Canadian Payroll Reporter

7 Canadian HR Reporter, a Thomson Reuters business 2017 CPR | January 2017 Legislative Roundup PM #40065782 Bill 3 would use the federal Pooled Registered Pension Plans Act as the basis for the Manitoba legislation, with some excep- tions and changes to comply with Manitoba law. Newfoundland and Labrador Minimum wage rate rising The Newfoundland and Labra- dor government will raise the province's minimum wage rate twice this year, Minister of Ad- vanced Education, Skills and La- bour Gerry Byrne said recently. On Apr. 1, the government will increase the rate from $10.50 an hour to $10.75. It will raise the rate again on Oct. 1 to $11.00. Byrne said the rate hikes would bring the province's mini- mum wage rate in line with the rates that are in effect in other Atlantic jurisdictions. "Currently, Newfoundland and Labrador has the lowest minimum wage rate in Canada and that is not where we want workers in this province to be," Byrne said in a news release. He also announced that the province would hold public con- sultations on selecting a method to determine future minimum wage changes based on a mea- sure of inflation. Ontario Province enacts PRPP law Pooled registered pension plans (PRPPs) are now allowed in On- tario. On Nov. 8 last year, the Ontario government brought into force its Pooled Registered Pension Plans Act and accompa- nying regulations. The Ontario PRPP Act essen- tially incorporates provisions of a federal Pooled Registered Pension Plans Act, with changes where necessary. As with the federal act, participation in the plans is voluntary. Once third parties start offering the plans, Ontario employers will have the option of signing up for them. Once an employer is regis- tered, it will enroll its employees, who will have the option to opt out. Employee contributions will be deducted at source and employers will remit the amount deducted to the plan adminis- trator. Employers may choose to match employee contributions, but it will not be mandatory. In enacting its legislation, Ontario joins British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and Saskatchewan, as well as the federal govern- ment, in allowing PRPPs. Quebec has a similar law covering voluntary retirement savings plans, but is phasing in a requirement that will make it mandatory for employers to sign up for a plan if they employ at least five employees with a minimum of one year of unin- terrupted service and do not already offer payroll deductions for a registered retirement sav- ings plan or tax-free savings ac- count or have a registered pen- sion plan. Saskatchewan Compassionate care bill passes Saskatchewan's legislative as- sembly has passed amendments to The Saskatchewan Employ- ment Act that increases the amount of unpaid time off work employees may take for a com- passionate care leave from eight weeks to 28 weeks. Bill 28, The Extension of Compassionate Care Act, 2016, which the province's legislature passed on Nov. 23 last year, will come into force once it re- ceives royal assent. The bill also amends the act to stipulate that employees may only take one compassionate care leave in a 52-week period. The provincial government increased the leave period to 28 weeks to better align the prov- ince's compassionate care leave requirements with amendments to the federal Employment In- surance Act, which came into ef- fect last year. from PRPP BILL on page 1 STAY ON TOP OF THE LATEST TRENDS IN HR VISIT HRREPORTER.COM TODAY Featuring a blend of breaking news, in-depth analysis and opinion from industry experts, hrreporter.com is a go-to resource for the human resources community.

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