January 1, 2023 - Alberta Minimum Wage in 2023 - The minimum wage in Alberta is currently $15.00 per hour. It has been set at this amount since the last increase in 2018, when the province became the first in Canada to introduce a $15.00 per hour minimum wage. The amount is set by the Employment Standards Code. While B.C. has tied their minimum wage to inflation, Alberta does not do the same. The Province of Alberta has no plans to increase the minimum wage above $15.00 per hour at this time. (Full Story)

December 29, 2022 - AB had worst payroll employee growth despite lowest profit tax - Statistics Canada recently released third quarter data on payroll employment for each of the provinces. Unsurprisingly, Alberta had the fourth largest number of payroll employees in Canada. After all, they do have the fourth largest population in general. Alberta's growth in payroll employees since June 2019 was the fourth worst of all the provinces in Canada, in total numbers. On a percentage basis, however, Alberta actually saw the worst growth of all provinces, coming in at less than half a percent. (Full Story)

December 23, 2022 - Alberta Government announces pay increase for workers supporting people with disabilities - The Government of Alberta will lend significant financial support to workers who support persons with disabilities. The province is providing the sector with $24 million which will help retain staff and support workers. The additional funding will help funding, service providers, families and persons with disabilities will be able to find workers more easily, as wages will become more competitive. (Full Story)

December 21, 2022 - Alberta job vacancy numbers levelling off, StatsCan data shows - Alberta's worker shortage is showing signs of levelling off, according to the latest update of quarterly numbers from Statistics Canada, from July to September 2022. But the demand for people to fill positions across the economy still remains at historic highs. That means even as speculation over a coming recession grows, large increases in unemployment may be avoided for many sectors where demographics and skills shortages play a role, according analysts. (Full Story)

December 16, 2022 - Needing assistance dealing with Alberta's Workers' Compensation Board? - If you need help navigating Alberta's workers' compensation system, you can access the Advisor Office (AO) . The AO provides independent advice and guidance to workers and employers on all aspects of workers' compensation, including appeals. (Full Story)

December 16, 2022 - Alberta announces updates to OHS Code - Alberta employers will face changes to workplace health and safety after government changes. The province's Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Code will be altered in 2023 - the first significant update since 2009. The code contains detailed technical requirements for controlling health and safety hazards in workplaces. The upcoming updates, which will take effect on March 31, 2023. (Full Story)

December 15, 2022 - Building healthier, safer workplaces for Albertans - After extensively consulting with employers, workers and health and safety professionals, Alberta's government will be implementing changes to parts of the Occupational Health and Safety Code (OHS Code). The changes will take effect on March 31, 2023. An updated and easier-to-understand OHS Code will help employers keep workers safe, build workplaces that support jobs, attract investment and grow Alberta's economy. (Full Story)

December 2, 2022 - More opportunities to develop job-ready skills - Rapid growth has created various skilled labour shortages and Albertans need access to skills training to meet the needs of an ever-changing economy. Micro-credentials are short-term, documented learning experiences that recognize specific skills and competencies and create new opportunities for unemployed and underemployed Albertans to quickly re-skill or upskill to better meet industry needs, re-enter the workforce and quickly pivot in their careers. (Full Story)

December 1, 2022 - More support for early childhood educators in Alberta - Early childhood educators (ECEs) are integral to the development of the youngest learners. They provide high-quality child care that is key to balancing work and family so that parents have peace of mind while they are at work. That is why Alberta's government fought so hard for a child care deal that works for Alberta. (Full Story)

January 1, 2023 - B.C. Minimum Wage in 2023 - The minimum wage in British Columbia is currently $15.65 per hour. Minimum pay in the province increased to this amount, from $15.20, on June 1, 2022. B.C. has the highest minimum wage among Canada's 10 provinces. The minimum wage in British Columbia is tied to inflation. The province is the first in Canada to tie its wage to the rate of inflation. The rate of increase on June 1, 2022 was 2.8%, taking into account inflation for the period running from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. (Full Story)

December 29, 2022 - First permanent delivery-fee cap in Canada will help B.C. ring in new year - Canada's first permanent cap on fees charged to restaurants by food-delivery companies will go into effect in British Columbia on Jan. 1, 2023, giving restaurant owners more certainty about their costs. The Food Delivery Service Fee Act was passed on Nov. 3, 2022, in response to delivery companies charging fees to restaurants as high as 30% of an order's value during the pandemic. It followed a temporary cap put in place in December 2020, and extended in September and December 2021. (Full Story)

December 29, 2022 - Farm workers who hand-harvest crops get rate increase Jan. 1 - Farm workers and producers are reminded that the minimum wage for agricultural piece rates will increase by 2.8% on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023. The increase applies to 15 agricultural crops that are harvested by hand, as specified in the employment standards regulation. The increase is based on B.C.'s average annual inflation rate in 2021 and is consistent with the 2.8% increase to the minimum hourly wage that came into effect on June 1, 2022. (Full Story)

