April 1, 2023 - Chatham-Kent 'fighting back' as Alberta tries to lure skilled workers - An Alberta campaign to attract skilled workers to that province is being met with resistance by at least one mayor in southwestern Ontario. The campaign features radio ads hoping to lure workers west. That's why Darrin Canniff, mayor of Chatham-Kent, wanted to get a campaign of his own going. "We were inundated with them and I know that a lot of people were rather agitated," he said. (Full Story)

March 29, 2023 - AB had 2nd worst payroll employee growth under UCP - Statistics Canada recently released fourth quarter data on payroll employment for each of the provinces. In particular, it includes full-time employees, part-time employees, as well as permanent, casual, temporary, and seasonal employees. It also includes working owners, directors, partners, and other officers of incorporated businesses, as well as employees who work at home or on the road but report to the location. (Full Story)

March 22, 2023 - Can employers in Alberta change a worker's job description? - The short answer is no. Employers in Alberta can't make significant changes to a non-unionized worker's job description or duties without their consent. When major modifications are made to the terms of your employment without your approval, the law allows you to resign and seek full severance pay through a constructive dismissal claim. (Full Story)

March 19, 2023 - Opportunities in N.S. may reduce impact of Alberta job recruitment, says expert - An economic expert says Nova Scotians may not be as open to going west in search of new opportunities as Alberta launches its second campaign to draw skilled workers from Atlantic Canada and Ontario. The Alberta government said this week it was launching a second campaign piggybacking off the Alberta is Calling program launched last summer. It initially targeted Canadians living in Toronto and Vancouver. (Full Story)

March 17, 2023 - Albertans benefited from higher minimum wage, but up to 26,000 jobs were lost: report - While many Albertans saw their paycheques increase, the province's shift to a $15-an-hour minimum wage also led to between 23,000 and 26,000 job losses among young workers, according to a newly released report. The report concludes a "significant" number of employees moved up in pay as Alberta's minimum wage climbed from $11.20 an hour in 2015 - at the time tied for the lowest rate in the country - to a Canada-leading $15 an hour in 2018. (Full Story)

March 17, 2023 - Minimum wage panel report: Minister Jean - Minister Brian Jean issued a statement on the public release of the Minimum Wage Expert Panel report. He said "While the panel's analysis is well done and valuable in a historical context, it must be considered in light of current economic conditions in our province. "Contrary to the Opposition's claims, Alberta's government has no plans to change the current minimum wage structure or introduce a separate liquor server minimum wage." (Full Story)

March 15, 2023 - Changes to your employment in Alberta: What you should know - In most cases, an employer in Alberta does not have the right to impose significant changes to the terms of your employment. This includes: pay reductions, drastically reducing an employee's hours of work, and demoting an employee. Any change that is considered significant and negative implemented by an employer is not permissible. Employees who have not consented to changes in their initial employment agreement do not have to accept changes imposed by their employer. (Full Story)

March 8, 2023 - Supporting women in the skilled trades - Through Budget 2023, Alberta's government is investing in women and empowering them to build rewarding careers. Over the next three years, $10.7 million will support Women Building Futures in their work while ensuring employers have the talent they need to grow their businesses. Women Building Futures is a non-profit organization that helps unemployed and underemployed women explore a future in the skilled trades, where they can gain paid, on-the-job experience and build a career. (Full Story)

March 8, 2023 - Removing employment barriers for immigrant women - Access to safe, good quality and affordable child care is critical to ensuring Alberta parents can return to work and foster economic growth in the province. With a commitment to creating a total of up to 68,700 new licensed child-care spaces by 2026, up to 9,000 new early childhood educators will be needed to fully staff these spaces. (Full Story)

March 7, 2023 - More apprenticeship spaces for Alberta students - Through Budget 2023, Alberta's government is providing a funding boost of $15 million over three years to the Apprenticeship Learning Grants. With this increase, total funding for the grants will be $42 million in 2023-24. The Apprenticeship Learning Grants are important for post-secondary institutions in Alberta that deliver classroom instruction to complement on-the-job training. New seats will be allocated to post-secondary institutions based on student demand and workforce data for in-demand skilled trades. (Full Story)

March 3, 2023 - Alberta has more PT jobs than a decade ago - I was recently reviewing employment data from Statistics Canada when I got curious about the relationship between full-time jobs and part-time jobs in Alberta. So I extracted 10 years worth of data for full-time and part-time jobs in the province to compare them. In December 2022, there were 1,970,600 full-time jobs in Alberta and 438,500 part-time jobs. Full-time jobs made up 81.80% of all jobs and part-time jobs made up 18.20%. By comparison, in December 2012, those percentages were 84.21% full-time and 15.79% part-time. (Full Story)

