Canadian Payroll Reporter

Payroll Reporter Can R Can R adian adian a www.payroll-reporter.com February 2016 see NEW BRUNSWICK page 7 PM #40065782 Legislative Roundup Changes in payroll laws and regulations from across Canada News in Brief pg. 4 2016 auto-related rates | Ceilings for housing benefi ts| Average weekly earnings in October | Higher starting salaries in the United States Ask an expert pg. 5 Minimum wage changes for 2016|Reporting retiring allowances on an ROE |Lump-sum payment for a terminating employee see CAN page 2 Fit to be taxed Programs to help employees achieve their health goals may result in taxable benefi t BY SHEILA BRAWN EXERCISING MORE, eating better, losing weight and quitting smoking are common New Year's resolutions. Programs to help workers achieve these goals may have payroll implications for em- ployers and employees. To attract and retain top workers, some employers offer employ- ment benefits beyond medical/dental plans, group term life insur- ance and paid parking, and provide programs aimed at helping employees improve their health and wellness. On-site gyms, fitness club memberships and diet and nutrition counselling are common Alberta Legislature passes farm worker bill The provincial legislature has passed legislation to make it manda- tory for paid farm and ranch workers to be covered under the prov- ince's employment standards and workers' compensation laws. Bill 6, the Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act, received royal assent on Dec. 11. It removes a number of farming-re- lated industries from a list of those exempted from workers' compen- sation coverage under the Workers' Compensation Regulation. The new rules came into effect on Jan. 1, but the Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) says it is giving employers in those industries that em- ploy paid workers until Apr. 30 to set up a WCB account. see PAYROLL on page 6 Credit: xBlair Gable/REUTERS True or False pg. 3 How well do you know your responsibilities when it comes to the Record of Employment (ROE) for Service Canada? Take our test to fi nd out. Possible changes on the way for CPP Health-related premiums, payroll taxes entrenched in other jurisdictions BY SHEILA BRAWN AT 50, is it time for a change? If so, what kind of change? The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) turned 50 on Jan. 1 and politicians across the country are wondering if the time is right for changing the program. The new federal Liberal government has put CPP reform on its agenda, saying it wants to enhance the plan. In December, Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau met with his provincial/territorial counterparts to discuss a number of issues, including po- tential CPP changes. While the finance ministers did not an- nounce any concrete CPP proposals, they did agree to continue looking at the issue and to meet over the course of the year to talk about possible reforms. "Our goal is that in a year from now, we will have more to talk to Canadians about," Morneau said in a news conference. "We are going to have a range of things un- der consideration, from doing nothing because of the economy to more signifi- Minister of Finance Bill Morneau speaks at a conference with provincial fi nance ministers in Ottawa in December where CPP reform was discussed.

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