December 28, 2022 - Hazardous work for youth rules come into effect Jan. 1 - New regulations on the types of work that are not suitable for young workers take effect on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023.Following public and stakeholder consultations and analyses of injury data, a number of jobs within several industries were identified as too hazardous for young workers. This includes some jobs within construction, forestry, food processing, oil and gas and power, and asbestos removal. (Full Story)

December 16, 2022 - Province continues funding fair wages for long-term-care, assisted-living staff - People living in long-term-care and assisted-living facilities will continue receiving high-quality care from fairly compensated workers as the Province renews its commitment to temporarily fund wage increases for staff working in the sector. Ensuring all health-care workers receive appropriate compensation for their invaluable work is a key commitment in the province's Health Human Resources Strategy. (Full Story)

December 9, 2022 - Payroll additions remain robust in B.C. - B.C. employers added to payrolls for a 16th straight month in September as hiring remained brisk despite expectations of a slowing economy. From the latest Survey of Employment, Payroll and Hours (SEPH), growth in payroll counts matched August with a 0.4 per cent monthly gain representing 10,450 net new positions. In comparison, estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) of households pointed to a 1.2 per cent increase during the month. (Full Story)

December 2, 2022 - The Province helps people with sight loss find jobs - The Province is awarding the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) a $2.5-million grant to expand its employment program dedicated to blind or partially sighted people. The program expansion will also address systemic barriers to meaningful employment for youth and Indigenous Peoples. In Canada, the unemployment rate for people with sight loss is three times the national rate, due to systemic societal and attitudinal barriers faced by people with sight loss. (Full Story)

December 1, 2022 - B.C. making changes to support good trades jobs, tackle labour shortages - British Columbia is advancing a made-in-B.C. solution to attract more people to trades careers and boost prestige for the sector by moving forward with skilled trades certification. The change will formally recognize the skills of trades workers, helping them receive standardized training, earn higher wages and better navigate evolving industry needs. (Full Story)

November 23, 2022 - Have your say on gig worker employment standards - British Columbians are invited to provide input about employment standards that should be in place to support app-based ride-hailing and food-delivery workers. Adam Walker, Parliamentary Secretary for the New Economy, is leading consultations on this issue. An online survey asks workers and the public for their views on working conditions, the benefits and challenges, and how government can improve employment standards for app-based ride-hailing and food-delivery workers. (Full Story)

November 1, 2022 - B.C. updating workers' comp law to stamp out claim suppression, require re-employment - British Columbia is amending its Workers Compensation Act in a move it says is designed to "better support workers." Among the changes is a move to ensure employer accommodate and re-employ injured workers when they are ready to return, it said. It will also require WorkSafeBC to pay interest on benefit payments that are delayed due to a review. It is also adding explicit provisions to the legislation to stamp out "claim suppression" by employers who try and dissuade workers from filing for compensation or punish them for doing so. (Full Story)

October 31, 2022 - Workers' compensation changes put injured workers first - Amendments to the Workers Compensation Act will better support workers in British Columbia. These changes will restore fairness for workers injured on the job and their families, and bring British Columbia in line with other provinces in providing benefits for injured workers. The changes build on improvements to the system this government has been making since 2018. (Full Story)

December 29 2022 - 2023 will see another increase in minimum wage in Manitoba - Minimum wage earners in Manitoba received an increase in October and another increase is expected in spring. Our province's hourly minimum wage increased this fall from $11.95 to $13.50. A further increase of 65 cents per hour will happen on April 1st, raising the minimum wage to $14.15. With the expected consumer price index increase for 2022, the next indexed adjustment will bring Manitoba's minimum wage to around $15 per hour in October of 2023. (Full Story)

December 15, 2022 - Manitoba government launches disability income support program - The Manitoba government is officially launching Manitoba Supports for Persons with Disabilities, a new disability income support program that will provide better supports and services for Manitobans living with severe and prolonged disabilities. Clients who enrol in the Manitoba Supports for Persons with Disabilities program will have access to the same financial, health and other benefits available to EIA clients. (Full Story)

November 18, 2022 - Manitoba government introduces bill to formalize plan to increase minimum wage to $15 by October 2023 - The Manitoba government has introduced the Minimum Wage Adjustment Act, which would raise the minimum hourly wage to $14.15 on April 1, 2023, as the second phase of a plan to further increase the minimum wage to $15 on Oct. 1, 2023. The provincial hourly minimum wage was raised on Oct. 1 to $13.50 from $11.95 after government consultations with labour groups and businesses. Through this new bill, the Manitoba government plans a further increase to the minimum wage of 65 cents on April 1, 2023, to raise it to $14.15. (Full Story)

