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