Payroll Reporter
Can
R
Can
R
adian adian a
www.payroll-reporter.com
February 2019
Ontario proposes to reduce red tape
ESA changes would aff ect excess hours and overtime averaging agreements
BY SHEILA BRAWN
EMPLOYERS in Ontario will no longer need
employment standards' permission for em-
ployees to work excess weekly hours or to
implement overtime averaging agreements,
if proposed employment standards amend-
ments become law.
The proposed changes were included in
Bill 66, Restoring Ontario's Competitiveness
Act, 2018, which the government tabled in
December before the province's legislature
adjourned until mid-February.
The bill proposes changes to more than a
dozen laws, including the Employment Stan-
dards Act, 2000.
Todd Smith, the province's economic de-
velopment minister, said the amendments
would eliminate red tape for businesses.
"The amendments... will cut business
costs, harmonize regulatory requirements
with other jurisdictions, end duplication,
and reduce barriers to investment," he said.
The employment standards proposals
would eliminate a requirement for employ-
ers to apply to the employment standards
see ROUNDUP page 7
PM
#40065782
Legislative Roundup
Changes in payroll laws and regulations
from across Canada
see INDEPENDENT page 6
Credit:
Roy
Harris
(Shutterstock)
see BILL 66 page 2
News in Brief pg. 4
2019 auto-related rates unveiled |
2019 ceilings for housing benefi ts
announced | Nova Scotia's minimum
wage set to rise to $11.55
Keep it simple pg. 3
Simplifi cation of pension
enrolment can encourage
more employees to join
company plans: Study
Ask an Expert pg. 5
Upcoming minimum wage
changes | Understanding
2019 C/QPP changes |
Reporting death benefi ts
Report recommends
ESA changes in B.C.
Direct deposit, wage assignments,
vacation pay among topics discussed
BY SHEILA BRAWN
CHANGES to the rules for paying employees could be on the way in
British Columbia if the province's government adopts recommen-
dations in a new report, stemming from a four-year review of the
province's Employment Standards Act (ESA) by the British Colum-
bia Law Institute (BCLI).
Federal
Omnibus budget bill passes
Canada has passed legislation that, once in force, will make wide-
spread changes to federal labour standards, implement a new em-
ployment insurance (EI) parental sharing benefit, and introduce
proactive pay equity legislation, among other measures.
The changes were included in Bill C-86, the Budget Implementa-
tion Act, 2018, No. 2, which received royal assent on Dec. 13.