November 14, 2022 - Manitoba government launches work in Manitoba job portal - The Manitoba government is launching the Work in Manitoba job portal, an innovative, one-stop website that will efficiently connect job seekers and employers based on qualifications and labour market needs. The user-friendly platform is free for both job seekers and employers. Job seekers can create profiles that capture their skills, experience, education and career preferences. When employers upload job postings, the portal will send notifications to job seekers with relevant qualifications and goals. (Full Story)

November 10, 2022 - Manitoba government moves to end mandating overtime, adds 2,000 health-care professionals with $200-million investment - The Manitoba government is implementing a health human resource action plan moving to end mandating overtime by adding 2,000 health-care professionals with an investment of $200 million to retain, train and recruit health-care staff across the province. The premier and minister stressed respect for Manitoba doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals and support staff has always been pivotal and will continue to be at the core of this action plan. (Full Story)

October 25, 2022 - Manitoba launching Small Business Minimum Wage Adjustment Program - Manitoba has launched its Small Business Minimum Wage Adjustment Program, modest response designed to help a few businesses transition to a substantially higher minimum wage. Small businesses with up to 20 employees, including those in private, non-profit, and charitable sectors, are eligible to receive a prorated wage subsidy of up to 50 cents per hour for the six-month period from October 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023, for each employee earning the new minimum wage of $13.50 per hour for up to 40 hours per week. (Full Story)

November 17, 2022 - International students struggle to find work in New Brunswick after graduation - A new report by the Saint John Newcomers Centre and the New Brunswick Multicultural Council outlines some of the difficulties that New Brunswick international students face when getting jobs after their post-secondary education. Eighty-one per cent of the 200 students surveyed said they wanted to stay in the province after their schooling was completed, but less than 25 per cent will able to stay there due to a lack of available work. (Full Story)

November 15, 2022 - New resources for workers needing help after a claim closes - At times, workers may need additional help after their claim closes (they no longer receive WorkSafeNB benefits). For example, workers may need further medical aid for their previously approved work-related (compensable) injury or illness. This can include chiropractic service, physiotherapy, TENS machine supplies, footwear or glasses. (Full Story)

November 8, 2022 - Six N.B. Employers Selected For New Immigration Stream - A new immigration stream has been launched to help address critical labour force vacancies in New Brunswick. The New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot will provide more flexibility for employers to help attract skilled workers into difficult-to-fill occupations. The five-year pilot program was announced Monday by officials from the provincial and federal governments. (Full Story)

November 7, 2022 - N.B. government moves to eliminate sub-minimum wage for persons with a disability - New Brunswicker Kyra Thomas wanted to work, but finding a job that pays fairly was a difficult process. Thomas is intellectually disabled, and while working for a large retailer, she was paid a subsidy. For working 30 hours a week, Thomas was paid just $20 - about 30 cents an hour. Minimum wage in the province is currently $13.75, more than a 13-dollar difference from what Thomas was given. (Full Story)

November 7, 2022 - Federal-provincial immigration pilot project launched to address critical labour force vacancies - The provincial and federal governments today announced a new immigration stream called the New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot to attract skilled workers into occupations that are difficult to fill. The new stream provides more flexibility by allowing participating employers to provide skills and language training as well as guidance and support to the newcomers they bring into the province. (Full Story)

November 1, 2022 - Minimum wage protection reinforced for persons with a disability - The provincial government has introduced legislative amendments to the Employment Standards Act to eliminate situations in which people living with a disability receive less than minimum wage for doing work comparable to that completed by others. The amendments would update the definition of employer and employee to ensure a clear employer/employee relationship when an employment agency is involved and remove ambiguity around the paying of sub-minimum wage stipends. (Full Story)

October 31, 2022 - Retiree Employment Agency Being Rolled Out Across N.B. - A program that reintegrated retirees into the workforce to solve labour shortages in Northwestern New Brunswick is being rolled out across the rest of province. WorkingNB is collaborating with a handful of third-party organizations that will act as Retiree Employment Agencies across the province, to provide the service. The new, two-year Retiree Employment Agency pilot project has already connected more than 40 retirees with employers looking for labour this year. (Full Story)

October 14, 2022 - WorkSafeNB Reduces Average Assessment Rate By 22% - Many New Brunswick employers are about to see a substantial drop in their workplace assessment rates. On Friday, WorkSafeNB announced the average assessment rate for 2023 will be $1.31 per $100 of assessed payroll. That is a drop of 22 per cent compared to the current rate, which is set at $1.69. (Full Story)

