November 5, 2018 - Alberta removes minimum income requirement, updates language minimum for Alberta Opportunity Stream - Two important changes have been introduced to the Alberta Opportunity Stream, including the removal of its minimum income requirement and an update to its minimum language requirements. The removal of the minimum income requirement will be applied to all applications submitted on or after June 14, 2018, which is the day the new Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) began accepting applications. (Full Story)

October 31, 2018 - Average pay hike of 2.6% predicted in 2019 for Alberta workers - A report released on Wednesday says the average pay increase for non-unionized Canadian employees is projected to be 2.6 per cent in 2019, up slightly from the 2.4 per cent average increase received this year. The Conference Board of Canada's Compensation Planning Outlook 2019 also showed that increases in Alberta would match the national average of 2.6 per cent. (Full Story)

October 25, 2018 - Number of unemployed Albertans living without EI benefits remains high: report - A new report shows there are still over 100,000 Albertans who are out of work and not receiving help from employment insurance (EI). Using information from Stats Canada, ATB Financial released a report that suggests 115,000 Alberta residents were unemployed and not receiving EI as of August. The number is down from a year earlier when 133,000 Albertans were in the same position in August of 2017. (Full Story)

October 19, 2018 - Alberta Employment Insurance beneficiaries on the decline - The number of people in Alberta receiving Employment Insurance benefits continues to fall. A report released on Thursday by Statistics Canada said 52,300 people received EI benefits in Alberta in August, down 3.7 per cent from July and continuing the downward trend that began in the fall of 2016. The federal agency said there were 600 fewer people in Calgary on EI in August (-3.4 per cent) compared to July and 6,430 fewer year-over-year (-27.6 per cent). (Full Story)

October 15, 2018 - Alberta adds reinstatement requirements to workers' compensation obligations - On Dec. 15, 2017, Bill 30 (An Act to Protect the Health and Well-Being of Working Albertans) received royal assent, making significant changes to the Alberta Workers' Compensation Act. One significant change is the new requirement for employers to reinstate workers following workplace injuries. This obligation came into effect on Sept.1. With this change in legislation and obligations, Alberta joins other provinces, such as Ontario, in requiring employers to reinstate workers who have been unable to work due to a workplace accident, if those workers have been continuously employed by the employer for at least 12 months (either full-time or part-time). (Full Story)

October 15, 2018 - Grant program supports health and safety on farms - The grant will help offset some of the costs employers may incur in complying with the new regulations. Up to $6 million is available through the program during the next three years. On Dec. 1, the Occupational Health and Safety Code (OHS Code) will apply to farms and ranches that employ waged, non-family workers. This means Alberta farm and ranch workers will have similar health and safety protections as workers in other industries and other parts of Canada. (Full Story)

October 12, 2018 - Alberta makes progress on payday loan protection - An Act to End Predatory Lending mandates reporting on the payday loan industry every year, starting in 2018. The act was fully implemented in November 2016, and the 2017 report reflects the first full year of operations under the new rules. The annual report provides details of the payday loan industry in Alberta for the previous year, including the total value, number, and average size and term length of payday loans issued. (Full Story)

October 1, 2018 - New job opportunities for people with disabilities - New funding from the province will help create more jobs for Albertans with disabilities, and give them better access to the training and supports they need to succeed in the workforce. Celebrating DEAM is part of the government's ongoing commitment to creating an inclusive province. This month recognizes the many contributions people with disabilities make to the workforce and raises awareness about the supports available to help them succeed on the job. (Full Story)

September 28, 2018 - $15/hour minimum wage: Making life more affordable - The Alberta government is raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour on Oct. 1 to help hard-working families make ends meet and build an economy that works for everyone. The increase of $1.40 per hour will make life better for hundreds of thousands of workers and is the final step in the government's commitment, made in 2015, to a fairer wage for all Albertans. (Full Story)

November 6, 2018 - WorkSafeBC launches process safety initiative - WorkSafeBC has launched a new initiative around process safety in order to help prevent low-frequency, high-consequence events, such as catastrophic fires, explosions, chemical releases and structural collapses. A team of prevention officers, engineers, risk analysts and human factors specialists at the agency have come together to conduct inspections and engage employers in process safety. (Full Story)

November 4, 2018 - Recognizing apprentices who help build the best B.C. - The Government of British Columbia celebrates Apprenticeship Recognition Week (Nov. 4 to Nov. 10, 2018) and the many roles that apprentices play in supporting a strong, innovative economy and building the best B.C. To fill about 71,000 job openings in the skilled trades over the next decade and support a strong, sustainable, innovative economy, the Province is creating more opportunities for people who want a rewarding career in the trades. (Full Story)

