On September 18, 2014, the Alberta government prorogued until November 17, 2014, bringing all business and legislation on the Order Paper before the Legislative Assembly to an end. The government’s announcement indicates that it does not intend to re-introduce Bill 9, the Public Sector Pension Plans Amendment Act or Bill 10, the Employment Pension (Private…
Practice Area: Pensions, Benefits & Compensation
2015 EI Maximum Insurable Earnings Rate Set
On September 12, 2014, the Canada Employment Insurance Commission (“CEIC”) announced that the 2015 Employment Insurance (“EI”) Maximum Insurable Earnings rate will increase to $49,500 from $48,600 in 2014. Premiums will be reduced by $0.34 per $100 of insurable earnings for residents of Quebec covered under the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan. Accordingly, those residents will…
Mandatory Insurance of LTD Plans: New Federal and Provincial Requirements
As previously reported, effective July 1, 2014, federally-regulated employers, including Crown corporations, who are governed by Part III of the Canada Labour Code and who provide their employees with long-term disability (“LTD”) plan benefits must insure the plan, on a go-forward basis, with an entity that is licensed to provide insurance under the laws of…
Small Business Job Credit and New EI Rate-Setting Mechanism Announced
On September 11, 2014, the federal government announced the introduction of the Small Business Job Credit (“Credit”), which is intended to provide tax relief for small employers. The Credit effectively lowers the Employment Insurance (“EI”) premium rate for eligible businesses from the current, legislated rate of $1.88, to $1.60 per $100 of insurable earnings in…
Hicks Morley Ranks #1 in Labour and Employment Law in Best Lawyers® in Canada 2015
Hicks Morley once again ranked #1 in Canada in the field of Labour and Employment Law in Best Lawyers® in Canada 2015. Hicks Morley has more listed lawyers in the area of Labour and Employment Law than any other firm in Canada. Hicks Morley lawyers have also been listed in the Employee Benefits Law and the…
Hicks Morley Featured in Benefits and Pensions Monitor
On August 7, 2014, Benefits and Pensions Montior cited Hicks Morley’s recent FTR Now entitled “Budget Bill Includes Carrigan Pre-Retirement Death Benefit Fix.” This FTR Now discusses the July 24, 2014 amendments to the Pension Benefits Act (Ontario) which are intended to address the impact of the Ontario Court of Appeal’s 2012 decision in Carrigan v. Carrigan Estate. The amendments clarify the…
Benefits Canada Publishes an Article by Natasha Monkman
An article co-authored by Hicks Morley’s Natasha Monkman was published in the August 6, 2014 edition of Benefits Canada. Many employers are concerned with the volatile funding of defined benefit pension plans. On the other hand, there is concern that defined contribution pension plans will not provide adequate retirement income for employees. The article entitled, “The future of workplace…
Budget Bill Includes Carrigan Pre-Retirement Death Benefit Fix
The Ontario government has taken steps in its 2014 Budget to address the impact of the Ontario Court of Appeal’s 2012 decision in Carrigan v. Carrigan Estate (“Carrigan“). On July 24, 2014, the Ontario Legislature passed Bill 14, the Building Opportunity and Securing Our Future Act (Budget Measures), 2014 (“Bill 14”), which implements some of…
New Alberta Employment Pension Plans Act Regulation
On July 22, 2014 the Alberta government enacted a supporting regulation to that province’s Employment Pension Plans Act (the “Act”), legislation enacted in December 2012 following recommendations from the Joint Expert Panel on Pension Standards. The Act and the new Employment Pension Plans Regulation will come into force on September 1, 2014. A government summary…
Ontario Budget 2014
On Monday, July 14, 2014, the newly elected Liberal government introduced the 2014 Ontario Budget. As was pledged by Premier Wynne during the election campaign, the new Budget is virtually identical to the version that was first tabled on Thursday, May 1, 2014 (and which triggered the recent election). The newly tabled Budget is still…