October 14, 2022 - WorkSafeNB announces 2023 assessment rate and pursuit of benefit improvements - WorkSafeNB is pleased to announce it has reduced the average assessment rate for 2023 to $1.31, down 22% from the 2022 rate of $1.69. At the same time as assessment rates are decreasing, WorkSafeNB's board of directors is pursuing legislative changes that would improve the benefits provided to injured workers and their families. (Full Story)

October 12, 2022 - Agency pairing retirees and employers expands provincewide - A pilot project that connects retirees with employers that have short-term labour market needs is expanding province wide. The Retiree Employment Agency was developed last year as a collaboration involving WorkingNB and the Edmundston Region Chamber of Commerce, helping people over 50 fill the demand for temporary, casual and seasonal labour. (Full Story)

December 20, 2022 - Over 40,000 people of retirement age in N.L. looking for work, says seniors' advocate - Roughly 43,000 people of retirement age in Newfoundland and Labrador are looking for work, according to the province's seniors' advocate Susan Walsh, who has partnered with the St. John's Board of Trade. The people, aged 55 and older, who have expressed interest in working have varying reasons, she says: some just want to work, while others are struggling with the rising cost of living. (Full Story)

December 15, 2022 - Public Advisory: Payday Loan Borrowing Rate Lowered - Effective today, Thursday, December 15, 2022, the maximum total cost of borrowing by a payday lender has been lowered from $21 per $100 loaned, to $14 per $100 loaned, making Newfoundland and Labrador's cost of borrowing the lowest in Canada. Payday loans are for small amounts of less than $1,500, with payment terms under 62 days. Payday loans are regulated in Newfoundland and Labrador through the Payday Loans Regulations, which came into effect in April 2019, under the Consumer Protection and Business Practices Act. (Full Story)

December 12, 2022 - Transitional Support Program for Smaller Employers Expanded, New Application Deadline - The provincial government has announced the expansion of the Transitional Support Program for Smaller Employers. The new program has been expanded to provide short-term financial support to employers with 100 employees or less that employ minimum wage earners. This support program offers $0.50 per hour for all hours worked at the minimum wage rate, from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023. It will provide two payments to eligible employers, with 80 per cent of the eligible amount paid up front, and the remaining 20 per cent paid after the covering period ends. (Full Story)

November 29, 2022 - WorkplaceNL Holds Average Assessment Rate Steady For Fifth Consecutive Year - Effective January 1, 2023, WorkplaceNL will hold the average assessment rate paid by employers at $1.69 per $100 of payroll, which includes a temporary $0.21 average discount. The rate continues to be the lowest in over 35 years. Per stakeholder-agreed policy, the average $0.21 temporary discount is to reduce the surplus in the employer-funded Injury Fund over 15 years - which was 132.3 per cent funded at December 31, 2021, over the 110 per cent target. (Full Story)

October 20, 2022 - Newfoundland and Labrador pushes for pay transparency in job ads - Following the lead of Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador is pushing for greater pay transparency in hiring. The bill, known as "An Act Respecting Pay Equity for the Public Sector and Pay Transparency for the Public and Private Sectors," has pay equity provisions that will apply to all public sector employers with 10 or more employees, and require them to implement compensation practices to value jobs based on four criteria: skill, effort, responsibility and working conditions. (Full Story)

October 18, 2022 - Ministerial Statement - Supporting Women in the Workforce - Every year, the provincial government assists more than 2,300 women to acquire the skills training they need to secure employment. They also support some 70 women annually to create jobs for themselves, and jobs for others, by starting their own businesses. Annual funding of $210,000 for operations and $715,000 for wage subsidies is also provided to the Office to Advance Women Apprentices; an office that continues to be heralded as a model for other provinces to follow. (Full Story)

October 17, 2022 - Provincial Government Announces Pay Equity and Pay Transparency Legislation - New proposed legislation to address pay equity and pay transparency in the province will receive second reading in the House of Assembly today. The Bill, titled "An Act Respecting Pay Equity for the Public Sector and Pay Transparency for the Public and Private Sectors," will support equitable pay practices in the province. This proposed legislation builds on the Provincial Government's ongoing efforts to support women and gender diverse people in Newfoundland and Labrador. (Full Story)

December 5, 2022 - Report finds Indigenous N.W.T. employees largely working entry level jobs - Recently released data from the N.W.T government indicates that Indigenous employees in the public service are still largely confined to entry-level positions. On Nov. 15, the territory released Indigenous Employment Plans for each of its 11 departments and 13 agencies to the public. The plans are part of its ongoing push to boost the recruitment and retention of Indigenous employees. (Full Story)

November 28, 2022 - Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission Release Assessment Rates for 2023 - The Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut (WSCC) announces that the average employer assessment rate is remaining at $2.40 per $100 of assessable payroll, unchanged since 2020. This is the base rate the WSCC uses as a starting point when setting individual subclass rates. (Full Story)