April 3, 2023 - Red Seal training brings more qualified tradespeople to B.C. - More people will now be able to train for jobs as automotive technicians, millwrights and welders on the Lower Mainland through a new Community and Employer Partnerships (CEP) project funded by the Province. Participants will receive 10 weeks of essential employment and technical skills training, four weeks of work experience with local employers, and one week of followup support to prepare participants for work. (Full Story)

March 28, 2023 - New training prepares more people to be community support workers - More people will be able to train for jobs as certified community support workers to help people on the Lower Mainland through a Community and Employer Partnerships (CEP) project funded by the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. The training will provide these participants with a combination of both theoretical and practical knowledge that will help them work with people who have a range of social and health needs within the social service organizations in the region. (Full Story)

March 22, 2023 - How B.C. skilled worker shortage could worsen in years to come - The province could face a worsening shortage of skilled workers over the next decade as the number of people coming into the profession lags behind those leaving. The president of Okanagan College told Kelowna council during his yearly update that economics and demographics are working against each other when it comes to the skilled work force. (Full Story)

March 17, 2023 - B.C. workers, businesses await minimum wage news - Businesses and workers in B.C. are waiting to see if the province's minimum wage is going up this year, and if so, by how much. B.C.'s minimum wage usually increases on June 1 each year, and the last increase in 2022 brought it up to $15.65 per hour. According to the province, last year's raise was the first tied to B.C.'s average annual inflation rate, which was 2.8 per cent in 2021. (Full Story)

March 17, 2023 - Can employers in B.C. force staff to relocate? - In most cases, employers don't have the right to make non-unionized workers in British Columbia relocate to a new workplace or office - especially if the move increases their commute by a substantial amount or uproots an individual and their family. Exceptions: There are some situations where it could be possible for your boss to transfer you to another location without breaching your rights. (Full Story)

March 16, 2023 - Changes to your job in B.C.: What you should know - Generally speaking, an employer or business operating in B.C. can't make considerable and unwanted changes to an employee's job or the terms of their employment. You do not have to accept a change introduced by your employer. If you object to the modification, make the company aware of it in writing, preferably through an email so that you have a record of your refusal. (Full Story)

March 16, 2023 - WorkSafeBC guideline aims to ensure proper fit of PPE for all workers, regardless of gender - WorkSafeBC is reminding employers about a new guideline aimed at ensuring personal protective equipment (PPE) fits properly for all workers, regardless of their gender. The guideline, which came into effect in November 2022, is intended to address the issue of ill-fitting PPE, which can compromise worker safety. The issue of ill-fitting PPE is particularly pronounced for women in traditionally male-dominated industries. (Full Story)

March 10, 2023 - B.C. adds 6,700 jobs in February as growth slows - Growth in B.C.'s labour force took a bit of a breather last month. The province added 6,700 jobs in February - down from the addition of 8,000 jobs in January and the addition of 17,000 jobs the month before that. Statistics Canada data released on Friday (March 10) also reveals the unemployment rate jumped 0.7 percentage points between January and February. With more people entering the labour force, the rate now sits at 5.1 per cent. (Full Story)

March 10, 2023 - Enhanced training will create safe and inclusive workplaces - Employers will have access to more free online resources helping them build and maintain psychologically safe and healthy workplaces thanks to a $700,000 provincial grant to the B.C. division of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA-BC). The grant will also expand the hub's training and coaching program to include personalized guidance on workplace psychological health and safety best practices. (Full Story)

March 8, 2023 - B.C. rolls out legislation for pay transparency in job ads - British Columbia is looking to close the gender pay gap in the province with new legislation. The provincial government has introduced new pay transparency legislation that will require all employers to include wage or salary ranges in all publicly advertised jobs. The requirement will be introduced to different employers in stages to give them time to prepare, according to the government. (Full Story)

March 7, 2023 - Legislation will help close B.C.'s gender pay gap - New pay transparency legislation was introduced March 7, 2023, to help close the gender pay gap in B.C. - the next step on the path to pay equity. Once the legislation is passed, as of Nov. 1, 2023, all employers will be required to include wage or salary ranges on all publicly advertised jobs. In addition, as soon as the legislation is in force, B.C. employers will not be able to ask prospective employees for pay history information or punish employees who disclose their pay to co-workers or potential job applicants - actions known to contribute to the gender pay gap. (Full Story)

March 7, 2023 - Can employers in B.C. cut a worker's pay? - The short answer is no. Employers in B.C. can't significantly reduce a non-unionized employee's salary or commission without the worker's consent. If your boss makes major modifications to the terms of your employment, such as cutting your pay by 15 per cent or more, it's very likely that you could treat the move as a constructive dismissal. (Full Story)

