New Alberta WCB service helps employers understand claims decisions • Manitoba increases minimum wage • Ontario caregiver leave bill still before legislature • Ontario proposes pay cap on public sector executives • 2013 maximum insurable earnings announced • Canada announces measures to cut red tape for businesses
ALBERTA
New WCB service helps employers understand claims decisions
The Alberta Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) has launched a new consulting service for employers who are not satisfied with a WCB claims decision affecting them.
The employer appeals consulting service will provide employers with information, analysis and advice to help them understand the facts, policy and law used in making the claim decision. It will also explain the appeals process and provide information to help employers decide whether to appeal.
The service is for employers who do not have an employer representative working on the account for them and who have concerns about a specific written decision made in the last 12 months, the WCB says.
For more information, refer to the WCB’s website www.wcb.ab.ca/employers/question_claim.asp
MANITOBA
Manitoba increases minimum wage
Manitoba increased the minimum wage by 25 cents to $10.25 an hour on Oct. 1.
The increase was planned in the province's annual budget, announced in April 2012.
The minimum wage rate last increased by 50 cents to $10 per hour on Oct. 1, 2011. That followed an increase of 50 cents on Oct. 1, 2010.
The amount of income a person can earn before they start paying income tax will also increase to $9,134 by 2014, the government announced.
ONTARIO
Caregiver leave bill still before legislature
A bill allowing employees to take an unpaid leave from work to provide care or support for a family member with a serious medical condition has still not become law.
The provincial government brought Bill 30, the Family Caregiver Leave Act (Employment Standards Amendment), 2011, forward for first reading last December. The bill was proposed to take effect July 1, 2012; however, it did not pass second reading until Sept. 6, 2012. At that time, the bill was referred to the legislature’s standing committee on social policy for study.
The amendments to the Employment Standards Act, 2000, would allow eligible employees to take up to eight weeks of leave per calendar year for each family member with a serious medical condition. The employee would be allowed to take the leave only in periods of whole weeks (with a week beginning on Sunday and ending on Saturday).
Ontario proposes pay cap on public sector executives
Ontario is proposing to cap compensation for its executives and put a two-year pay freeze in place for managers who are eligible for performance pay. Managers across the Ontario Public Service (OPS) would see a three-year freeze, the government announced.
CANADA
2013 maximum insurable earnings announced
The Canada Employment Insurance Commission (CEIC) has announced the maximum insurable earnings (MIE) for 2013 will increase to $47,400 from $45,900.
For self-employed people who have opted into the EI program, the annual earnings required to qualify for special benefits will increase to $6,342 from $6,222 on Jan. 1, 2013.
The MIE is indexed on an annual basis and represents the ceiling up to which employment insurance premiums are collected. It is therefore also the maximum amount considered in applications for EI benefits.
In response to public consultations, the federal government is limiting annual EI premium rate increases to five cents until the EI operating account is balanced. Once the account has returned to balance, the EI premium rate will be set annually on a seven-year, break-even rate to ensure EI premiums are no higher than needed to pay for the EI program. After the seven-year rate is set, annual adjustments to the rate will also be limited to five cents.
Canada announces measures to cut red tape for businesses
As part of its "Red Tape Reduction" efforts, the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) has created a team responsible for co-ordinating and addressing small business issues. The CRA has mandated the team to ensure the agency takes a small business lens approach to service improvements with a renewed and enhanced focus on cutting red tape for small businesses. This focus on engagement with small businesses and stakeholders will ensure the perspectives on the small business com munity are taken into account in the CRA’s work.
The Red Tape Reduction Action Plan details the ways in which Canada is addressing issues identified as irritants by business during consultations in 2011. The regulatory reforms arising out of this plan support the federal government’s top priority of jobs, growth and long-term prosperity. The vast majority of these reforms will be implemented in the next three years.
The CRA has already put in place some changes to improve services for business, including improved online registration for a business number, and providing GST/HST rulings more quickly to support informed business planning in the future.