November 15, 2022 - GNWT Implements Indigenous Employment Plans to Increase Diversity and Representation - The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has released Indigenous Employment Plans (IEP) outlining how all departments and agencies will increase Indigenous representation and leadership in the territory's public service. Guided by the Indigenous Recruitment and Retention Framework, IEPs include short, medium, and long-term goals and department-specific actions to increase, develop and maintain the number of Indigenous employees. (Full Story)

October 24, 2022 - NWT rolls out wage top-up for childcare workers - The NWT government has unveiled the next step in its childcare plan: money to help providers top up the wages they pay staff. Using $4.6 million in federal funding over two years, the territory is introducing a top-up - or "retention initiative," in its terminology - that pays $12,750 this year and $16,250 next year per full-time front-line position (or equivalent). (Full Story)

October 20, 2022 - GNWT and Canada invest $4.6 million for increased wages for early childhood educators - The Government of Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) are investing $4.6 million between 2022-23 and 2023-24 to enhance wages for early childhood educators working in licensed centre-based early learning and child care programs in the Northwest Territories (NWT). Recognizing the importance of early childhood educators, the wage enhancements are intended to help retain and recruit early childhood educators. (Full Story)

January 5, 2023 - Nova Scotia must raise minimum wage faster, new report says - A new report says Nova Scotia needs to raise its minimum wage faster. The province's minimum wage is $13.60 per hour as of October 2022, but the report says the wage needs to be hiked to $15 by October 2023. The annual report, written by Nova Scotia's Minimum Wage Review Committee and released Thursday, proposes significant increases - 90 cents on April 1 and an additional 50 cents on Oct. 1. It says the boost is needed to attract and retain workers, adjust to rising costs and to fall in line with other Canadian provinces. (Full Story)

December 15, 2022 - Employer Reminder: Special Protection policies up for renewal January 1 - It's that time of year when policies for employers who have Special Protection coverage are due for renewal. Special Protection policies renew automatically when we receive your payment prior to the January 1 deadline. Be sure to submit your payment in time to keep your coverage in place. Payment amounts can be made in a lump sum or in quarterly throughout the year. When you pre-pay for your coverage for the year, your quarterly payments will be automatically withdrawn from a credit balance on your account. (Full Story)

November 30, 2022 - 'Overwhelmingly positive': Why this N.S. non-profit is adopting a 4-day work week - Cape Breton's New Dawn Enterprises wants to empower employees to set their own work schedules and find better work-life balance. It's why the non-profit agency is permanently moving to a four-day work week. President and CEO Erika Shea told Information Morning Cape Breton that New Dawn ran a six-month pilot program starting in June with a reduced-hour work week. Employees could choose to work four days, or five shorter ones. (Full Story)

November 23, 2022 - Justice for Workers - Nova Scotia demanding $20 minimum wage, 10 paid sick days - A volunteer-led workers' rights group is knocking on Nova Scotians' doors and asking them to sign a petition asking for a $20 minimum wage, 10 paid sick days, and better labour standards for workers. Suzanne MacNeil is a volunteer with Justice for Workers - Nova Scotia, which was formerly known as Fight for $15 and Fairness. MacNeil and other volunteers are going door to door promoting a campaign to support worker rights. (Full Story)

October 27, 2022 - Backlog of applications for foreign workers leaves N.S. restaurants with 8,000 jobs to fill - The owners of Cha Baa Thai, a prominent Halifax Thai restaurant chain, are struggling to hire local workers, a significant problem for restaurants during the pandemic, but also foreign workers. And they're not the only ones. According to Gordon Stewart, the executive director of the Restaurant Association of Nova Scotia, restaurants are facing lengthy delays in the processing of foreign worker applicants. (Full Story)

October 21, 2022 - Which Jobs Are Targeted Through Nova Scotia's Occupations In Demand Stream? - Nova Scotia operates a Provincial Nominee Program stream aimed specifically at lower-skilled occupations under National Occupational Classification (NOC) C. The Nova Scotia Nominee Program Occupations In Demand stream targets a short list of jobs deemed in high demand in the province. The targeted jobs include positions in the health, hospitality and skilled trades sectors. (Full Story)

October 14, 2022 - Amendments Create Leave for People Experiencing End of Pregnancy - Amendments to the Labour Standards Code introduced today, October 14, will ensure an employee who experiences the end of a pregnancy can take a protected leave from work. The term "end of pregnancy" is defined as a pregnancy that does not result in a live birth. The proposed amendments ensure employees have access to: an unpaid leave of absence of up to five consecutive working days for a pregnancy which does not result in a live birth, or an unpaid leave of up to 16 weeks if their pregnancy ends after the 19th week. (Full Story)