February 23, 2023 - New funds will bolster supports for workers, businesses - The Employment Standards Branch will hire more staff to resolve disputes between workers and employers, provide guidance on B.C.'s employment standards, and process employer registrations for temporary foreign workers. Government is increasing the branch's operating budget by nearly $12 million over three years to hire as many as 33 more full-time employees in response to the growing demand for its services. (Full Story)

April 3 2023 - Manitoba Chambers on minimum wage increase - Manitoba's minimum wage took a jump from $13.50 to $14.15 on April 1st. Many are delighted by the rise in pay, but it seems Manitoba's Chambers of Commerce has mixed feelings. In a statement on the increase, the chamber says that due to labour force shortages and inflationary pressures, businesses are experiencing a piling-on effect and are struggling to keep up with costs. (Full Story)

March 31 2023 - What you need to know when hiring someone under 18 in Manitoba - Young employees can be a great addition to your business. You have the chance to offer meaningful work experiences for Manitoba's youth as they consider their career options. There are employment standards and workplace safety laws specific to employees under the age of 18. Manitoba's minimum wage rate applies to all workers, regardless of age. Effective April 1, 2023, minimum wage is $14.15 per hour. (Full Story)

March 31 2023 - Steinbach employers wonder how minimum wage increase will impact inflation - Another pay increase starts this weekend for Manitoba's minimum wage earners and some Steinbach employers wonder how this will affect inflation. Effective April 1, the new minimum wage will be $14.15 an hour. There will be another increase on October 1, 2023 which will bring the minimum hourly wage to $15.30. (Full Story)

March 28, 2023 - Manitoba to raise minimum wage further in 2023 - The Manitoba government has announced that in addition to raising its minimum wage from $13.50 to $14.15 on April 1, 2023 on its planned pathway to $15 this October, it will now be raising the minimum as of October 1, 2023 to $15.30. This represents a $3.35 or 30% increase in under a year, as the government goes into an uphill re-election battle this Fall. (Full Story)

March 22, 2023 - Manitoba Government to Increase Minimum Wage Twice in 2023 - This October, Manitoba minimum wage earners will be making $3.35 per hour more than they were in September 2022 following iterative increases that position Manitoba as one of the top minimum wage provinces in Canada, Labour and Immigration Minister Jon Reyes announced today. The increases started with a $1.55 increase to $13.50 on Oct. 1, 2022, to be followed by a 65 cent increase to $14.15 on April 1 and now a further $1.15 annual increase on Oct. 1 to $15.30. (Full Story)

March 21, 2023 - Pay increase for disability support workers should stabilize workforce, province says - Scott Smith hopes new government funding for disability services will allow him and his wife to worry less about their son's future. Smith, whose son has an intellectual disability, knows that as he and his wife age, they will be unable to care for their son, and the history of instability in the disability support workforce worries them. The provincial government announced $104 million in new funding for disability services announced in the March 7 budget, including more than $80 million to increase support workers' pay. (Full Story)

March 17, 2023 - Manitoba Labour Market Outlook Projects Consistent Job Growth - The Manitoba Labour Market Outlook report for 2022 to 2026 predicts consistent job growth in the province, Economic Development, Investment and Trade Minister Jeff Wharton announced today. The report and labour market outlook data are now available online in an easy-to-navigate format that will help employers and jobseekers access timely planning information and detailed data on specific occupations. (Full Story)

March 1, 2023 - Manitoba Government Simplifies Small Business Minimum Wage Adjustment Program - The Manitoba government is adjusting the Small Business Minimum Wage Adjustment Program to streamline the application process and enable small businesses to receive support as one-time funding. Eligible small businesses can now apply online to receive a one-time direct deposit payment of $520 per eligible employee to a maximum of $10,400. (Full Story)

February 24, 2023 - Manitoba Government Launches Survey on Wage Rates For Apprentices - The Manitoba government is launching a new online survey through EngageMB to gain industry feedback on regulated wage rates for apprentices as part of its plan to increase minimum wage to $15 by October 2023. In 2022, the Manitoba government announced its plan to increase minimum wage to $15 by October 2023 using a phased-in approach that includes consultations with small businesses on the effects of the change. (Full Story)

February 22, 2023 - Manitoba has a serious worker shortage problem - Canada added 150,000 jobs in January. Only 800 of those were in Manitoba. Neighbouring Saskatchewan, with a smaller population, gained 4,500. In 2022, over 22,000 people moved from Manitoba to another province, an increase of 42 per cent compared to 2021. Recently there have been job shortages reported all over the province. (Full Story)

February 19, 2023 - New grants help Manitoba businesses hire apprentices from diverse backgrounds - The demand for skilled trades workers reached record highs in 2022. But as more workers retire, the vitality of Manitoba's labour market is facing an increasingly urgent risk. Nearly 11% of Manitoba's current construction workforce is expected to retire by 2026, according to a BuildForce Canada report, and the number of new enrollees in the province's apprenticeship programs isn't nearly catching up to fill the gap. (Full Story)

