Contents:

• Welcome
• What's New
• GrandMaster Update

October 2010 - Welcome to the latest edition of The Payroll News. As always, please feel free to forward this newsletter to your friends and associates who are interested in keeping up with the latest changes in the Payroll industry. Or better yet, subscribe them for free using the Tell Others About Us link.

Listed here are recent changes in legislation on Federal and Provincial levels that may impact your payroll calculations. Please view the following list for changes that affect your region.

FEDERAL:

October 4, 2010 - Changes to Government of Canada epass system - On October 4, 2010, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) replaced the existing Government of Canada epass system with a new CRA user ID and password service. The CRA has transitioned to a new system that will continue to provide secure authentication for the My Account, My Business Account and Represent a Client online services. (Full Story)

September 30, 2010 - T4A slip redesign - The Canada Revenue Agency has redesigned the T4A slip to simplify reporting requirements, to reduce the burden for the filer, and to increase data quality. The slip has been converted from the existing fixed field format design to a generic style similar to the T4 slip. The 2010 version of the T4A slip reflects the redesigned look and will accommodate T4A reporting requirements for all tax years. (Full Story)

September 17, 2010 - New filing requirements for partnerships - The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has announced changes to the requirements for filing partnership information returns. Starting in 2011, the requirement related to the number of partners in a partnership will be replaced with a new requirement based on financial activity. Also, the requirement to file based on the types of partners will be revised. The new requirements apply to all partnerships for fiscal periods ending in 2011 and later. (Full Story)

September 17, 2010 - Governments Partner To Help Unemployed Older Workers Prepare For New Jobs - A joint initiative of the governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador is helping unemployed older workers learn new skills to assist them in finding and keeping new jobs. Since April 2009, this initiative has supported 22 projects across the province, providing skills training for over 350 people to help them re-enter the workforce. (Full Story)

September 7, 2010 - Interest rates for the fourth calendar quarter - The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has announced the prescribed annual interest rates that will apply to any amounts owed to the CRA and to any amounts the CRA owes to individuals and corporations. These rates are calculated quarterly in accordance with applicable legislation and will be in effect from October 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010. (Full Story)

Alberta:

October 27, 2010 - Industry, labour and government gather to chart Alberta's future workforce - With Alberta’s competitiveness as a focus, more than 130 officials representing employers, industry associations, labour and professional organizations, educators and government are gathering October 27 in Edmonton to plan Alberta’s future workforce. Participants will review recent progress made in strengthening the workforce through various specific strategies. (Full Story)

October 22, 2010 - Government of Canada helps youth in Grande Prairie prepare for jobs - Local youth will get an opportunity to enhance and develop their employment skills through two Grande Prairie Regional College projects sponsored by the Government of Canada. Mr.Chris Warkentin, Member of Parliament for Peace River, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable DianeFinley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. (Full Story)

October 22, 2010 - Canada Career Week helps Albertans make the most of their future - Canada Career Week is an opportunity to acquaint people with tools available to help them make decisions about their working lives. Job and career seekers can find out about labour market trends, explore their occupational interests, attend career fairs and learn more about the value of education and training. (Full Story)

September 30, 2010 - Alberta releases workplace injury and fatality records - Albertans can now see information about worksite injuries and fatalities involving more than 140,000 employers insured by the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB). The release of these records is part of government’s 10-point plan for achieving greater transparency and accountability for occupational health and safety in the province. The template for this information was released in August to give employers time to prepare. (Full Story)

September 3, 2010 - Alberta to assess the impact of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program - Alberta is extending funding of $850,000 to immigrant-serving agencies to provide services to temporary foreign workers as they adjust to life and work in Alberta. At the same time, the province will look at the impact of the arrival of thousands of temporary foreign workers on Alberta’s workforce, its communities, and its people to identify future programming options. (Full Story)

British Columbia:

October 22, 2010 - Government of Canada helps Aboriginal people improve skills and find jobs in British Columbia - Aboriginal people will get the skills they need to find and keep jobs as a result of a Government of Canada funded project. The Honourable John Duncan, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Member of Parliament for Vancouver Island North, made the announcement today, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. (Full Story)