November 2, 2018 - B.C. loses 1,100 jobs in October - B.C.'s white-hot economy took a breather in October as the province shed 1,100 jobs compared with the previous month. The unemployment rate, however, fell one tick to 4.1% as fewer people sought work, according to Statistics Canada data released November 2. B.C.'s unemployment rate is the lowest in the country, followed by Quebec at 5.2 per cent. The nation as a whole added 11,200 jobs in October compared with the 63,300 jobs added a month prior. (Full Story)

October 30, 2018 - Registry a first step to better protect temporary foreign workers - Harry Bains, Minister of Labour: Recently, I introduced new legislation that will better protect thousands of people coming to work in B.C. under the federal Temporary Foreign Worker Program. The Temporary Foreign Worker Protection Act will allow for better protection of these workers. Under the legislation, recruiters of foreign workers must be licensed and employers intending to hire foreign workers must be registered with the Province. Unlicensed recruiters and unregistered employers will be expressly prohibited from engaging in the process of recruiting or hiring foreign workers. (Full Story)

October 29, 2018 - WorkSafeBC 2019 premium rates - WorkSafeBC announces that the average base rate for 2019 is maintained at the same level as 2018, at 1.55% of employers' assessable payroll. Lower claims costs and strong investment returns have enabled us to keep the average rate flat for 2019. (Full Story)

October 25, 2018 - Labour code recommendations aim to restore balance, fairness - Following consultations with British Columbians, businesses, and labour organizations, an independent report on updating B.C.'s Labour Relations Code has been made public, as government considers its recommendations. "Workers' rights and protections, regardless of where they work, need to be reflected in a modernized code," said Harry Bains, Minister of Labour. "The last full review was in 1992, and clearly, a great deal has changed in how people work in today's economy." (Full Story)

October 23, 2018 - Legislation better protects temporary foreign workers from exploitation - People coming to work in B.C. under the federal Temporary Foreign Worker Program will have better protection against exploitation and abuse as a result of new legislation that has been introduced. In 2017, the federal government issued approximately 47,620 work permits for foreign nationals destined for B.C., of which 16,865 were issued under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. B.C. is second to only Ontario in terms of the number of work permits issued. (Full Story)

October 16, 2018 - Government moves forward on MSP premium elimination, tax cut for people - The Government of British Columbia is moving forward with its plan to eliminate Medical Service Plan (MSP) premiums and introduce the employer health tax (EHT). Together, these measures will reduce taxes on people and businesses by approximately $800 million each year. The government tabled the Employer Health Tax Act in the legislature on Oct. 16, 2018. Less than 5% of B.C. businesses will pay the full EHT rate of 1.95%, and the majority of small businesses are protected with a $500,000 exemption amount that phases-out gradually. (Full Story)

October 16, 2018 - WorkSafeBC raising awareness about impairment in the workplace - WorkSafeBC is advising employers to develop policies and procedures that address impairment in the workplace. To assist, WorkSafeBC has created a guide for managing workplace impairment and developing a policy. The need for an impairment policy is even more relevant with the legalization of recreational cannabis. (Full Story)

October 11, 2018 - B.C. government to register migrant workers and their employers and recruiters - The B.C. government is establishing a registry for migrant workers designed to protect them from exploitation by employers and recruiting agents. The goal of the new program is to protect migrant workers from issues like underpayment, overwork, assault, sexual assault and trafficking. Currently, workers from Mexico and other countries are allowed to work in Canada for up to eight months a year under federal programs such as the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program. (Full Story)

October 01, 2018 - Changes to the online Notice of Project submission process - The Occupational Health and Safety Regulation requires that WorkSafeBC be notified of certain types of projects before they begin. The form submitted is called a Notice of Project (NOP) and is currently available online and in print. To address employer feedback and aging technology, we are upgrading the Notice of Project online submission process. All employers will have access to the new forms on worksafebc.com by the end of 2018. (Full Story)

October 08, 2013 - Workers discouraged from filing WCB claims: labour group - The Manitoba Federation of Labour is giving the provincial Workers Compensation Board a failing grade when it comes to helping injured workers, saying employers are abusing the system by discouraging workers from filing claims. The federation's latest workplace safety report card says employers continue to abuse Manitoba's workers' compensation system by telling employees to stay quiet and return to work while hurt. (Full Story)

September 26, 2018 - Province removing WCB from summary accounts - The province says it's implementing changes to better enhance the independence of the Workers' Compensation Board, which will include removing the workers' insurance agency from its summary accounts. In a release from the Pallister government on Wednesday, Finance Minister Scott Fielding said the changes will help protect funds paid by employers to WCB. The government said Manitoba Finance has reviewed workers compensation legislation and public accounts for all 10 provinces and found that only two provinces, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, to still include it on their summary account. (Full Story)