April 1, 2023 - Nova Scotia minimum wage rises to $14.50 an hour - Minimum wage workers in Nova Scotia can look forward to a pay increase starting today. The minimum wage in the province is up 90 cents to $14.50 an hour - the first of two increases announced by the government in February. The second increase in October will take the wage to $15 an hour. The increases will keep the province in line with P.E.I. and Newfoundland and Labrador, which will also move to a $15 minimum wage Oct. 1. (Full Story)

March 17, 2023 - Boomtown struggle: N.B. contractors desperate to find workers - As new homes continue to go up in Moncton, contractor Andrew Nelson gets lots of calls about taking on new projects. But with not enough workers, he routinely turns them down. New Brunswick construction companies are facing a major labour shortage that's also being felt across Canada. The province's industry association estimates it currently needs more than 2,000 workers right now, and will have to fill an estimated 5,000 jobs over the next five years. (Full Story)

March 10, 2023 - N.B. sees spike in COVID-related workers' compensation claims - The number of COVID-19-related workers' compensation claims in New Brunswick increased 533 per cent between the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020 and the end of 2022, and the number of accepted claims jumped nearly 1,521 per cent. The 2022 claims alone cost more than half a million dollars, including loss of earning and medical aid, while the province's three-year total exceeds $1.4 million, according to figures from WorkSafeNB. (Full Story)

March 2, 2023 - Unclear whether N.B. employers will face consequences over alleged abuse of foreign workers - The federal government is reviewing a report outlining precarious working conditions for temporary foreign workers in New Brunswick's seafood processing industry, but it's not clear if any specific employers will face repercussions. Meanwhile an industry representative says the report does not reflect to his experience, and lays the responsibility on the researchers to produce names of offending employers. (Full Story)

February 14, 2023 - WCB - Phase II regulatory amendments now in effect - General Regulation 91-191 is undergoing numerous legislative changes in 2022 and 2023 that will enhance health and safety in New Brunswick workplaces. We are pleased to share that the amendments from the Phase II review are now in effect, impacting multiple areas. Stay up to date by clicking the New regulatory changes button on the front page of the WorkSafeNB website. (Full Story)

April 3, 2023 - N.L. oil workers need stability and green jobs, says federal NDP leader - Jagmeet Singh, in St. John's to sell his party's contribution to the federal budget, said the climate crisis is forcing a transition in energy jobs, and governments need to make the right investments. "We know where things are going, we need to make sure that we're prepared for it and the workers are prepared for it," he said in a one-on-one interview with CBC's Peter Cowan. (Full Story)

April 1, 2023 - Minimum Wage Workers Continue to Fall Behind Despite Wage Increase - Despite a recent increase to Newfoundland and Labrador's minimum wage, the NDP say the province's lowest paid workers are continuing to fall behind. The minimum wage in this province increased to $14.50 yesterday, and will jump by another 50 cents in the fall. Leader Jim Dinn states that any increase to the minimum wage is good, but a living wage in this province is $21.65 based on the Bank of Canada inflation calculator. (Full Story)

April 1, 2023 - Advocate Calling for More Minimum Wage Increases - The minimum wage in Newfoundland and Labrador has increased to $14.50, and advocates say that increase is badly needed. The increase is the first of two for the minimum wage this year, it will be going up to $15 an hour in October. Sara Moriarity of the Workers' Action Network says people are struggling to make ends meet right now, and while the increase is welcome they feel it should be much higher. (Full Story)

March 31, 2023 - Newfoundland ECEs say they need more than a wage grid - they need respect - Early childhood education is a field long associated with being overworked and underpaid, but a new wage grid takes effect Saturday, April 1. Premier Andrew Furey called it an incentive for people to choose a career in early childhood education. The grid considers levels of training and years of experience. A trainee with less than one year experience will earn $18.06/hr, while a Level 4 ECE with a university degree and 11 years' experience will earn $35.09/hr. (Full Story)

March 28, 2023 - Provincial Government Implements New Wage Grid for Early Childhood Educators in Ongoing Commitment to Increase Capacity in Affordable Child Care - The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador today announced details of a new wage grid for early childhood educators working in regulated child care centres that are part of the Operating Grant Program. The wage grid takes effect on April 1, 2023 with a base rate of $25 an hour for Level II early childhood educators who hold a two-year diploma. (Full Story)

March 9, 2023 - System Error Leads to Workplace NL Payout - Workplace NL is giving more money to around 24,000 workers due to a systems error. They say that workers who received wage-loss benefits, retirement benefits, and dependency benefits between July 1, 2016 and December 31, 2022 will receive around $2.00 per week that they received the benefit plus interest. The error was caused when the payment system was not updated when the non-refundable provincial tax credit changed from 7.7 to 8.7 per cent on July 1, 2016. (Full Story)

