changes to Canada Labour Code and Implementation of Federal Pay Equity Scheme
On December 10, 2018, Bill C-86, Budget Implementation Act, 2018, No. 2, passed Third Reading in the Senate without amendment and is now awaiting Royal Assent. As we reported in our Federal Post of November 2, 2018, Bill C-86 will make significant changes to the Canada Labour Code and will introduce a new federal Pay…