September 26, 2018 - Manitoba Implements Changes to Enhance Independence of Workers' Compensation Board - The Manitoba government continues to implement better budgetary practices and is taking action to protect funds paid by employers to the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba (WCB), Finance Minister Scott Fielding announced today. Manitoba Finance has reviewed workers compensation legislation and public accounts for all 10 provinces.  The review revealed that Manitoba and only one other province include its provincial workers' insurance agency as part of its summary accounts.  The other eight provinces exclude those agencies from its government reporting entity. (Full Story)

November 2, 2018 - Fewer jobs but lower unemployment rate in New Brunswick for October - New Brunswick's unemployment rate dropped in October but the province also lost 1,800 jobs in the same month. The mixed statistics come from Statistics Canada's October labour force estimates. The unemployment rate declined from 7.9 per cent in September to 7.2 per cent in October. Overall, the province lost 700 full-time jobs and 1,100 part-time jobs in October. (Full Story)

November 1, 2018 - WorkSafeNB tightens opioid prescribing guidelines - WorkSafeNB has changed the way it manages opioid prescriptions for clients recovering from workplace injuries. Highlights from an updated policy that went into effect on September 29 include stricter monitoring, reducing the initial authorization period for opioid prescriptions from six weeks to two weeks, and limiting opioid dosages to 50 mg morphine equivalent per day. Dr. Paul Atkinson, WorkSafeNB's chief medical officer, said the changes come after extensive consultation with New Brunswick's medical community and the general public. (Full Story)

October 16, 2018 - Information from the Human Rights Commission on cannabis in the workplace - The New Brunswick Human Rights Commission is releasing a new publication on the duty to accommodate in the workplace regarding the consumption of cannabis. Employers and employees are reminded that their rights and obligations under the act will remain the same pre- and post-legalization. The legalization of cannabis does not effectively change the duty to accommodate, and there is no absolute; every situation should be based upon individual circumstances to determine an accommodation. (Full Story)

October 4, 2018 - WorkSafeNB enters partnerships with NBCC and CCNB - WorkSafeNB and New Brunswick's community colleges have signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) to enhance health and safety education for the province's future workforce. New Brunswick Community College (NBCC) and Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB) have dedicated health and safety education resource personnel at their combined 11 campuses. These representatives collaborate with WorkSafeNB staff and college instructors to help ensure health and safety curriculum adheres to the country's best practices and provincial legislation. (Full Story)

October 31, 2018 - Free E-learning Tools Available through SkillsPass NL - Earlier this month the Provincial Government launched SkillsPass NL - free online training courses to help increase employability, productivity and regulatory compliance. As the regulator, Service NL's goal is to help individuals and businesses gain a better understanding of their requirements, in an effort to help them better prepare for inspections. For people seeking employment, the completion of the online training will provide them with industry-specific knowledge that should help increase their employability. For employers, the courses will provide a better understanding of the regulatory environment under which they operate. (Full Story)

October 24, 2018 - Want to improve workers' compensation? Listen to the workers - I am compelled to respond to your guest column by Vaughn Hammond of the Canadian Federation of Business (CFIB) demanding we tear down the workers' compensation system. Hammond argues that while there is a statutory review of Workers Compensation planned for 2019, the previous 2013 review simply gathered "dust." Hammond further argues that "labour groups" were successful in advocating for an increase in the income replacement rate for injured workers, from 80 to 85 per cent of net income. The consequence of these actions, according to Hammond, is a system that needs tearing down. (Full Story)

October 3, 2018 - Provincial Government Declares October Disability Employment Awareness Month - October has been declared Disability Employment Awareness Month. Disability Employment Awareness Month celebrates the many contributions of workers with disabilities and recognizes the leadership of inclusive employers who educate Newfoundlanders and Labradorians about disability employment issues and the benefits of inclusion for all people. Currently, October is recognized as Disability Employment Awareness Month in British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. It is also recognized by the United Nations. (Full Story)

September 19, 2018 - Newfoundland and Labrador publishes list of employers designated under Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program - The list of Newfoundland and Labrador employers taking part in the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program has been made public, and the provincial government is encouraging foreign nationals to get in touch with them. The list contains 172 employers that have been designated by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador under the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP), which fast-tracks eligible foreign workers and international graduates with a job offer from a designated employer for Canadian permanent residence. (Full Story)

