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.
Practice Area: Pensions, Benefits & Compensation
OMHRA Spring 2019 ECHO Newsletter Features Articles Authored by Amanda Cohen and Jessica Toldo
The Spring 2019 issue of OMHRA’s ECHO newsletter features two articles authored by Amanda Cohen and Jessica Toldo.
International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans: Canadian Legal and Legislative Update
Canada’s increasingly diverse and older workforce composition, the growth in precarious work and rapid technological changes are posing unique challenges for administrators and trustees of pensions and benefits plans.
Canadian Pension and Benefits Institute (CPBI) Ontario: Managing Your Organization – Potential Risks and Solutions for an Aging Workforce
Organizations in Canada are continuing to face the implications of an aging workforce and a growing group of retirees.
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…
Five Hicks Morley Lawyers Recognized in Who’s Who Legal: Employment, Labour and Benefits 2019
Hicks Morley is proud to announce that five of the firm’s lawyers are recognized by the Who’s Who Legal: Labour, Employment & Benefits 2019 annual international compendium of lawyers.
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…
Benefits Canada Publishes an Article by Thomas Agnew on Employment and Labour Legislation Changes in Ontario
Hicks Morley’s Thomas Agnew authored an article in Benefits Canada titled “A Summary of Ontario’s Changing Employment and Labour Legislation.” In this article, Thomas summarizes the key ways Bill 47 is changing the previous amendments under Bill 148.
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…