Changes in payroll laws and regulations from across Canada
Canada
Average weekly earnings up slightly in May: StatsCan
Average weekly earnings of non-farm payroll employees were $972 in May, up slightly from $970.40 in April, according to Statistics Canada. On a year-over-year basis, weekly earnings were up two per cent from May 2016.
Non-farm payroll employees worked an average of 32.7 hours a week in May, up from 32.6 hours in April, but down from 32.8 hours in May 2016.
Year-over-year earnings of non-farm payroll employees increased in eight provinces, with Manitoba experiencing the most growth.
Alberta
Reminder: Minimum wage rates increasing in October
The general minimum wage rate in Alberta will rise from $12.20 an hour to $13.60 on Oct. 1.
The hike is part of the government’s plan to implement a $15 minimum wage in October of next year.
The rate for specified salespersons will also go up on Oct. 1 this year, from $486 per week to $542. Specified salespersons include sales employees who sell automobiles, trucks, buses, farm machinery, heavy duty construction equipment or road construction equipment, mobile homes, and residential homes (if the salesperson works for the home builder).
Specified salespersons also include those working for a commercial agent licensed under theLicensing of Trades and Businesses Act, as well as commission-based salespersons (excluding route salespersons) who generally work outside of their employer’s place of business to sell orders that will be delivered later.
The rate for domestic employees who live in their employer’s residence will rise from $2,316 a month to $2,582 on Oct. 1.
British Columbia
Reminder: Minimum wage hike expected on Sept. 15
The British Columbia general minimum wage rate is scheduled to rise from $10.85 an hour to $11.35 on Sept. 15. The rate for liquor servers is also expected to increase from $9.60 an hour to $10.10.
The previous Liberal government announced the rate changes earlier this year.
However, at the time of writing, the new NDP government had not yet confirmed the rate hikes.
In a mandate letter outlining responsibilities for new Labour Minister Harry Bains, Premier John Horgan listed a $15 minimum wage rate by 2021 as a priority.
He also said Bains is tasked with setting up a fair wage commission to support minimum wage changes and to bring forward recommendations on how to close a gap between the minimum wage and livable wages. The commission’s first report would be due within 90 days of its first meeting.
In addition, Bains must oversee an update of the Employment Standards Act and its regulations to “reflect the changing nature of workplaces and ensure they are applied evenly and enforced.”
Other priorities listed in the letter include reviewing the Labour Relations Code, working with WorkSafeBC to “increase compliance with employment laws,” and creating a temporary foreign worker registry.
The minimum wage is currently adjusted each year based on increases in the province’s consumer price index for the previous year.
However, with the province’s economy doing well, the previous Liberal government announced last year that minimum wage rates would rise beyond indexation in both 2016 and 2017.
Manitoba
Reminder: Minimum wage rising in October
Manitoba’s minimum wage rate will rise from $11.00 an hour to $11.15 on Oct. 1, the province’s Employment Standards Board recently announced.
The minimum wage rate for security guards who hold a license issued under The Private Investigators and Security Guards Act will also increase from $12.50 an hour to $13.40 on Oct. 1.
The provincial government has been phasing-in a higher minimum wage rate for security guards over the last four years.
Once the rate increase takes place, the minimum wage for security guards will remain at $2.25 higher than the provincial minimum wage rate.
In May, the provincial legislature passed amendments to the Employment Standards Code that would index the minimum wage rate to reflect changes in Manitoba’s consumer price index (CPI).
Minimum wage changes will now take place annually on Oct. 1, beginning this year. Starting next year, the amendments will require the government to post advance notice of minimum wage rate changes on a government website before April 1 every year.
Minimum wage changes will be rounded to the nearest nickel.
If the CPI adjustment is negative, the government will not change the minimum wage rate. The amendments will also allow the government to freeze the minimum wage if economic conditions (such as a recession) warranted it.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Reminder: Minimum wage rate going up in October
The minimum wage rate in Newfoundland and Labrador will rise from $10.75 an hour to $11.00 on Oct. 1.
The provincial government is considering indexing the minimum wage rate.
It held consultations on the issue over the winter and released a report on the findings in June, but has not yet announced when and how it would proceed with the change.
Ontario
Reminder: Minimum wage rates rising Oct. 1
The general minimum wage rate in Ontario will rise from $11.40 an hour to $11.60 on Oct. 1.
Other minimum wage rates in the province will also go up.
The rate for students who are under 18 and who work fewer than 28 hours a week (or more than 28 hours during school vacation) will increase from $10.70 an hour to $10.90.
The rate for liquor servers will rise from $9.90 an hour to $10.10. The minimum wage rate paid to homeworkers will increase from $12.55 an hour to $12.80.
The minimum wage rate for hunting and fishing guides will also increase on Oct. 1. The rate for guides who work fewer than five consecutive hours in a day will increase from $56.95 to $58.00. The rate for guides who work five or more hours in a day, whether or not the hours are consecutive, will rise from $113.95 to $116.00.
In late May, the government announced further minimum wage changes, including raising the general minimum wage rate to $14 an hour on Jan. 1, 2018 and to $15 on Jan. 1, 2019.
The rates for the other minimum wage categories would go up by the same percentage.
Minimum wage rate changes would go back to being indexed as of Oct. 1, 2019.
The minimum wage increase is included in proposed legislation along with equal pay for part-time workers, increased vacation entitlements and expanded personal emergency leave.
Many business groups have voiced opposition, and Premier Kathleen Wynne recently said she will announce proposals in the fall to support small businesses through the process.
Saskatchewan
Reminder: Minimum wage rising in October
The minimum wage rate in Saskatchewan will rise from $10.72 an hour to $10.96 on Oct. 1, the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety recently announced.
Under Saskatchewan law, the government uses annual changes in the province’s consumer price index and average hourly wage to set the minimum wage rate.
Annual adjustments take effect Oct. 1.