October 22, 2018 - WSCC releases educational materials about impairment in the workplace - Today, the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC) released online educational materials aimed at employers and workers on impairment in the workplace, as cannabis becomes legal for recreational use. The term impairment refers to a variety of conditions and/or substances that can impact a worker's ability to work safely. A worker who is impaired in the workplace - whether as a result of alcohol, drugs, prescribed or over-the-counter medication, or fatigue – may lead to unsafe work practices and have severe consequences for the worker, their co-workers, and the employer. (Full Story)

October 5, 2018 - N.W.T.'s unemployment rate falls to 4.7 per cent thanks to summer jobs, StatsCan reports - The Northwest Territories added 900 jobs over the summer, according to third-quarter employment data from Statistics Canada released Friday. Statistics Canada's labour force survey compiled job data from July, August and September in all three Northern territories. The data suggests the Northwest Territories relies on student jobs to keep employment numbers high over the summer, explained Jeff Barichello, an economic statistician with the N.W.T. Bureau of Statistics. (Full Story)

October 9, 2018 - New programs open doors to new career pathways for Indigenous northerners - Today, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is pleased to introduce two new initiatives that make it easier for Indigenous northerners to access training and gain valuable on-the-job experience. The Indigenous Career Gateway Program (ICGP) is intended for NWT residents who are designated Indigenous Aboriginal Persons, under the GNWT Affirmative Action Policy, who are interested in a career with the territorial government. The Department of Finance will work closely with departments to create entry level positions and to develop individualized training plans for successful applicants. (Full Story)

September 17, 2018 - Changes to the Northwest Territories Nominee Program's Employer Streams - The Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) has introduced changes to the Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP) that enhance program integrity, streamline requirements and clarify guidelines. ECE has made specific changes to the critical impact worker stream, including reducing the time a prospective foreign national must be employed by the nominating employer from 12 to 6 months and reducing the advertising requirement from 90 to 60 days. (Full Story)

October 24, 2018 - Energy Sector Connects Young Nova Scotians to Jobs - Companies in Nova Scotia's energy sector will continue to provide opportunities for students and recent graduates with support from government through the Energy Training Program. Applications are now available for employers for the 2019 program, which connects young people to jobs through specialized training and work experience. (Full Story)

October 23, 2018 - NSBI Approves Payroll Rebate - Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI) has approved a business development incentive in the form of a payroll rebate for Manulife's continued growth in Halifax. Manulife Financial Corporation (Manulife), a leading global financial services company headquartered in Canada, is transforming its business to become a digital, customer-centric market leader. It has decided to expand its existing operation in Halifax, with the potential to create up to a maximum of 600 additional jobs in the province over the next five years. (Full Story)

October 22, 2018 - Updates to workers' compensation rules just the beginning for helping Nova Scotia's first responders: NDP - On Friday, first responders in Nova Scotia with post-traumatic stress disorder will have an easier time accessing workers' compensation benefits. The big change is first responders will no longer have to prove their PTSD is work-related. This is a policy that NDP MLA Dave Wilson has been seeking for years. He first proposed the legislative changes in 2014 and called this "a huge deal." (Full Story)

October 19, 2018 - Changes to Legislation Strengthen Apprenticeship System, Make Workplaces Safer - Amendments to the Apprenticeship and Trades Qualification Act, proclaimed on Oct. 18, make for a stronger trades system in the province. The Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency has additional tools and authority to enforce certification requirements in the compulsory certified trades. In addition, students enrolled in a recognized pre-apprenticeship training program will be registered with the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency. (Full Story)

October 19, 2018 - New N.S. PTSD regulations will not cover all volunteer firefighters - In times of emergencies, communities across the country rely on volunteer firefighters. Doug Pynch first started volunteering in 1991 when he was just 19 years old. "We range from medical calls to house fires to motor vehicle accidents," he said. "Every one is different, you never know what you're going to see." And some of the things that volunteer firefighters see cannot be unseen. (Full Story)

October 17, 2018 - Presumptive benefits for PTSD - Earlier this year, WCB Nova Scotia led a stakeholder consultation process for the Department of Labour and Advanced Education (LAE) to support the development of regulations to provide the benefit of presumption for PTSD in frontline and emergency response workers. Today, LAE announced changes to the Workers' Compensation Act that will make it easier for these workers to access workers' compensation. (Full Story)

October 17, 2018 - Improved Access to PTSD Benefits Begin Next Week - Beginning Oct. 26, it will be easier for frontline and emergency response workers with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) to access workers' compensation benefits. Changes to the Workers' Compensation Act introduced last year mean those in frontline and emergency response occupations no longer have to prove that a diagnosis of PTSD is work-related. (Full Story)