October 11, 2022 - Higher Wages, Retroactive Pay for Early Childhood Educators - Higher wages are coming for Nova Scotia's early childhood educators working in regulated child-care settings thanks to a new provincial investment and the federal government's contribution under the Canada-Nova Scotia Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. Most of the 2,600 early childhood educators will see a wage increase in the range of 30 per cent, retroactive to July 4, 2022. (Full Story)

December 12, 2022 - Nunavut community hopes pre-employment course helps put people to work - Along with having the fastest-growing population anywhere in the country, Nunavut's 25 fly-in communities also have some of the highest unemployment rates in the country. According to recent data from Statistics Canada, the hamlet of Kugluktuk, located on the Arctic Ocean in western Nunavut, the rate sits at 30 per cent. That's why the region of Kitikmeot backed a recent pre-employment course. (Full Story)

November 30, 2022 - QIA launches app to help connect Inuit to jobs - The Qikiqtani Inuit Association has launched an app to connect Inuit to jobs and training. The Tuttarvik app is the mobile version of the Tuttarvik database, which was launched by the association in 2017 to help bridge the gap between employers in the Qikiqtani region and Inuit seeking employment there. QIA project managers hope the app will help younger Inuit, many of whom are more active on mobile devices and have traditional skills that may be valuable to employers as well. (Full Story)

November 28, 2022 - Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission Release Assessment Rates for 2023 - The Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut (WSCC) announces that the average employer assessment rate is remaining at $2.40 per $100 of assessable payroll, unchanged since 2020. This is the base rate the WSCC uses as a starting point when setting individual subclass rates. (Full Story)

November 3, 2022 - GN still looking at who is eligible for remote work, minister says - The Government of Nunavut is still looking at who will be eligible for remote work under its upcoming remote work policy, says Human Resources Minister Margaret Nakashuk. At the time, Tununiq MLA Karen Nutarak said it was not fair that many people from the GN chose to work from the south when the pandemic began in 2020, while those in Nunavut were stuck under travel restrictions. She added that if a remote work policy required employees to stay in Nunavut communities, it would create more space for Inuit hires. (Full Story)

January 5, 2023 - Ontario's Pay Equity Office Launches New Legal Resource - The Pay Equity Office is pleased to offer a new resource for compensation specialists, unions, legal professionals, and others who are interested in learning more about pay equity law in Ontario. The Selected Case Reference Guide is an annotated version of the Pay Equity Act with a curated selection of relevant tribunal and court caselaw presented alongside the section of the Act that it applies to. (Full Story)

January 4, 2023 - ‘Broken' Ontario skilled trades admin system on road to recovery: Young - Year one of Ontario's newly depoliticized trades administration system was smooth sailing says Skilled Trades Ontario's (STO) CEO Melissa Young. But, Young admitted, sparks could fly in 2023 and 2024 as the provincial government, now responsible for the tough decisions that STO has been spared, revisits policies that divided Ontario's construction sector prior to 2018. (Full Story)

January 1, 2023 - Minimum Wage in Ontario (2023) - Minimum wage in Ontario is $15.50 per hour. The increase of 50 cents on October 1, 2022 represents a 3.33 per cent rise from the province's previous minimum wage of $15.00 per hour. The change was initially announced on April 5, 2022 as a response to rising costs and ballooning inflation. The general minimum wage applies to most employees working full-time, part-time, or hourly in Ontario. (Full Story)

December 31, 2022 - Statutory holidays in Ontario (2023) - In Ontario, the Employment Standards Act currently recognizes nine (public) statutory holidays. Employers must allow employees to take these days off, and give them stat holiday pay. Visit the link for this article (see below) to view the statutory holidays in Ontario for 2023. (Full Story)

December 31, 2022 - A quality job fair for employers and job seekers - The Société Économique de l'Ontario (SÉO), the Centre de santé communautaire du Grand Sudbury and the Northern Ontario Francophone Immigration Support Network are organizing the second edition of the Foire de l'emploi francophone du Grand Sudbury from February 22 to 24, 2023. The goal of the event is to connect employers with Francophone and bilingual job seekers. (Full Story)

December 21, 2022 - Hire a youth this summer through Canada Summer Jobs - Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) 2023 is a business wage subsidy program designed to help pay the salaries for summer jobs created for youth between the ages of 15 and 30. The program is not restricted to students, instead focusing on those who face barriers to employment. Businesses can receive a reimbursement of up to 50% of the provincial minimum wage. (Full Story)

November 25, 2022 - Ontario and Saskatchewan add 400,000 new jobs, as vacancies remain high - Across all sectors, job vacancies were up by 3.8% in September, to 994,800 vacant positions within Canada. The majority of these new job additions were in Ontario and Saskatchewan. The job vacancy rate (total number of vacant positions as a proportion of labour demand) increased to 5.7%., indicating a continued need to fill positions amid employee shortages. (Full Story)