March 8, 2023 - WorkplaceNL Calculating Benefit Adjustment For Workers - WorkplaceNL is calculating a benefit adjustment for approximately 24,000 workers that received certain benefits between July 1, 2016 and December 31, 2022. The impacted benefits are: wage-loss benefits, including temporary earnings loss (TEL) and extended earnings loss (EEL); retirement benefits, excluding pension replacement benefits (PRB); and dependency benefits. (Full Story)

February 28, 2023 - Request for Proposals for New Employment Steps for Success Pilot Program - The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is inviting proposals from non-profit community organizations for the new Employment Steps for Success Pilot Program. The Employment Steps for Success Pilot Program replaces the Linkages and Transitions to Work programs. It will deliver services to clients seeking to enter or re-enter the workforce and allows organizations to be innovative and flexible with their programming. (Full Story)

March 20, 2023 - The NWT still has Canada's highest median wage. Here's the data - New data from Statistics Canada suggests the median annual wage in the Northwest Territories increased by 11.7 percent from 2019 to 2021, the second-largest increase in Canada. Only British Columbia posted a larger increase in the same period - 14.5 percent - but BC's median wage of $44,820 remains eclipsed by the NWT's 2021 figure of $62,320. (Full Story)

February 28, 2023 - Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission 2022 Identifying Injury Trends and Actions Taken - Northerners should be able to expect to return home at the end of each work day uninjured and healthy. In 2022, the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission, or WSCC, received 1,722 reports of injury from workers. This represents a 2.1% decrease from the previous year. Awareness of workplace hazards and safety trends in the Northwest Territories can help ensure that workers return home safe and healthy every day. (Full Story)

February 23, 2023 - NWT joins program designed to make hiring refugees easier - The Northwest Territories is joining a federal program that allows refugees with skills to take jobs in the territory and work toward permanent residency. The Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot, or EMPP, pairs employers with non-governmental organizations who help them find and hire refugees. The program will give NWT employers access to a new pool of potential employees while providing refugees the opportunity to move to the territory and start a new life. (Full Story)

April 3, 2023 - Nova Scotia increases minimum wage, and will do it again in the fall - The first of two minimum wage increases took effect on Saturday. As of Saturday, the minimum wage in Nova Scotia is now $14.50 an hour, up from $13.60. It will rise to $15 in October. A release from the province says the Minimum Wage Order also sets employment standards for overtime, being called into work at times other than scheduled working hours, piecework, deductions for board, lodging, and meals and deductions for uniforms. (Full Story)

March 22, 2023 - Province limits employers' right to ask for sick notes - Nova Scotia is making it easier for workers to access healthcare services in their time of need. The government has introduced legislation that will limit employers' right to ask workers for sick notes during their absences for medical reasons. It also allows the government to prescribe Workers Compensation Board forms and documents to improve the process for Nova Scotians and doctors. (Full Story)

March 20, 2023 - Retention Bonuses, Incentives for Nurses, Healthcare Workers - As a way of thanking Nova Scotia's nurses while encouraging more of them to keep working in the province, today, March 20, Premier Tim Houston announced a $10,000 bonus for nurses in Nova Scotia's publicly funded healthcare system. Another $10,000 incentive will be paid next year to nurses who commit to staying in the system for another two years. (Full Story)

March 19, 2023 - Opportunities in N.S. may reduce impact of Alberta job recruitment, says expert - An economic expert says Nova Scotians may not be as open to going west in search of new opportunities as Alberta launches its second campaign to draw skilled workers from Atlantic Canada and Ontario. The Alberta government said this week it was launching a second campaign piggybacking off the Alberta is Calling program launched last summer. It initially targeted Canadians living in Toronto and Vancouver. (Full Story)

March 18, 2023 - Concerns swirl around rising number of workplace deaths in N.S. - According to the Workers Compensation Board, more Nova Scotians died at work or because of their work in 2022 than the previous year. Released on March 16 the numbers show that there were 24 work-related deaths in Nova Scotia, which is an increase of 20 in 2021. (Full Story)

March 12, 2023 - Experts skeptical about Nova Scotia's recent job growth trend - A recent report noted that Nova Scotia showed impressive employment growth over the past year. However, experts are still concerned about the impacts of rising interest rates on the job market. According to Statistics Canada, Nova Scotia experienced a more than 5 percent jump in employment growth, adding 24,800 jobs between January 2022 and January 2023. (Full Story)