October 16, 2018 - What employees should know about marijuana and the workplace - In the lead-up to recreational marijuana legalization on Wednesday, some Canadian employers have adopted restrictive policies around its use. Airlines such as Air Canada and WestJet have prohibited cannabis consumption on and off-duty for employees in "safety-critical" positions, like pilots and flight attendants. The RCMP and several police forces across the country, including the Halifax Regional Police, have adopted policies barring officers from marijuana use within 28 days of working. But in other workplaces the rules may not yet be so clear. (Full Story)

October 9, 2018 - N.S. government promises to act on NDP parental leave concern - Parents who want more time off to look after a newborn will be afforded some job protection to take advantage of the 18-month Employment Insurance program Ottawa announced last December. But how long they have to work in order to have their job held for them remains a mystery. This fall, the governing Liberals twice voted down amendments proposed by the NDP to grant employees job protection after 17 weeks on the job with the same employer. (Full Story)

October 9, 2018 - Federal jobs announced for New Waterford - There will be 44 new federal payroll support jobs coming to New Waterford next month as part of the interim measures to fix problems with the Phoenix pay system. The work that will be done at the centre is intended to help correct some of the problems that have occurred under the Phoenix pay system, which the Liberal government intends to eventually replace. Eyking said the positions will have salaries in the $50,000-60,000 range and will include benefits. He said he's not certain whether all 44 positions have already been filled. (Full Story)

November 06, 2018 - Inuktut training won't yet be mandatory for GN jobs, Nunavut premier says - Citing the chronic shortages of teachers and nurses in Nunavut, Premier Joe Savikataaq says that his government is not yet ready to declare that Inuktut training be a mandatory requirement for Government of Nunavut jobs. Savikataaq replied that the GN paid for Inuktitut training for 159 GN workers in the 2017-18 fiscal year, and will spend $400,000 more this year to expand Inuit language training. He also said Nunavut suffers from serious shortages of nurses and teachers, and filling those unfilled jobs remains a priority. (Full Story)

October 15, 2018 - October brings National Disability Employment Awareness - National Disability Employment Awareness Month aims to reduce barriers and to help individuals learn more about inclusive employment and workplace accommodations. The Department of Family Services Piqataugitsi program is a program under the Workforce Development Agreement (WDA). Piqataugitsi promotes equity, access, and inclusion in the labour market for all Nunavummiut, by ensuring persons with disabilities and those who face persistent barriers to employment have equal access to the labour market. (Full Story)

November 5, 2018 - Employment rights for new Canadians: Reasonable Doubt - More than half of Toronto residents are born outside of Canada. Still, employers continue to discriminate based on immigration status and citizenship. Muhammad Haseeb learned this in his search for employment with Imperial Oil Ltd. Imperial Oil had a policy requiring project engineers to be able to work in Canada permanently in order to be eligible for a permanent and full-time position. Mr. Haseeb received an offer of employment with the condition that he provide proof of his eligibility to work in Canada "on a permanent basis." Imperial Oil required proof in the form of a Canadian birth certificate, Canadian citizenship certificate, or a Canadian certificate of permanent residence. Since Mr. Haseeb could not provide such proof, the job offer was revoked. (Full Story)

November 5, 2018 - Ontario Is Begging For Skilled Trade Workers And Is Looking To Give Free Education To Get 1,200 People In The Workforce - Right now, Ontario is looking to send 1,200 Ontarians into apprenticeship programs absolutely free because the province is in need of more specialized workers. Tradespeople are workers who specialize in a particular field that requires work experience, on-the-job training, and some formal education. Today, Ontario's applications for skilled trade worker apprenticeships opened and they're investing $13.2 million dollars to provide Canadians with a free education. The need for workers also means that you'll be entering into a field that is actively hiring. (Full Story)

November 5, 2018 - Ontario Helps People Prepare for a Career in the Skilled Trades - Ontario's Government for the People is helping individuals across the province prepare for successful careers in the skilled trades, so employers can get the skilled workers they need to make Ontario open for business. Each year, Ontario colleges and other community partners offer local training for people considering careers in the trades through the province's Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program. (Full Story)

November 2, 2018 - Ontario minister defends labour bill even as jobless rate falls - On the same day a Southwestern Ontario cabinet minister was touting the Ontario Tory government's proposed labour reforms as much-needed changes to improve the province's economy and create more jobs in the region, the area's unemployment rate broke a 14-year low record set this year and flirted with surpassing its lowest rate ever. The local jobless rate continues to be lower than the provincial and national averages, which also went down last month and now sit respectively at 5.6 per cent and 5.8 per cent - a four-decade low. (Full Story)