October 21, 2010 - B.C. companies recognized for outstanding commitment in workplace health and safety - WorkSafeBC is pleased to acknowledge the many organizations and individuals across B.C. for their exceptional efforts in promoting safety and health in the workplace. Winners of NAOSH (North American Occupational Safety and Health) Week and Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE) Achievement Recognition awards will be formally acknowledged at a 2010 Safety Forum ceremony on October 21 at Newlands Golf and Country Club in Langley, B.C. (Full Story)

October 20, 2010 - Washington Partner To Promote Investment, Jobs - British Columbia and Washington State took another important step today in a unique cross-border partnership with the announcement by Premier Gordon Campbell and Governor Christine Gregoire that the two jurisdictions will develop a joint regional marketing plan to attract investment and create new jobs. (Full Story)

October 18, 2010 - Cedar Mill Re-Opens And Puts 30 People To Work - TRC Cedar Mill is firing up its saws again, producing cedar products and employing workers, Minister of Forests and Range Pat Bell and Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond celebrated today. "Anytime you have mills re-opening, it’s a good day," said Bell. "The way everyone pulled together to make this happen, it’s a real testament to McBride’s community spirit." (Full Story)

October 14, 2010 - WorkSafeBC announces lower average premium rates for 2011 - WorkSafeBC has announced that it is reducing employers’ average base premium rates by 1% to $1.54 per $100 of employers' assessable payroll in 2011. WorkSafeBC's average published base rates for 2008 through 2010 was $1.56. The rates will continue to be among the lowest in Canada. (Full Story)

October 1, 2010 - Forestry conference focuses on workplace safety - The Vancouver Island Safety Conference took place on Saturday, October 2nd at Nanaimo’s Vancouver Island Conference Centre from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The conference is designed to support best health and safety practices and business success for forest industry representatives from across B.C. (Full Story)

Manitoba:

October 25, 2010 The Government of Canada helps youth in Brandon prepare for jobs
- Local youth who face barriers to employment will get job preparation training and work experience through the Government of Canada’s support for an employment project. Mr. Merv Tweed, Member of Parliament for Brandon–Souris, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. (Full Story)

October 8, 2010 - More Manitobans Working Than Ever Before - With 16,300 people entering the workforce over the past year, more Manitobans than ever before are working, Entrepreneurship, Training and Trade Minister Peter Bjornson announced today. According to a Statistics Canada labour force report released today, the number of Manitobans employed in September 2010 rose to 659,000, with over half a million workers now employed full time. (Full Story)

September 29, 2010 - Minimum Wage Increase To $9.50 Per Hour Takes Effect Oct. 1, 2010 - Manitoba Labour and Immigration advises the hourly minimum wage in Manitoba will increase by 50 cents to $9.50 an hour on Oct. 1. On Dec. 31, 1999, Manitoba’s minimum wage was $6 per hour. With the latest increase, the minimum wage rate will have been increased by almost 60 per cent since 1999. (Full Story)

New Brunswick:

October 22, 2010 - The Government of Canada helps youth in the Moncton area prepare for jobs - Local youth who face barriers to employment will get job preparation training and work experience through the Government of Canada's support for two employment projects. Senator Carolyn Stewart Olsen made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. (Full Story)

October 22, 2010 - Government of Canada helps Aboriginal people improve skills and find jobs in New Brunswick - Aboriginal people will get the skills they need to find and keep jobs as a result of a Government of Canada-funded project. The Honourable KeithAshfield, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable DianeFinley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. (Full Story)

Newfoundland and Labrador:

September 17, 2010 - Government Partners to Help Unemployed Older Workers Prepare for New Jobs - A joint initiative of the governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador is helping unemployed older workers learn new skills to assist them in finding and keeping new jobs. Since April 2009, this initiative has supported 22 projects across the province, providing skills training for over 350 people to help them re-enter the workforce. (Full Story)

October 19, 2010 - WHSCC Employer Assessment Rate Update for 2011 - The Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission (the Commission) announced today that the average assessment rate for employers in the province will remain at $2.75 per $100 of payroll for 2011. Approximately 65 percent of employers will see a reduction in their assessment rates in 2011, while 35 per cent will experience an increase. (Full Story)

