Canadian Payroll Reporter

DECEMBER 2013 NEWS IN BRIEF | A LOOK AT NEWS, FACTS AND FIGURES SHAPING THE WORLD OF PAYROLL PROFESSIONALS EI beneficiaries increase 1.5 per cent in August: StatsCan tions, up 2.2 per cent and the second increase in three months. By contrast, there was little change in the other occupation groups. worked an average of 32.9 hours per week in August, down from 33 hours in July and also down from the August 2012 average of 33.1 hours. OTTAWA — In August, 511,900 people received regular employment insurance (EI) benefits, up 1.5 per cent, or 7,800, from July. Compared with August 2012, the number of beneficiaries fell by 7.8 per cent. The majority of provinces saw increases in the number of beneficiaries in August compared with July — most notably Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia and Quebec. The number of regular EI beneficiaries in Alberta rose by 3.6 per cent in August, offsetting a decline that occurred in July. There were also offsetting changes in both Calgary and Edmonton. In August, there were more beneficiaries in two major occupation groups: trades, transport and equipment operation, up 4.6 per cent, and natural and applied science occupa- Payroll earnings increased 0.4 per cent in August: StatsCan Newfoundland and Labrador to increase minimum wage in 2014 OTTAWA — Average weekly earnings of non-farm payroll employees were $918 in August, up 0.4 per cent from the previous month, Statistics Canada reports. On a year-over-year basis, weekly earnings increased  1.3 per cent. The 1.3 per cent increase in weekly earnings during the 12 months to August reflected a number of factors, including wage growth, changes in the composition of employment by industry, occupation and level of job experience, as well as average hours worked per week. Non-farm payroll employees ST. JOHN'S, NFLD. — The minimum wage in Newfoundland and Labrador will increase by 25 cents to $10.25 per hour on Oct. 1, 2014. This will be followed by another 25 cent increase on Oct. 1, 2015. By Oct. 1, 2015, the minimum wage rate in the province will have increased by 75 per cent in just 10 years, according to the Labour Relations Agency. The minimum overtime wage rate will continue to be fixed at 1.5 times the minimum wage, rounded to the nearest cent. The province expects to conduct a further review of the minimum wage in 2015. LEGISLATIVE ROUNDUP | CHANGES IN PAYROLL LAWS AND REGULATIONS FROM ACROSS CANADA ■ CANADA CRA announces maximum pensionable earnings for 2014 The maximum pensionable earnings under the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) for 2014 will be $52,500 — up from $51,100 in 2013, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has announced. The new ceiling was calculated according to a CPP legislated formula that takes into account the growth in average weekly wages and salaries in Canada. Contributors who earn more than $52,500 in 2014 are not required or permitted to make additional contributions to the CPP. The basic exemption amount for 2014 remains $3,500. The employee and employer contribution rates for 2014 will remain unchanged at 4.95 per cent, and the self-employed contribution rate will remain unchanged at 9.9 per cent. The maximum employer and em- 4 ployee contributions to the plan for 2014 will be $2,425.50 each, and the maximum self-employed contribution will be $4,851.00. The maximums in 2013 were $2,356.20 and $4,712.40. ■ ALBERTA 2014 reminder: No tax rate changes The personal income tax rate in the province will remain 10 per cent on all taxable income for 2014. Please note that although this is the rate that will apply as of January 1, 2014, the 2014 provincial budget could propose changes. The budget is normally released in late winter/early spring. ■ BRITISH COLUMBIA 2014 reminder: MSP premiums rising Effective Jan. 1, British Columbia plans Canadian HR Reporter, a Thomson Reuters business 2013 to increase Medical Services Plan (MSP) premium rates. For a single person, the maximum premium is expected to increase from $66.50 per month to $69.25. The maximum premium for a family of two is expected to increase from $120.50 per month to $125.50 and for a family of three or more it is expected to increase from $133.00 per month to $138.50. 2014 reminder: New tax bracket and tax rate Effective Jan. 1, British Columbia will implement a new tax bracket and tax rate for individuals with taxable incomes exceeding $150,000. The rate for the bracket will be 16.8 per cent. The change will apply for the 2014 and 2015 tax years. The other provincial personal income tax rates will remain: 5.06 per cent, 7.7 per cent, 10.5 per cent, 12.29 per cent and 14.7 per cent. Due to the indexing of the income tax system, the income Continued on page 5

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