Payroll Reporter
Can
R
Can
R
adian adian a
www.payroll-reporter.com
August 2018
Federal
Budget implementation bill passes
Parliament has passed legislation to implement some of the mea-
sures proposed in this year's federal budget.
Bill C-74, the Budget Implementation Act, 2018, No. 1, received
royal assent on June 21.
Among other changes, it amends the Employment Insurance
Act to make the EI Working While on Claim Pilot Project rules
B.C. fl eshes out proposed payroll tax
Business groups cite 'serious fl aws,' urge government to consider alterations
BY SHEILA BRAWN
EMPLOYERS and payroll professionals in British
Columbia need to begin preparing for a brand-new
payroll tax.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2019, the provincial government
plans to levy an employer health tax (EHT).
B.C. Finance Minister Carole James proposed the
EHT in this year's provincial budget, saying the reve-
nue it would generate would help replace money lost
when the government eliminates Medical Services
Plan (MSP) premiums in 2020.
"In order to ensure that we are fiscally respon-
sible, we are bringing in an employer health tax, as
other provinces have done, that 85 per cent of the
businesses in British Columbia will pay nothing to-
wards," said James.
Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland
and Labrador also levy payroll taxes on employers.
James said the design elements of B.C.'s EHT are con-
sistent with those in other jurisdictions.
Last month, the government released an informa-
tion bulletin with more details about the tax, includ-
ing effective rates, employment income subject to it,
remittance rules, and special requirements for chari-
ties and non-profit employers.
see ROUNDUP page 7
PM
#40065782
Legislative Roundup
Changes in payroll laws and regulations
from across Canada
see SOME page 6
Credit:
Kevin
Light
(Reuters)
New labour standards
legislated in Quebec
Amendments aff ect employee pay,
work schedules, vacations, leaves
BY SHEILA BRAWN
EMPLOYERS with Quebec payrolls need to prepare for widespread
changes to the province's labour standards rules.
In June, Quebec's National Assembly passed Bill 176, An Act to
amend the Act respecting labour standards and other legislative
provisions to facilitate family-work balance.
see LEVY page 2
News in Brief pg. 4
Stopping benefi ts at 65
unconstitutional: Ontario Human Rights
Tribunal| Federal union calls for inquiry
into Phoenix payroll system
New youth rules
on the way pg. 3
Alberta, Manitoba aligning
legislation with international
obligations
Ask an Expert pg. 5
Vacation pay for employees
returning from unpaid leaves
| Including work on a holiday
in overtime calculation