Nova Scotia:

October 25, 2010 - Volunteerism Moving to Labour and Workforce Development - Nova Scotia's 5,800 voluntary sector organizations will be better supported now that resources have been shifted to the department of Labour and Workforce Development.With more than 24,000 employees, the voluntary sector is a significant employer in the province. The change will provide a direct link with established programs and supports being offered to employers in the province. This includes labour standards, occupational health and safety, and workplace education. (Full Story)

October 18, 2010 - The Government of Canada helps youth in Brockville prepare for the labour market- Local youth who face barriers to employment will get job preparation training and work experience through the Government of Canada’s support for an employment project. Mr. Gordon Brown, Member of Parliament for Leeds–Grenville, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. (Full Story)

October 1, 2010 - Maximum Assessable/Insurable Earnings set for 2011 - On January 1, 2011, the maximum assessable / insurable earnings will increase from $50,800 to $52,000. This figure is used by the Board to determine the maximum benefit payable to injured workers in 2011, and also represents the maximum assessable earnings per worker to be reported by employers on 2011 payrolls. (Full Story)

September 30, 2010 - Minimum Wage to Increase on Oct. 1 - The minimum wage in Nova Scotia is increasing to $9.65 per hour on Friday, Oct. 1. This is a 4.9 per cent increase from $9.20. The minimum wage for inexperienced workers, with less than three months' experience in the work for which they were hired, rose to $9.15. (Full Story)

September 7, 2010 - 2011 rates decrease or hold steady for most employers - Just over half of WCB-covered employers in Nova Scotia will see their rates for workplace injury insurance decrease or hold steady next year, the WCB announced this week. Meanwhile, the number of employers receiving rate surcharges based on their claims costs is increasing by about 16 per cent over last year. (Full Story)

Ontario:

October 19, 2010 - Further Improvements To Pensions For Ontarians - Reforms to be introduced today will further strengthen Ontarians' pensions, addressing concerns of workers, retirees, and employers. Ontario continues to call for a modest and gradual expansion of the Canada Pension Plan and is advocating for pension innovation. It would harness Canada's world-leading private sector expertise to provide more efficient, lower-cost retirement options for Ontario families. (Full Story)

September 30, 2010 - Funding Review Chair Appointed to Advise on Long-Term Financial Stability of WSIB - Ontario intends to introduce legislation that would require the WSIB to be fully funded as well as clarify and strengthen the independence of the WSIB as an arms length agency. If passed, the legislation would require the long-term elimination of the WSIB's unfunded liability to ensure fair benefits for workers and the eventual reduction of employer insurance premiums. (Full Story)

September 30, 2010 - WSIB Announces Comprehensive Funding Review and Premium Rates - Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) is moving forward with a Funding Review to ensure the long-term financial stability of the WSIB. The year-long Funding Review will gather expert advice and input from workers, labour and employers on a range of public policy issues relating to the WSIB’s financial future including a plan on how to eliminate the WSIB’s unfunded liability. (Full Story)

Prince Edward Island:

October 7, 2010 - Province wants EI Benefits maintained - A fragile economic recovery is no time to cut Employment Insurance benefits, says Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development Minister Neil LeClair. The proposed changes will mean that workers will file EI claims based on their last 14 weeks of employment instead of the best 14 weeks. At the same time, EI premiums are being raised which Mr. LeClair said will impose further hardships on employers and employees. (Full Story)

September 23, 2010 - Minimum Wage Increases October 1 - In April 2010, Executive Council approved a recommendation from the Employment Standards Board to implement a 60 cent increase in the minimum wage using a two-stage approach. On October 1, 2010, the second stage of the increase will become effective, bringing the minimum wage from $8.70 to $9.00 per hour, says Community Services, Seniors and Labour Minister, Janice Sherry. (Full Story)

