Canadian Payroll Reporter

September 2018

Focuses on issues of importance to payroll professionals across Canada. It contains news, case studies, profiles and tracks payroll-related legislation to help employers comply with all the rules and regulations governing their organizations.

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Payroll Reporter Can R Can R adian adian a www.payroll-reporter.com September 2018 Alberta Reminder: Minimum wage to hit $15 On Oct. 1, the Alberta government will raise the general minimum wage rate from $13.60 an hour to $15. The rate for specified salespersons will increase from $542 per week to $598 and the rate for domestic employees who live in their employer's residence will rise from $2,582 a month to $2,848. Speci- fied salespersons include sales employees who sell automobiles, New WCB rules for Alberta employers Act alterations aff ect health benefi ts coverage, reinstatement of injured workers BY SHEILA BRAWN BEGINNING this month, employers in Alberta have to comply with new rules for paying health benefits to injured workers and for re-employing them once they are fit to return to work. As of Sept. 1, the Alberta government is bringing into force amendments to the province's Workers' Compensation Act that it said will better protect the rights of injured workers while not "creating unnec- essary burdens" for employers. "What employers will see is an improved system that is effective, sustainable, and remains one of the most affordable in Canada," said Labour Minister Christina Gray. The new benefit rules mean that employees off work with a work-related injury will continue to be covered under their employer's health benefits plan. Employers will have to keep paying health benefit premiums for them for up to a year while they are absent as a result of a workplace injury that occurs on or after Sept. 1. Health benefits include things such as dental and vision care, medications, and hospital, health, and paramedic (for example, physiotherapy) services. Not included are services covered under wellness see ROUNDUP page 7 PM #40065782 Legislative Roundup Changes in payroll laws and regulations from across Canada see MANDATE page 6 Credit: Jeff Whyte (Shutterstock) CPA president retires Patrick Culhane refl ects on 18-year career BY SHEILA BRAWN THIS YEAR, the Canadian Payroll Association (CPA) will mark its first National Payroll Week in 18 years without Patrick Culhane at the helm as president. In July, Peter Tzanetakis took over as president following Cul- hane's retirement. Culhane will continue to work part-time for the association for the next several months, however. Looking back on his years at the CPA, Culhane said he hopes he will be remembered for strong leadership and for his role in promot- ing payroll as a profession across Canada. see PROPER page 2 News in Brief pg. 4 CPA to celebrate National Payroll Week | WorkSafeBC unveils preliminary premium rates | WorkSafeNB urges end to three-day wait for benefi ts Keeping up with payroll law pg. 3 Plenty of legislation, regulatory changes ahead across Canada Ask an Expert pg. 5 Employee permission for substituted holidays | Source deductions on employee prizes

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