Changes in payroll laws and regualtins from across Canada
FEDERAL
Reminder: Victoria Day is statutory holiday in most jurisdictionsMay 18 is a statutory holiday under labour standards laws in most Canadian jurisdictions, including Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon and under the Canada Labour Code for federally regulated employers and employees. In New Brunswick, the day is a holiday under the Days of Rest Act. In most jurisdictions, the holiday is called Victoria Day. In Quebec, it is called National Patriots’ Day.
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Legislation passes to enact tax reduction changesThe British Columbia legislature has passed legislation that would implement measures announced in this year’s provincial budget, including changes to the provincial tax reduction credit. The credit is included in payroll calculations for determining provincial income tax source deductions.
Bill 10, the Budget Measures Implementation Act, 2015, passed third reading and received royal assent on Mar. 25. The bill increases the provincial tax reduction credit from $412 to $432. The credit applies to individuals who have a net income below a specified amount. The bill also increases the threshold at which the credit is phased out from $18,327 to $19,000 and raises the phase-out rate from 3.2 per cent of net income to 3.5 per cent. The changes are retroactive to Jan. 1.
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Reminder: Minimum wage going up in June
On Jun. 1, the territorial government will increase the minimum wage rate in the Northwest Territories from $10.00 an hour to $12.50, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Jackson Lafferty has announced. It will be the first minimum wage hike in the territory in over four years.
ONTARIO
Government announces minimum wage changes
The general minimum wage rate in Ontario will rise to $11.25 an hour from $11.00 on Oct. 1, the Ontario government recently announced.
The wage change is tied to the province’s new requirement that Ontario minimum wage rates be adjusted each year based on changes in the provincial consumer price index. Wage changes occur on Oct. 1, with the government announcing wage hikes by Apr. 1.
The student rate, which applies for students under the age of 18 who work fewer than 28 hours a week (or more than 28 hours during school vacation), will rise from $10.30 an hour to $10.55. The rate for liquor servers will increase from $9.55 an hour to $9.80.
The rate for homeworkers will rise from $12.10 an hour to $12.40. The minimum wage for hunting and fishing guides will increase from $55.00 to $56.30 for guides who work fewer than five consecutive hours a day. For guides who work five or more hours a day (regardless of whether the hours are consecutive), the minimum wage will rise from $110.00 to $112.60.
QUEBEC
Reminder: Minimum wage rising May 1
On May 1, the Quebec government increased the province’s minimum wage rates. The general minimum wage rose from $10.35 per hour to $10.55. The rate also applies for employees in prescribed sectors of the clothing industry.
The minimum wage rate for employees who receive tips increased from $8.90 an hour to $9.05. Minimum wages paid to raspberry and strawberry pickers also went up on May 1. The rate for raspberry pickers rose from $3.04 per kilogram to $3.12, while the rate for those who pick strawberries increased from 81 cents per kilogram to 83 cents.