October 25, 2018 - No sign minimum wage hike was 'job killer' Doug Ford says it was - When Ontario's previous Liberal government boosted the minimum wage to $14 an hour and promised every employee two paid sick days annually, some predictions of its effect on the economy and jobs verged on apocalyptic. Now that Premier Doug Ford's government is scrapping nearly every change the Liberals made to the employment laws and freezing the minimum wage until October 2020, it's time to assess whether the claims that it's killing jobs and devastating the economy are true. (Full Story)

October 23, 2018 - Ontario to freeze minimum wage, eliminate mandatory paid sick days - Ontario's Progressive Conservative government says it plans to repeal chunks of the previous government's Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act amid pushback from business owners who argued many of the changes were too costly, forcing them to raise prices and cut staff. The government said it will maintain the current minimum wage at $14 an hour until 2020. The government also said it will implement annual increases to the minimum wage, tied to inflation, starting in 2020. (Full Story)

October 23, 2018 - Open for Business: Removing Burdens While Protecting Workers - Ontario is open for business: the government is acting to bring jobs and investment back to our province by lightening the burden on business and making sure that hard work is rewarded. The proposed Making Ontario Open for Business Act would remove the worst burdens that prevent Ontario businesses from creating jobs while expanding opportunities for workers. The government is proposing to repeal amendments made by the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017 (Bill 148) that are causing employers the most concern and unnecessary burden. (Full Story)

October 23, 2018 - Open for Business: Modernizing Ontario's Apprenticeship System - The province is taking the first steps to modernize and transform Ontario's skilled trades and apprenticeship system. The current regulatory burdens placed on employers and apprentices create barriers to apprenticeship, making it difficult for Ontario to keep up in training the skilled tradespeople that will be demanded by the economy. About one in five new jobs in Ontario in the coming years are expected to be in trades-related occupations. (Full Story)

October 12, 2018 - What will happen to Ontario's new employment legislation? - Earlier this month, Ontario premier Doug Ford announced in the provincial legislature that he would be axing Bill 148, an assortment of changes to the Employment Standards Act that the former Liberals put in place this year. Highlights of the bill included a raise to the minimum wage; a mandate of equal pay for equal work; personal emergency leave of 10 days, the first two of which are paid; and changes to vacation. (Full Story)

October 2018 - WSIB 2019 Premium rates - The WSIB has announced that they are now operating without an Unfunded Liability (UFL). The elimination of the UFL has allowed them to provide Schedule 1 businesses an average premium rate reduction of 29.8 percent for 2019. This means that for the third year in a row, the WSIB has been able to offer reductions in the average premium rate for Schedule 1 businesses. This brings the total cumulative reduction to the average premium rate since 2016 to 36.3 per cent. (Full Story)

September 26, 2018 - WSIB Premium Rate Savings to Help Employers Boost Economy - Ontario's Government for the People and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) announced today that premium rates for employers will be sharply reduced due to the elimination of the WSIB's Insurance Fund's unfunded liability. By eliminating the unfunded liability, the WSIB will be able to cut the average premium rate for employers by almost 30 per cent, starting January 1, 2019. (Full Story)

October 30, 2018 - Draft policy for feedback and new WCB policy - The Workers Compensation Board has approved, in principle, amendments to two policies: Arising Out of and in the Course of Employment (POL-71), and Repetitive Strain Injuries (POL-91). Stakeholders are invited to provide feedback on the draft policies by November 28, 2018 in the Policy Consultation section of our website. The Workers Compensation Board has also approved a new policy, Medical Cannabis (POL-153), and corresponding amendments to the policy, Medications (POL-120). We thank all stakeholders who participated in the consultation process. (Full Story)

October 26, 2018 - Minimum wage to increase - Prince Edward Island's minimum wage will remain the highest in Atlantic Canada when it increases by 70 cents to $12.25 per hour on April 1, 2019. Prince Edward Island is Canada's only jurisdiction to show continuous economic growth since 2008. The province leads the Atlantic region in population growth. This economic growth occurred at a time where PEI experienced the highest level of income equality in the country. (Full Story)

October 26, 2018 - Chamber concerned P.E.I. minimum wage hikes will have unintended consequences - The Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce is raising concerns about the impact a six per cent minimum wage hike will have on Island workers. Earlier today, the province announced that minimum wage will be raised by 70 cents on April 1. In a press release, Chamber CEO Penny Walsh-McGuire said the Chamber agrees that modest increases in minimum wage can be done without disrupting labour markets, but said government has to be cautious about hurting competitiveness. (Full Story)

