Parents receiving EI benefits who fall ill may be eligible for sickness benefits • PRPP legislation in B.C. on hold • Reminder: Quebec minimum wage increasing May 1
CANADA
Parents receiving EI benefits who fall ill may be eligible for sickness benefits
As of March 24, parents who fall ill or become injured while receiving parental benefits may be eligible for employment insurance (EI) sickness benefits with new provisions under the Employment Insurance Act.
Originally announced as part of the Helping Families in Need Act, this measure could benefit up to 6,000 individuals per year.
EI claimants have been unable to access sickness benefits during a claim for parental benefits because of the requirement to be “otherwise available for work.”
BRITISH COLUMBIA
PRPP legislation in B.C. on hold
Legislation to bring pool registered pension plans (PRPPs) to British Columbia has been put on hold as the province’s legislative assembly adjourned March 14 — B.C. is holding a provincial election May 14.
B.C. Finance Minister Michael de Jong introduced the Pooled Registered Pension Plans Act on Feb. 28 —following in the footsteps of similar legislation introduced by Ottawa in December. B.C.’s legislation would make all workers in the province eligible to enrol in defined contribution pension plans.
QUEBEC
Reminder: Minimum wage increasing May 1
Effective May 1, the minimum wage rates in Quebec will be increasing. General minimum wage will become $10.15 per hour. Employees who receive tips will receive $8.75 per hour. Employees in specified sectors of the clothing industry will receive $10.15 per hour.
See our homepage at www.payroll-reporter.com for a comprehensive, regularly updated list of minimum wage rates across the country.