March 3, 2023 - Nova Scotia's job market is booming, but it's not all good news - Nova Scotia is experiencing massive job growth and record employment levels, but it's unclear whether the trend can sustain amid rising interest rates and a possible recession. According to Statistics Canada, the province added 24,800 jobs between January 2022 and January 2023, an increase of 5.2 per cent. Jobs have grown by 1.9 per cent or 9,400 between December 2022 and January 2023 alone. (Full Story)

February 21, 2023 - Workplace safety, return-to-work progress in home care and long-term care in Q3 2022 - Workplace injury took less of a toll on the Nova Scotians who work in our long-term care and home care sectors in summer 2022, according to WCB Nova Scotia's Report to the Community, released today for the third quarter. The Q3 results are the latest example of long-term progress for the sectors. Compared to 9.64 in 2017, the time-loss injury rate for home care was 6.86 per 100 covered workers. (Full Story)

March 30, 2023 - Employment opportunities for summer students - The Summer Student Employment Equity Program (SSEEP) is offered every year to secondary and post-secondary students to encourage continuous learning and foster skill and career development. Employment through the SSEEP runs from April 1 to September 30. Applications can be submitted between April 1 and July 14. Those who apply sooner will have a better chance at securing employment, so students are encouraged to apply promptly. (Full Story)

March 1, 2023 - Nunavut MLA says short-term work is causing some to lose income assistance - A member of Nunavut's legislative assembly says some people on income assistance who take a casual job for two to three weeks are in danger of being cut off from their assistance for several months. Killiktee said she has heard some people who find short-term work or casual employment have to wait up to three months before they can receive income assistance again. (Full Story)

February 28, 2023 - Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission 2022 Identifying Injury Trends and Actions Taken - Northerners should be able to expect to return home at the end of each work day uninjured and healthy. In 2022, the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission, or WSCC, received 1,722 reports of injury from workers. This represents a 2.1% decrease from the previous year. Awareness of workplace hazards and safety trends in the Northwest Territories can help ensure that workers return home safe and healthy every day. (Full Story)

February 16, 2023 - Call for proposals - Targeted Labour Market Program - The Department of Family Services is now accepting proposals for targeted employment and training programs to be delivered in the 2023-2024 fiscal year, starting any time after April 1, 2023. Training providers, including non-profit organizations and institutions, municipal corporations, and Inuit organizations, may apply for funding to deliver programs. (Full Story)

April 3, 2023 - Labour Council reacts to minimum wage increase in Ontario - The North Bay and District Labour Council says the Ford government is wrongly taking credit for this October's legislated general minimum wage increase to $16.55 and had an obligation to announce the rise by April 1 anyway. The government release states a worker making the general minimum wage and working 40 hours per week will see an annual pay increase of nearly $2,200. There were 942,400 workers earning $16.55 per hour or below in 2022, the majority of whom are women. (Full Story)

March 31, 2023 - Ontario Increasing Minimum Wage to $16.55 an Hour - The Ontario government is increasing the minimum wage to $16.55 an hour on October 1, 2023. This 6.8 per cent pay raise for low-income workers builds on the government's steady and predictable increases every year to help families offset the rising cost of living. A worker making the general minimum wage and working 40 hours per week will see an annual pay increase of nearly $2,200. (Full Story)

March 30, 2023 - Can employers in Ontario change a worker's job description? - In most cases, employers in Ontario can't make substantial changes to a non-unionized worker's job description or duties without their consent. Exceptions: There are some situations where your boss could make significant adjustments to the terms of your employment without breaching your rights. (Full Story)

March 30, 2023 - Sick leave: Should the government fund further PTO? - Sick leave - it's a contentious issue for Canadian employers and employees alike. Earlier this month, the Ontario government officially confirmed the end of COVID-based sick leave - a program which gave employees up to $200 of pay for up to three days off work. And according to the data, an estimated 500,000 workers used the program since it was created in 2022. (Full Story)

March 27, 2023 - Employers looking to retain older workers amid retirement exodus - With baby boomers putting off their retirement, Canada has been able to avoid the worst effects of an aging population on the labour market. However, a recent report by TD Economics claims that the country's luck might be about to run out. "By 2025, we expect to see the number of people 65 and older grow by one-million," James Orlando, a director at TD Economics, said in the report. (Full Story)

March 24, 2023 - Update for Ontario Employers: Proposed Changes Related to Remote Workers - The Ontario Government recently announced proposed amendments to the province's employment laws that would clarify remote employees' entitlements in situations of mass termination. The amendments are proposed in response to the large increase in remote work initiated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the immediate effects of the pandemic have subsided, many employees continue to work remotely. (Full Story)

March 23, 2023 - Changes to Ontario employment standards are on the horizon with Bill 79 - As previously reported, the Ontario government announced its intention to amend the mass termination rules in order to ensure that remote employees are entitled to the same enhanced notice as their in-office counterparts. Currently, the definition of "establishment" under the ESA is based on the physical location at which an employer carries on business, and fails to clearly capture the home offices of remote employees in the province. (Full Story)