October 26, 2018 - Want a successful business? Hire a balanced workforce - Businesses function better when they have a more equal mix of employees – especially in construction, sciences, and engineering. Donna Clark told a gathering of Islanders last week that the STEM fields (sciences, technology, engineering, and math) are not balanced in terms of gender - and other criteria like race– but would be better off if they were. National numbers show that the trades, science, and technology sectors are not balanced in terms of gender. (Full Story)

October 16, 2018 - P.E.I. looks to foreign workers to maintain PNP immigration levels - The P.E.I. government plans to increase the number of foreign workers it sponsors for permanent Canadian residency as part of its overall plan to maintain immigration at the highest levels seen in a decade. The review projects an increase in the number of workers the province plans to sponsor to fill job vacancies with Island employers to 425 in 2019, nearly twice the number of workers the province sponsored in 2017. (Full Story)

October 15, 2018 - Job vacancies on P.E.I. offering lowest wages in country - Job seekers on P.E.I. are being offered the lowest wages in the country, according to a new report from Statistics Canada. The job vacancy report issued this week found that the average offered hourly wage was just $14.40/hour in the second quarter of this year, more than 50 cents less than the next lowest average offered wage, in Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley, and almost $6 below the national average. (Full Story)

October 9, 2018 - NDP calls for $15 minimum wage for P.E.I. in 2019 - P.E.I.'s NDP leader Joe Byrne challenged the province's premier to come up with a plan to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour in 2019. At a media conference Wednesday, Byrne said at the current level of $11.55 an hour, a single parent would have to work 60 hours a week just to lift them and their child out of poverty. P.E.I.'s minimum wage rose to $11.55 from $11.25 on April 1, 2018, and is currently the highest in Atlantic Canada. (Full Story)

October 9, 2018 - Companies able to hire internationally to P.E.I. through federal program - More than 200 companies on P.E.I. are now designated to apply to hire foreign nationals under the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP). The federal program was launched in March 2017 in all four Atlantic provinces. It allows businesses to hire foreign nationals to fill positions they haven't been able to fill locally. (Full Story)

October 9, 2018 - LETTER: Equitable access to EI support - On P.E.I. in 2014, the federal Conservative government divided employment insurance into two distinct zones. The boundary line defining EI zone 2 (Charlottetown) arbitrarily, is a line not based on sound economic reasoning but is in fact a boundary line based on an outdated population census map published in the 1970s. Dividing P.E.I. into two EI zones has allowed, through the manipulation of employment statistics, an artificial lowering of the unemployment rate within Charlottetown and P.E.I.'s zone 2 employment insurance region. (Full Story)

October 9, 2018 - P.E.I. unemployment rate below 10% for 5 straight months - P.E.I.'s unemployment rate fell to 8.7 per cent in September, the fifth consecutive month it was below 10 per cent. The last time there were five straight months of single-digit rates was in 2014. Before that you would have to go back to the 1970s. 2018 is on track to have the lowest unemployment on record for the province. In the first nine months the rate averaged 9.77 per cent. In 1978 it was 9.79 per cent. (Full Story)

September 19, 2018 - P.E.I. will extend parental-leave job security this fall - P.E.I. will be the last province to do it, but this fall it will amend its Employment Standards Act to protect workers who take more than 12 months of parental leave. Last year the federal government gave new parents the option of taking up to 18 months leave instead of 12. But while benefits were extended, only federal workers were guaranteed they could return to their jobs if they stayed out more than a year. That's because that protection for most workers is provincially regulated. (Full Story)

November 2, 2018 - Strongest Job Growth In Saskatchewan In Four Years - Statistics Canada reported today that in October Saskatchewan's year-over-year employment increased by 9,400 jobs.  This is the largest gain in jobs for the province since October 2014. Full-time employment increased by 5,700 jobs and part-time employment increased by 3,700 jobs compared to a year ago.  On a monthly basis, seasonally adjusted employment increased by 2,500 jobs from September 2018. (Full Story)

October 31, 2018 - WCB and WorkSafe Saskatchewan building injury prevention research capacity - As part of ongoing efforts to reduce injuries and fatalities in the province, the Saskatchewan Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) is undertaking steps to strengthen ties between researchers and Saskatchewan's primary injury prevention partners - WorkSafe Saskatchewan, the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety (LRWS), research institutions and industry safety associations. (Full Story)

October 27, 2018 - Push for $15 minimum wage lies ahead, says new president of Sask. Federation of Labour - The newest president for Saskatchewan Federation of Labour says she's gearing up for the battles ahead, fighting for public sectors and lobbying for a $15 per hour minimum wage among them. Johb previously served as secretary-treasurer for the organization and worked alongside former president Larry Hubich. Hubich led the federation in a fight against essential services legislation introduced by the Saskatchewan Party in 2007 in a case that went all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada. (Full Story)