November 14, 2022 - Hourly Wages Needed To Live In Ontario Rise As Inflation Persists - Hourly wages needed to live in Ontario have increased amid decades-high inflation and remain well above the province's minimum wage, according to a new report. In the report released Monday, the Ontario Living Wage Network said the living wage in Toronto is now $23.15 an hour, up almost five per cent from $22.08 a year earlier. The report said the largest increase was in Sault Ste. Marie, where the living wage went up by 21.6 per cent since last year. (Full Story)

November 08, 2022 - Ontario Training Indigenous People for Well-Paying Jobs in the Skilled Trades - The Ontario government is investing $1.5 million in three Thunder Bay training projects to make it easier for people in Northern Ontario to start rewarding careers in the skilled trades and address critical labour shortages in forestry and mining. Over 100 Indigenous people will get practical, hands-on training and apprenticeship experience to prepare for well-paying jobs in the North. (Full Story)

October 13, 2022 - How the Working for Workers Act could empower employees in Ontario - Some workers in Ontario may soon learn whether and how their employers are monitoring how they work - and privacy expert Lauren Reid says companies should keep the humanity of their workers in mind. As of this week, Ontario employers with 25 or more employees are required to have an electronic monitoring policy - and they must disclose it to their staff within 30 days. It's part of the Working for Workers Act, which was passed in April but came into effect on Tuesday. (Full Story)

December 30, 2022 - Reminder of minimum wage increase - As announced last fall, Prince Edward Island's minimum wage will increase twice in 2023. The first increase will be by 80 cents on January 1, 2023 to $14.50 per hour. The second increase will be 50 cents on October 1, 2023 to $15.00 per hour. The Employment Standards Board reviews minimum wage annually and provides their recommendation to government after the review is complete. (Full Story)

December 30, 2022 - P.E.I.'s minimum wage rising in 2023, but inflation may claw it back - With minimum wage in P.E.I. set to increase to $15 per hour by the end of 2023, some Island businesses say it's good to see wages go up - but government needs to act immediately to address inflation or it'll all be for naught. In September, the P.E.I. government said it would increase minimum wage in two adjustments in 2023. First, there will be an increase of 80 cents on Jan. 1, bringing minimum wage up to $14.50. Then an additional 50-cent increase will be implemented in October. (Full Story)

December 22, 2022 - Canada Immigrants Are Increasingly Helping PEI Employers Meet The Labour Shortage Challenge - Immigrants and temporary residents are increasingly settling in Prince Edward Island and helping employers there deal with labour shortages, the latest data from the Canadian census reveals. In its Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population released last month, the statistical and demographic services agency shows more than three times as many residents settled on the Island in the five years that ended in 2021 compared to the previous five-year period. (Full Story)

December 8, 2022 - Island employers welcome immigrants in tight labour market - With job vacancy rates on P.E.I. climbing, employers are welcoming the news that immigrants are becoming a bigger factor in the province's workforce. Census figures released last week show the proportion of immigrants and non-permanent residents in the Island workforce almost doubled between 2016 and 2021, rising from 6.9 to 13.3 per cent. Despite that growing contribution, the job vacancy rate is still rising. At 6.4 per cent it is tied with Quebec for the second highest in the country. (Full Story)

December 6, 2022 - Regulation changes to support workers - Changes have been made to the Emergency Leave Regulations under the Employment Standards Act to ensure workers have job protection when they are sick. Emergency Leave under the Employment Standards Act was originally introduced during the pandemic to provide job-protected leave to employees required to self-isolate under orders made by the Chief Public Health Office. Now that the mandatory isolation requirement has ended, regulations have changed to continue supporting workers. (Full Story)

December 2, 2022 - Prince Edward Island's unemployment rate reached 6.8% in November - Prince Edward Island's volatile employment year continued to zigzag in November, according to Statistics Canada data released Friday. The province recorded a total of 84,700 jobs in last month's Labour Force Survey, down 1,500 jobs or 1.7 per cent from October. Statistics Canada noted that November was the third decline in five months for P.E.I. (Full Story)

November 28, 2022 - What is the ‘worst province' for workplace accident transparency? - Demands for greater transparency in the reporting of workplace accidents in Prince Edward Island are growing louder, with one politician is pushing for legislative changes. And the body that gathers and reports information is not rejecting the idea. Green MLA Trisha Altass recently pressed the province's Economic Development Minister Bloyce Thompson on the topic, but he didn't give a clear indication of whether the government will act. (Full Story)

November 23, 2022 - No new paid sick days for P.E.I. workers as government votes down bill - A proposed bill to increase paid sick leave for Island workers to 10 days a year was voted down in the P.E.I. Legislature Tuesday. The bill was introduced by the Opposition Green Party and debated in the house over the past couple of weeks. P.E.I. requires only one paid sick day per year, and that's only for employees who've been with the same employer for five years. (Full Story)