September 3, 2010 - Department Holds Information Seminars on Changes to the PEI Employment Standards Act - Changes to the Prince Edward Island Employment Standards Act will come into effect on October 1 and, to help inform Islanders, the Department of Community Services, Seniors and Labour will be holding information seminars across the province for employers and employees, says Community Services, Seniors and Labour Minister Janice Sherry. Amendments to the Employment Standards Act were passed in the legislature and the new changes, which will affect both employers and employees, will come into effect on October 1, 2010. (Full Story)

Saskatchewan:

October 28, 2010 - Wage-Earners Continue To See Greater Purchasing Power - Saskatchewan workers continue to benefit from wage growth that significantly exceeds cost of living increases. In August 2010, Saskatchewan workers saw, on average, a 6 per cent year-over-year increase in weekly earnings. That increase compares to a 0.8 per cent increase in the province's Consumer Price Index over the same time period. As a result, workers saw a 5.2 per cent jump in "real earnings." (Full Story)

October 25, 2010 - Living Allowances Increased For Some Skills Training Benefit Recipients - The Government of Saskatchewan has helped learners receive the funding needed to continue their studies. The Skills Training Benefit Regulations have been amended to increase the living allowances under the program to match the new 2010-11 student loan rates. Employment Insurance clients receive living allowances under the program when their needs are unmet by other sources of funding. These changes will benefit up to 500 Saskatchewan learners. (Full Story)

October 19, 2010 - Compensation Reporter (Fall 2010) - This edition of WCB's corporate newsletter includes an update about the Health & Safety Leadership Charter, the 2011 Rate Setting, WorkSafe Saskatchewan's Youth Video Contest, Compensation Institute 2011 and more. (Full Story)

October 18, 2010 - Proposed Average Premium Rate for 2011 Announced - The Saskatchewan Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) announced today its plan to freeze the 2011 average employer premium at the 2010 rate. (Full Story)

October 8, 2010 - Highest September Employment Numbers EVER - With record population, Saskatchewan reached an employment record for the month of September. There were 528,100 people working in Saskatchewan in September 2010, an increase of 6,300 over the same month last year. At 5.5 per cent, Saskatchewan's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is the second lowest in Canada, behind Manitoba, 5.4 per cent, and well below the national rate of 8.0 per cent. (Full Story)

October 5, 2010 - Another Jump In Opportunities Posted To Saskjobs.ca - Continued employer demand has fuelled another jump in opportunities available on the SaskJobs.ca website. A total of 9,579 jobs were posted to the site by Saskatchewan employers in September 2010, an 8.3 per cent increase over the same month last year. Jobs were posted in 266 communities around the province. Since January 1, employers have placed 82,860 jobs on the site. (Full Story)

September 24, 2010 - Another Month Of Record Earnings For Saskatchewan Workers - A 5.1 per cent year-over-year jump has led to another all-time record for Saskatchewan wage-earners. On average, Saskatchewan workers earned $844.63 per week in July - the highest ever for Saskatchewan and the third highest in Canada after Alberta ($992.26) and Ontario ($886.90). (Full Story)

Yukon:

October 7, 2010 - $1.4 million to be invested in Yukon through Labour Market Agreement - The Canada-Yukon Labour Market Agreement annual plan for 2010-11 was released today by Education Minister Patrick Rouble. $1.4 million will fund numerous projects as part of Canada's Economic Action Plan. "It is clear that the jobs of tomorrow will require additional training," HRSDC Minister Diane Finley said. "That is why we are pleased to work with the Yukon government and support programs that will help Yukoners come out of this economic downturn with the skills they need to get good jobs and build better futures."(Full Story)

The upcoming release of GrandMaster Suite (6.07) incorporates a number of changes and important adjustments to make it even easier to use the program and perform your payroll tasks. Some of the program changes since our last Payroll News issue include:

