Federal Government Implements Pension Funding Relief Regulations (Air Canada)

On January 1, 2014, the federal government published regulations extending the temporary funding relief provided to Air Canada under the Air Canada Pension Plan Funding Regulations, 2009, which were originally set to expire on January 30, 2014. The Air Canada Pension Plan Funding Regulations, 2014 temporarily relieve Air Canada from the requirement to make special…

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,”…

Regulation Exempts Remuneration From CPP Contributions

On December 18, 2013, the federal government published a regulation amending the Canada Pension Plan Regulations to add a new type of exempted employment in respect of which contributions are not required under Canada Pension Plan (“CPP”) legislation, in addition to the exemption for employment as a judge appointed by the Government of Canada. The…

Federal Government Proposes Mandatory e-filing ITA Regulation Amendment

Further to a Budget 2009 initiative, on December 7, 2013, the federal government published proposed amendments to subsection 205.1(1) of the Income Tax Regulations. Regulations Amending the Income Tax Regulations (Mandatory Electronic Filing – Prescribed Information Returns) would expand mandatory electronic filing (“e-filing”) for prescribed information returns for the purpose of subsection 162(7.02) of the…

Federal Government Releases Final Anti-Spam (CASL) Regulations

On December 4, 2013, the federal government published final Electronic Commerce Protection Regulations (“final ECP Regulations”) under Canada’s Anti-spam Legislation (“CASL”). As previously reported, CASL enacts comprehensive anti-spam legislation relating to the sending of commercial electronic messages (“CEMs”). Earlier proposed regulations under CASL had been released for consultation in July, 2011, and again on January 5, 2013 with…

New Federal Graduated Late-Filing Penalty for Certain Employment-Related Tax Filings

On November 20, 2013, the federal government registered Regulations Amending the Income Tax Regulations (Late Filing Penalty – Prescribed Information Returns). The regulatory amendment relates to the government’s Budget 2009 and subsequent legislative initiative (via Budget Implementation Act, 2009 amendments) to provide for a “separate, less severe, graduated penalty that would be applicable where ‘prescribed’…

Federal Government Proposes Priority Hiring for Injured Veterans Act (C-11)

On November 7, 2013, the federal government introduced Bill C-11, the Priority Hiring for Injured Veterans Act. If passed, this legislation would amend the Public Service Employment Act to establish a priority appointment over all other persons for certain members of the Canadian Forces who are released for medical reasons attributable to service, and who…

Raising the Bar – Sixth Edition

“There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind. “                                                                                           C.S. Lewis Dear Friends, Welcome back from the summer! We hope that all of our readers had a chance to get in some rest and relaxation with friends and family over the past few months, and we are sure that you…

Government Announces Three-Year EI Premium Freeze

On September 9, 2013, the federal Government announced that it would be cancelling its planned EI premium hike for 2014.  Instead, EI premiums will be frozen at the 2013 level of $1.88 per $100 of insurable earnings.  The Government also stated that the rate would not exceed $1.88 for 2015 or 2016. On the same date,…

Dismissals Under the Canada Labour Code

In a recent decision, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited v. Wilson, the Federal Court considered the unjust dismissal provision of the Canada Labour Code (“Code”) and concluded that it does not prohibit federally regulated employers from conducting without cause dismissals. This decision arose out of an unjust dismissal complaint under section 240 of the Code….