March 20, 2023 - Working for Workers Act, 2023 - The Ontario government is introducing changes to continue leading the country in providing ground-breaking protections for workers. These proposed changes expand on the ground-breaking actions in the Working for Workers Acts, 2021 and 2022, which are already helping millions of people in Ontario. (Full Story)

March 20, 2023 - Ontario Introducing Highest Fines in Canada for Withholding Worker Passports - Today, the Ontario government is introducing the Working for Workers Act, 2023, which would, if passed, continue to lead the country in providing ground-breaking protections for workers. Part of the legislation would strengthen protections for vulnerable and migrant workers by establishing the highest maximum fines in Canada for businesses and people who are convicted of withholding a foreign national's passport or work permit. (Full Story)

March 17, 2023 - Ontario Creating Job-Protected Leave for Injured Military Reservists - The Ontario government is working for workers by introducing new legislation that, if passed, would guarantee military reservists can return to their civilian jobs after deployment, even if they need additional time off to recover from physical or mental injuries. Of the Canadian 40,000 soldiers deployed in Afghanistan, nearly one in seven developed a mental injury attributed to trauma from their mission. (Full Story)

March 16, 2023 - Changes to your job in Ontario: What you should know - Generally speaking, an employer in Ontario can't make significant or negative changes to an employee's job or the terms of their employment, without their permission. You do not have to accept any changes proposed by your employer. If you are a non-unionized employee in Ontario and your employer has made drastic modifications to your job, remember to act fast! If you wait too long it acts as your acceptance to the changes, and allows for your employer to make other alterations to your employment in the future. (Full Story)

March 15, 2023 - How employers can help track down Ontario's 175,000 missing pension plan members - Ontario-based pension plan sponsors can help reduce the number of missing plan members by examining their communications strategies and maintaining best practices in record keeping and data management, says Caroline Blouin, executive vice-president of pensions at the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario. (Full Story)

February 23, 2023 - Ontario's Employee Electronic Monitoring Policy: What you need to know - As of April 11, 2022, Ontario businesses with 25 or more Ontario employees are required to have a written employee electronic monitoring policy for their workplace. Affected employers must put a new policy in place by March 1, 2023. The policy must state whether your business electronically monitors employees. (Full Story)

April 4, 2023 - 2023 Workplace Health and Safety Conference - The Workers Compensation Board (WCB) is pleased to announce its first in-person Workplace Health and Safety Conference since 2019.  The conference takes place at the Delta Prince Edward Island Hotel on April 20, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the deadline for registration is April 13. Participants will be engaged and challenged on defining disruptive change, and to think about the major disruptions they are likely to face in the next few years (Full Story)

April 3, 2023 - Prince Edward Island Issues 113 Canada Immigration Invitations In New Provincial Draw - Prince Edward Island has issued invitations to apply to 113 skilled worker Canada immigration candidates in an unscheduled provincial draw. The March 30 draw saw invitations issued through the Labour Impact and Express Entry Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) stream. (Full Story)

April 1, 2023 - 'Heroes' of pandemic rally in Charlottetown for better pay - At the height of the pandemic they were called heroes - front-line workers in health, education and other sectors who worked under difficult circumstances to help keep their communities running. On Saturday, more than 100 of them rallied at Confederation Landing Park in Charlottetown to demand more than just a pat on the back. (Full Story)

March 30, 2023 - P.E.I.'s workforce becomes a top election issue as labour shortage wears on - Prince Edward Island's labour shortage, which is affecting every sector from health care to agriculture and small business, has emerged as a major issue ahead of the April 3 provincial election. The province's unemployment rate has historically been one of the highest in the country, but Statistics Canada data has been showing that growth in the Island's workforce hasn't kept up with the growth rate in the number of jobs in recent years. (Full Story)

March 12, 2023 - After months on P.E.I., some Ukrainians struggling to find jobs despite qualifications - Tetiana Lysak and her two-year-old daughter arrived on Prince Edward Island in the fall. At the time, she thought she would have no trouble finding a job. She has two master's degrees, one in linguistics and another in tourism and hospitality. She also had years of experience working as an interpreter in Kyiv, Ukraine's capital. But after six months on P.E.I., Lysak still can't find work. She said she sent her resumé to a number of local employers, but didn't get any responses. (Full Story)

March 10, 2023 - Employment grew by 2% in PEI in February - unemployment rate dropped to 7.3% - Statistics Canada says employment grew by 2.0% in Prince Edward Island in February, adding 1,700 jobs.  That's the second increase in three months. 2,400 more Prince Edward Islanders were employed full-time in February, and the province's unemployment rate was 7.3%, which is down from 7.7 percent in January. (Full Story)