October 16, 2018 - WCB announces proposed changes to 2019 average premium rate - Average preliminary rate suggests a 1.7% decrease from 2018 Saskatchewan's 2019 preliminary employer premium rate decreases for 12th consecutive year 2019 proposed average premium rate is expected to decrease to $1.17 from $1.19 in 2018 42.5% of Saskatchewan employers will see a decrease or no change to their 2019 premium rate Premium rates for 57.5% of employers will increase next year 2019 proposed premium rate reflects the WCB's complete transition to the enhanced rate model that was implemented in 2018. (Full Story)

October 10, 2018 - WorkSafe helps prepare Saskatchewan workplaces for cannabis legalization - As part of ongoing efforts to help prepare workplaces, WorkSafe Saskatchewan has developed a video for employers to answer questions surrounding the legalization of cannabis on Oct. 17. Kevin Mooney, director of prevention at the Saskatchewan Workers' Compensation Board (WCB), said many of their industry partners had come to them with concerns about the potential impacts of cannabis in workplaces, especially in safety-sensitive industries. (Full Story)

October 9, 2018 - Not the time for living wage for city workers: Administration - A proposal to introduce a living wage policy for city of Regina employees isn't getting support from administration. The idea was suggested two years ago, but officials say now is not the time. The idea was first proposed two years ago - and it's set to be discussed at a committee meeting on Wednesday. The administration has put together a report that is advising against making the city a living wage employer. (Full Story)

October 5, 2018 - 3,300 New Jobs Created Year-Over-Year - Saskatchewan's employment increased by 3,300 jobs from September 2017, largely driven by growth in the private sector. Saskatchewan had 575,300 people employed in September 2018, according to data released by Statistics Canada today.  Seasonally adjusted employment was up by 1,800 from August 2018. Full-time jobs increased by 1,000 from September 2017 and part-time jobs increased by 2,300. (Full Story)

October 2, 2018 - Province Proclaims October As Disability Employment Awareness Month - The Government of Saskatchewan has proclaimed October as Disability Employment Awareness Month. Every year, this month is set aside to promote the individual, economic and societal benefits of diversifying Saskatchewan's workforce by employing people experiencing disability. (Full Story)

September 28, 2018 - Minimum Wage In Saskatchewan Is $11.06 Effective October 1 - The province's minimum wage will increase to $11.06 per hour, an increase that was announced in June 2018. This is the 10th increase to the minimum wage since 2007, when minimum wage was $7.95. Every year Saskatchewan's minimum wage is calculated using an indexation formula that gives equal weight to changes to the Consumer Price Index and Average Hourly Wage for Saskatchewan. (Full Story)

October 25, 2018 - Deadline approaches for compliance with workplace hazardous materials regulations - Yukon workplaces are required to comply with the updated Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) regulations by December 1, 2018. WHMIS regulations apply to Yukon workplaces where hazardous materials are used. The system requires employers to provide their workers with information on the safe use of hazardous products - such as solvents, bleach and paint - using symbols, labels, information sheets, and education and training. (Full Story)

October 17, 2018 - Recreational cannabis legalization guidance - Cannabis is now legal for recreational use in Canada. This doesn't change the workplace health and safety responsibilities that Yukon employers and workers have. Employers must provide a safe work environment and take reasonable precautions to protect the health and safety of workers. This includes making sure that a worker who is impaired in any way is not assigned activities where their impairment may endanger them or anyone else. (Full Story)

October 16, 2018 - 'Doing it our way': Yukon First Nation takes fresh approach to job training - The Champagne and Aishihik First Nations in Yukon are taking a fresh approach to training and employing some citizens who might have a hard time finding work. Dän Tsʼänānän is a training-to-employment program for First Nation citizens who have addictions or face other barriers to employment. The money for the program is coming from the federal government's Skills and Partnership Fund. The First Nations is taking an unusual approach in administering the program - if an employee misses work, they won't be dropped from the program. (Full Story)

September, 17, 2018 - Yukon government considers changing the leave of absence laws - The Yukon government is asking the public whether it should change territorial rules around leaves of absence to mirror federal legislation. The crux of the matter centres on using established job protections over a longer period of time. Currently, Yukoners on standard parental leave get 37 weeks off and are paid 55 per cent of their average weekly earnings. Under the proposed change time off would be bumped to 62 weeks, inline with the federal government, but Yukoners would have their benefits stretched out over that time. That means less benefits per week. (Full Story)