On December 8, 2014 the Ontario government introduced Bill 56, the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan Act, 2014 proposed legislation intended to institute the new Ontario Retirement Pension Plan (“ORPP”). That same day, the government also introduced Bill 57, the Pooled Registered Pension Plans Act, 2014, legislation that will, if passed, provide the legal framework for…
Publication Name: FTR Now
Elimination of Federal Card Check Union Certification and a Lower Threshold for Union Decertification Votes
Effective June 16, 2015, significant reforms to the existing federal union certification and decertification processes will come into effect as a result of key amendments to the Canada Labour Code, the Parliamentary Employee and Staff Relations Act and the Public Service Labour Relations Act. These amendments were enacted by Bill C-525, Employees’ Voting Rights Act, Private…
Maintaining a Workplace Free of Sexual Harassment
Over the past several months, the issue of workplace sexual harassment has been in the spotlight and the subject of considerable discussion. In response to recent media attention, the Ontario Human Rights Commission recently issued a statement reiterating the legal duty of employers to prevent sexual harassment and to respond to any complaints in the…
BPS Accountability Legislation Passes with Significant Amendments
On December 9, 2014, the Ontario government passed Bill 8, the Public Sector and MPP Accountability and Transparency Act, 2014, which gives the government the authority to create comprehensive compensation frameworks for certain employers in the broader public sector (“BPS”), and implements a number of measures to enhance “accountability and transparency” in the government and…
Wage Loss Replacement Plans: Canada Revenue Agency Updates Tax Withholding Requirements
Effective January 1, 2015, the Canada Revenue Agency (“CRA”) is changing the tax withholding requirements for benefits paid under a “wage loss replacement plan” (“WLRP”). The CRA will now require the withholding of income tax from benefit payments under a WLRP, even if the benefits are not subject to Canada Pension Plan (“CPP”) contributions or…
Ontario Introduces ORPP and PRPP Legislation
On December 8, 2014, the Ontario government introduced Bill 56, the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan Act, 2014, legislation intended to address the issue of retirement undersavings. As we previously reported, the government initiated a public consultation process regarding Ontario retirement pension plan (“ORPP”) implementation through targeted questions to employees and employers in November, 2014. A…
Amendments Filed to Regulation Made Under Ontario Pension Benefits Act
The Ontario government has filed O. Reg. 235/14, amending Regulation 909 of the Pension Benefits Act (“PBA”) in respect of new rules regarding Statements of Investment Policies and Procedures (“SIP&Ps”), requirements to provide periodic statements to former and retired members and the content of annual member statements. Draft regulations (“Draft Regulations”) were previously released for…
Arbitrators Address Off-Duty Social Media Comments
Two recent City of Toronto arbitrations have addressed the issue of discipline for off-duty social media comments. On November 12, 2014, Arbitrator Elaine Newman found that the social media comments of an off-duty Toronto firefighter, which disparaged women, the disabled and visible minorities (among others), constituted serious misconduct and damaged the reputation of the Toronto…
Deadline Extended for Alberta Pension Reform Plan Amendments
As discussed in our recent FTR Now, Alberta Introduces Significant Pension Reforms Effective September 1, 2014, the new Employment Pension Plans Act and accompanying Employment Pension Plans Regulation came into force on September 1, 2014. Pension plans registered in Alberta and plans registered elsewhere with members whose pension benefits are subject to Alberta pension legislation…
Holiday Cheer: A Checklist For Employers
The holiday season is around the corner – and with it comes festivities and celebrations. Whether these seasonal events are large or small, employee health and safety remains a key priority for employers. In this FTR Now, we provide employers with a checklist of measures to consider implementing in planning for a safe holiday celebration….