March 3, 2023 - New recruitment incentives to strengthen healthcare workforce on PEI - The province is increasing the financial recruitment incentives for registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and midwives and adding a new financial incentive for licensed practical nurses, to improve healthcare for people in all areas PEI. These enhanced recruitment incentives will help to stabilize the healthcare workforce and make Prince Edward Island more competitive in this very challenging labour market. (Full Story)

March 3, 2023 - Injured workers report highest overall service satisfaction with WCB experience - The Workers Compensation Board (WCB) is pleased to share that injured workers reported their highest overall service satisfaction with their WCB experience since worker surveys began 20 years ago. For injured workers, service satisfaction with the overall WCB experience is at its highest recorded level with 74% attesting that they are completely or mostly satisfied with their experience. (Full Story)

February 16, 2023 - New resources to keep workers and workplaces safe - The Workers Compensation Board (WCB) has recently published four (4) new safety guides to support Island employers in keeping their workers and their workplaces safe. These new guides are excellent resources that will be useful for the construction industry," said Sam Sanderson, General Manager of the Construction Association of PEI. (Full Story)

April 3, 2023 - Sask. women are seeing record-high employment. How the numbers reflect reality - According to the provincial government, Saskatchewan recorded all-time highs in women's employment, full-time employment and labour force participation in 2022. In February 2023, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Saskatchewan was 3.8 per cent, the lowest among the provinces and well below the national average of 4.9 per cent. In Saskatchewan, an estimated 196,000 females 15 years and older were employed full-time in 2019, which increased to 204,200 in 2022. (Full Story)

March 30, 2023 - Saskatchewan Introduces Legislation To License Physician Assistants - Saskatchewan is introducing legislative changes to allow a new profession of Physician Assistants to be licensed to practice in the province. The introduction of this new role will add more skilled professionals to the provincial health system to help address the demand for health human resources and provide a team-based approach to health care. (Full Story)

March 13, 2023 - Second Strategy Looks to Continue Work in Reducing Fatalities and Serious Injuries in the Workplace - In 2019, WorkSafe Saskatchewan, a partnership between the Saskatchewan Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) and the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety, launched the first three year Fatalities and Serious Injuries Strategy in an effort to help eliminate workplace fatalities and serious injuries. (Full Story)

March 10, 2023 - Province touts rising jobs numbers for February - Once again, the Sask Party government and the NDP opposition had diametrically opposing views on the latest Statistics Canada labour force numbers for February in Saskatchewan. The government issued a press release Friday touting 9,400 new jobs over Feb. 2022, an increase of 1.6 per cent, from the StatsCan report. That prompted the government to tout the continuous growth in jobs over a period of almost two years. (Full Story)

March 10, 2023 - Second Lowest Unemployment Rate in the Country - Today, Statistics Canada released February labour force figures that indicate Saskatchewan's continued growth, with 9,400 new jobs when compared to February 2022, an increase of 1.6 per cent. The seasonally adjusted provincial unemployment rate remained at 4.3 per cent, which is the second lowest among the provinces and below the national average of 5.0 per cent. February's unemployment rate is down from 4.6 per cent in February 2022 and is unchanged when compared to January 2023. (Full Story)

March 2, 2023 - Saskatchewan Indigenous Apprenticeship Initiatives Program to Receive Funding Boost - Today, the Government of Saskatchewan announced a one-time $500,000 injection of additional funding for the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC) to invest in the Indigenous Apprenticeship Initiatives (IAI) program. This program partners with First Nations councils, bands, organizations and training institutions to run projects that help attract people into the skilled trades. (Full Story)

February 23, 2023 - The Yukon's minimum wage to increase to $16.77 per hour - Effective April 1, 2023, the Yukon's minimum wage will increase from $15.70 to $16.77 per hour. This increase is based on the 2022 Consumer Price Index for Whitehorse which is 6.8 per cent. The rise in inflation is increasing costs of everyday life for all Yukoners. This increase will help people earning minimum wage to afford necessities. It will also help businesses attract and retain employees. (Full Story)

February 16, 2023 - Businesses left wondering how much minimum wage will go up, Yukon Party says - The Yukon Party is looking for certainty from the Yukon government about the minimum wage hike that is written into the Liberal-NDP confidence and supply agreement. The deal, which was originally signed in 2021 and extended on Jan. 31, outlines that minimum wage will be bumped up annually on April 1 of each subsequent year tied to inflation. (Full Story)

February 10, 2023 - Training employees in the Yukon? Save money through the CHOICES rebate program - CHOICES is a rebate program that rewards Yukon employers, registered with the Workers' Compensation Board, for training their employees. A wide range of training is eligible as long as it is delivered by approved third parties and results in proof of completion. Free and online training such as courses offered through our partner Vubiz are eligible. (Full Story)