• The Customized Report allows you to export totals for earnings and deductions - We have made a change to the Customized Payroll Report that allows you to export totals only for selected earnings and deductions. Prior to this change you could get totals but they would be broken out by the earning or the deduction. This change will now export the cummulative total of the selected earnings and/or deductions when you select the Totals Only and Total Earnings/Deductions options.
• The rate reports now allow you to save the print option setting - This release includes a change to allow you to save the print options from the various rate report options. Prior to this release you could not save your print option requiring you to always choose the appropriate print option prior to producing the report.
• New garnishee deduction calculation method added - With this release we have included a new deduction calculation method specifically for garnishee deductions. This method (166) will allow you to define a fixed amount per pay to a maimum percentage of the employee's net pay. Additionally, you may also set a YTD maximum amount.
• Print Evaluations Required Report by due date only option added - The Evaluations Required Report has been modified to allow you to filter out records by evaluation due date. This option is only available when sorting by due date and allows you to produce a report showing all evaluations required by a specific date.
• New fixed deduction calculation method added - We have included a new fixed deduction calculation method (167) with this release. This new method allows you to define a fixed deduction amount with a benefit that is a percentage of the deduction. The benefit amount can be capped to a percentage of the YTD for selected earnings at the time of the calculation.
• Export of employee earning hours with totals and FTE option added - This release contains a new export option that allows you to export employee earning hours information including totals and an optional column for the FTE amount.
• Employee default distribution added as a Payroll Register Report sort option - This release includes a change to the Payroll Register Report to allow you to sort by the employee default distribution. This could be helpful if you are looking for subtotals by distribution (department). However, it also requires you to assign employee or company default distributions since an employee default distribution will take the company default when an employee default is not present. Additionally, the employee totals will be based on the default setting and if your employee has time keyed to multi distributions his/her totals will be summarized by the default distribution and will not be included in the multiple distributions as keyed.

• • •

Visit CanPay's News page and view the latest Release Notes for a complete listing of program changes.

Link Opportunity! - If you are a CanPay customer wanting more exposure for your Website, please send us a 50-word description along with a copy of your logo. We'll add you to our Customer Links page and create a link directly to your website. It 's a great way to expose your goods and services to the community. Logos should be a maximum of 160 x 70 pixels and provided in the .gif or .jpg format. Send your e-mails to admin@canpay.com.

A number of Canadian workers have raised the question; Can I perform volunteer work and still be entitled to receive Employment Insurance (EI) benefits?

The answer is Yes. Though not specifically stated in the Employment Insurance Act, the Government does allow Canadians to perform a certain amount of volunteer work and still receive the Employment Insurance benefits.

The misconception that volunteers will lose their EI benefit eligibility may have arisen from the idea that persons collecting EI must spend their time "looking for work" instead of serving their community in a volunteer capacity. Fortunately, this is not the case.

According to Human Resource and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC), performing volunteer work does not mean one is no longer entitled to receive EI benefits. As long as individuals are still available for and actively looking for work every day, they remain fully eligible for EI.

For the purposes of the EI program, Service Canada considers volunteer services to be work performed for which the worker receives no pay, and for which they do not derive or hope to derive any benefit, profit, or financial or economic advantage.

The EI program pays you regular benefits if you lose your job through no fault of your own (e.g. due to a shortage of work, through a mass or seasonal lay-off, etc.). Thus, if you are available for and willing to work but you cannot find a job, you are not penalized for serving your community in some capacity as a volunteer.

To be eligible for regular EI benefits, you must show that you have been without work and without pay for at least seven consecutive days; and that you have worked for the required number of insurable hours during the last 52 weeks or since your last claim. This minimum number of hours is based on where you live and the unemployment rate in your region at the time you file your claim for benefits.

As stated earlier, while claiming regular benefits, you must be available and willing to work, and you must be actively looking for work. Being available for work means you are willing to accept an offer of employment to which you are suited by skill, training, aptitude, or experience, and that you are willing to accept such an offer of employment for which there is a demand in the labor market.

Being available for work involves more than waiting passively for a job offer-it also means acting in a way that reflects a sincere desire to work, and that clearly shows you have been unable to find a job.

The only question that remains would be how many hours per week one could commit to volunteering and still remain EI-eligible. Such a question would be best posed directly to an EI representative.

While the prospect of being unemployed is rarely a good one, workers who volunteer while unemployed can take some solace in that they are contributing to their communities in a positive way -- and doing so while collecting the EI benefits to which they are fully entitled. That's good news for everyone.

Article by CanPay Software