Legislative Roundup

Alberta

Reminder: Minimum wage rates increasing in October

The general minimum wage rate in Alberta rose from $12.20 an hour to $13.60 as of Oct. 1. The wage hike is part of the provincial government’s strategy to implement a $15 minimum wage by next October.

The rate for specified salespersons also went up on Oct. 1, 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 rose from $2,316 a month to $2,582 on Oct. 1.

Manitoba

Reminder: Minimum wage rising in October

Manitoba’s minimum wage rate rose from $11 an hour to $11.15 on Oct. 1.

The rate adjustment reflects changes in the province’s consumer price index (CPI). Earlier this year, the Manitoba legislature passed amendments to The Employment Standards Code requiring the government to tie rate changes to the CPI, with any adjustments taking effect on Oct. 1 each year.

Minimum wage changes are rounded to the nearest $0.05. 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.

The minimum wage rate for security guards who hold a license issued under The Private Investigators and Security Guards Act increased from $12.50 an hour to $13.40 on Oct. 1. The province has been phasing-in a higher minimum wage rate for security guards over the last four years. The rate will now remain $2.25 higher than the provincial minimum wage rate.  

Province proclaims PRPP legislation

On Aug. 1, the Manitoba government proclaimed into force its Pooled Registered Pension Plans (Manitoba) Act and accompanying regulations.

PRPPs are defined contribution-style pension plans that are administered by a third party (such as a financial institution) rather than an employer. The plans provide a way of saving for retirement for individuals whose employer does not have its own registered pension plan or for those who are self-employed.

Before licenced providers will be able to offer them, the Manitoba government must sign a multilateral agreement with the federal government and a number of other provinces, including British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan. Finance Minister Cameron Friesen says he expects the government to sign the agreement this fall.

The Manitoba PRPP act essentially incorporates provisions of the federalPooled Registered Pension Plans Act, with changes where necessary. As with the federal act, participation in the plans will be voluntary. Once third parties start offering PRPPs, Manitoba employers will have the option of signing up for them.

Once an employer is registered, employees will be automatically enrolled, with the option to opt out. Employee contributions will be deducted at source and employers will remit the amount deducted to the plan administrator. Employers may choose to match employee contributions, but it will not be mandatory.

New Brunswick

Athletes exempted from some ESA requirements

As of July 28, the provincial government exempted athletes playing on New Brunswick-based teams from a number of employment standards requirements.

Athletes who are taking part in activities related to their sport and the persons employing them for those endeavours are now exempt from provisions in the Employment Standards Act covering minimum wage, hours of work, minimum reporting pay, weekly rest periods, statutory holidays, vacations, unjust dismissal and notice of termination. They continue to be covered under the act for other standards.

Nova Scotia made similar changes to its Labour Standards Code last year.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Reminder: Minimum wage rate going up in October

The minimum wage rate in Newfoundland and Labrador rose 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. 

Province launches review of tax system

The provincial government has launched an independent review of the province’s tax system.

Finance Minister Tom Osborne announced in late August that a five-person committee would examine both personal and businesses taxes, including personal income tax, the Health and Post-Secondary Education Tax, the Harmonized Sales Tax, and the retail sales tax on insurance premiums.

He said the main objectives of the tax review are to ensure that the province’s tax system is competitive and fair and to identify ways to simplify the tax system and reduce costs for both government and taxpayers.

Osborne added that the review would also examine whether the current mix of taxes is appropriate, the progressiveness of the tax system, tax incentives, and how the tax system affects the province’s economy and its competitiveness.

The committee is expected to complete the review by next September, with a final report due in November 2018. Osborne said the schedule will give the government time to consider the committee’s recommendations before tabling the province’s 2019-20 budget.

Ontario

Reminder: Minimum wage rates rising Oct. 1

The general minimum wage rate in Ontario rose from $11.40 an hour to $11.60 on Oct. 1.

Other minimum wage rates in the province also went 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) increased from $10.70 an hour to $10.90.

The rate for liquor servers rose from $9.90 an hour to $10.10. The minimum wage rate paid to homeworkers increased from $12.55 an hour to $12.80.

The minimum wage rate for hunting and fishing guides also increased on Oct. 1. The rate for guides who work fewer than five consecutive hours in a day rose from $56.95 to $58. The rate for guides who work five or more hours in a day, whether or not the hours are consecutive, increased from $113.95 to $116.

The government is also proposing to raise 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.

Saskatchewan

Reminder: Minimum wage rising in October 

The minimum wage rate in Saskatchewan rose 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.