Changes in payroll laws and regulations from across Canada
New Brunswick
Minimum wage increase in effect for April 1
On April 1, the provincial government raised New Brunswick’s minimum wage rate from $11 an hour to $11.25.
The rate increase is the result of a government decision to begin indexing the minimum wage rate to corresponding increases in New Brunswick’s consumer price index.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Minimum wage rises 15 cents
On April 1, the provincial government raised Newfoundland and Labrador’s minimum wage rate from $11.00 an hour to $11.15.
Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour Al Hawkins said rate adjustments are now based on the percentage change in the consumer price index. Going forward, he said rate changes would occur on April 1 every year.
Hawkins added that indexation would never result in the government lowering the minimum wage rate.
“Indexing the minimum wage to the consumer price index on a fixed date annually provides an open, predictable and well-informed approach that helps employees and employers plan for future adjustments,” he said.
New labour standards rules for unpaid leaves
The province’s legislature has passed labour standards amendments that create a new leave for employees caring for critically ill adult family members and expand two other leaves.
Bill 29, An Act to Amend the Labour Standards Act, passed third reading on Feb. 27. It allows employees with at least 30 days of service with the same employer to take up to 17 weeks off work, without pay, to provide care or support to a critically ill adult family member.
Other changes increase the length of parental leave from 35 weeks to 61 weeks and allow family members beyond a child’s parents to take a 37-week leave to care for a critically ill child. The amendments also allow nurse practitioners to issue certain certificates for leaves permitted under labour standards legislation.
The new leave provisions align provincial labour standards rules with recent changes to employment insurance.
Northwest Territories
Minimum wage jumps to $13.46
On April 1, the minimum wage rate in the territory rose from $12.50 per hour to $13.46. It is the first increase since 2015.
A minimum wage committee, made up of representatives from business, labour and community organizations, reviews the rate every two years.
Nova Scotia
Minimum wage hits $11 mark
The general minimum wage rate in Nova Scotia rose from $10.85 an hour to $11.00 on April 1 for employees with at least three months of experience.
The rate for employees with fewer than three months of experience went up from $10.35 per hour to $10.50. The province indexes the minimum wage rates to the consumer price index for Canada.
This spring, a committee will examine the way minimum wage rates are set. The move follows a decision by Atlantic premiers to study ways to harmonize provincial minimum wage rates and how they are adjusted.
Ontario
Equity standards now in force
Beginning April 1, employers in Ontario have to pay casual, part-time, temporary, and seasonal workers at least the same rate of pay as their full-time/permanent employees if they do substantially the same kind of work.
The new requirement stems from amendments to the Employment Standards Act, 2000, passed late last year.
Under the new rules, employers must pay these employees at the same rate that they pay their full-time/permanent employees if they do substantially the same kind of work in the same workplace under similar working conditions, and their job requires substantially the same skill, effort, and responsibility.
Exceptions apply where an employer pays employees differently because of a seniority system, a merit system, a system that measures earnings by quantity or quality of production, or any other factor except for sex or employment status.
Casual, part-time, temporary, and seasonal workers who believe their employer is not complying with the requirements now have the right to ask their employer to review their wage rate. This right also applies to employees who believe they are paid less because of their sex.
Employers who receive a request must change the employee’s pay rate or reply in writing as to why they disagree with the employee’s belief. Employers are prohibited from reducing an employee’s pay rate in order to comply with the rules.
Similar provisions also now apply to individuals working for temporary help agencies.
Prince Edward Island
Minimum wage up by 30 cents
The Prince Edward Island government raised the province’s minimum wage rate from $11.25 an hour to $11.55 on April 1.
The Employment Standards Board recommended the rate hike based on economic factors in the province and input from the public during consultations last summer.
Quebec
QPP amendments get green light
The Quebec National Assembly has passed amendments to the province’s Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) that will increase employer and employee contributions, beginning in 2019, in order to raise retirement benefits.
Bill 149, An Act to enhance the Québec Pension Plan and to amend various retirement-related legislative provisions was assented to on Feb. 21. It will make changes to the QPP similar to Canada Pension Plan (CPP) amendments passed last year.
The bill creates two plans within the QPP — a base plan (the one that exists now) and an additional one with two contribution levels.
The contribution changes will allow the government to raise the QPP’s income replacement level for retirement benefits from one-quarter of pensionable earnings to one-third for those paying contributions between the yearly maximum pensionable earnings (YMPE) and the new upper earnings limit. Retirement benefits will also rise for those contributing up to the YMPE, but not by as much.
Minimum wage going up May 1
On May 1, the Quebec government will raise the province’s general minimum wage rate from $11.25 an hour to $12.00.
The rate was expected to increase to $11.75, but Labour Minister Dominique Vien said the province’s strong economy allowed for a higher minimum wage. She also said the rate hike is in line with a four-year plan that the government announced last year to make the minimum wage rate equivalent to 50 per cent of the average hourly wage rate in Quebec.
The minimum wage rate for employees who receive tips will rise from $9.45 an hour to $9.80 on May 1. The rate for workers who pick raspberries will increase from $3.33 per kilogram to $3.56, and the rate for those who pick strawberries will go up from $0.89/kilogram to $0.95.
Yukon
Minimum wage rising, but ESB to review rate going forward
On April 1, the territorial government raised the minimum wage rate from $11.32 an hour to $11.51.
When announcing the rate hike, Community Services Minister John Streicker also said Yukon’s Employment Standards Board would be reviewing the minimum wage in light of recent rate increases in other jurisdictions.
The review is expected to take about six months to complete.