November 23, 2022 - P.E.I.'s emergency sick leave provisions will end when mandatory COVID-19 isolation does - A provision of the Employment Standards Act that allows extended, emergency unpaid sick leave for workers isolating with COVID-19 will no longer be in effect once mandatory isolation requirements end, the P.E.I. government has confirmed. The province's chief public health officer has said the five-day mandatory isolation period for those who test positive for COVID will not be extended beyond the end of November. (Full Story)

November 8, 2022 - WCB of PEI distributing $22 million in surplus funds - Employers in Prince Edward Island are set to receive part of the $22 million surplus fund from the Workers Compensation Board (WCB). The surplus comes as a result of investment returns which fluctuate from year to year. The surplus will be distributed to eligible employers in December 2022. (Full Story)

November 7, 2022 - WCB announces rates, surplus and pursuit of benefit enhancements - The Workers Compensation Board (WCB) of PEI is pleased to announce a 4.2% reduction of its estimated average assessment rate for Island employers for 2023. This brings the 2023 rate to $1.37, down from $1.43 in 2022. Assessment rates are set annually by the WCB Board of Directors and are calculated per $100 of assessable payroll. As of January 1, 2023, the maximum assessable earnings (MAE) will be $65,000. (Full Story)

October 31, 2022 - EI changes will mean hard winter for many, says P.E.I. seasonal worker - An Island woman says recent changes to the employment insurance program could mean a long, hard winter for many people on Prince Edward Island. In 2020, the eligibility for EI was reduced to 420 hours to help support people through the pandemic. Those on EI were also given 300 bonus hours, so they received larger payments, for longer. But on Sept. 24, those temporary changes expired, meaning the old rules will apply for anyone filing for EI after that date. (Full Story)

October 21, 2022 - P.E.I. asks for feedback on employment standards changes - Having started a formal review of the Employment Standards Act in October 2021, Prince Edward Island is now seeking feedback from the public. The last time the act was updated was in 2006, but there have been updates, such as the recent pay transparency and pre-natal pregnancy loss amendments and the introduction of the Domestic Violence, Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Violence Leave Regulations, along with the Non-disclosure Agreements Act and the Temporary Foreign Worker Protection Act. (Full Story)

January 6, 2023 - Strong Job Growth, Unemployment Rate Show a Provincial Economy That Works for Everyone - Today, Statistics Canada released December 2022 job numbers, showing Saskatchewan's continued economic growth having added 7,700 jobs when compared to December 2021, with month-to-month employment also increasing by 4,200. Saskatchewan's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 4.1 per cent from 5.5 per cent when compared to December 2021. The province ranked second among the provinces and is below the national average of 5.0 per cent. (Full Story)

December 12, 2022 - WCB approves 2023 premium rates - The Saskatchewan Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) has approved the 2023 average employer premium rate of $1.28 per hundred dollars of payroll. This is an increase of 4.1 per cent from the 2022 rate of $1.23. For the past two years during the COVID-19 pandemic, the WCB adjusted the average premium rate to help lift pressure on employers. (Full Story)

December 2, 2022 - Saskatchewan Sets Employment Records for November, Adding Nearly 12,000 Jobs - Today, November 2022 job numbers released by Statistics Canada reveal Saskatchewan added 11,800 jobs, an increase of 2.1 per cent when compared to November 2021. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased from 4.6 per cent last month to 4.2 per cent in November and is down from 5.3 per cent since last year. The national unemployment rate was 5.1 per cent. (Full Story)

November 7, 2022 - Saskatchewan revamping workplace safety rules to meet needs of ‘modern' workplaces - Saskatchewan is amending its workplace safety rules to better protect young workers and better meet the needs of modern workplaces, it said. The amendments to the Saskatchewan Employment Act come after the province engaged stakeholders to review the occupational health and safety provisions of the legislation. (Full Story)

November 4, 2022 - Saskatchewan looks to boost workplace safety - Saskatchewan is hoping to make workplaces safer for young workers with amendments to the Saskatchewan Employment Act. As part of the changes, secondary and post-secondary students are now included in the definition of worker. The amendments also clarify the employers' duty and responsibility to ensure that incidents of harassment are investigated, and require all workplaces to have a violence policy in place that will also apply to students, volunteers and contract workers. (Full Story)

November 4, 2022 - More than 18,000 Jobs Created Year-Over-Year in Saskatchewan - Today, October 2022 job numbers were released by Statistics Canada, showing Saskatchewan's strong, continued job growth, with 18,600 jobs added compared to October 2021. Saskatchewan also saw seasonally adjusted employment increase by 6,100 jobs from last month. All jobs were full-time employment. The provincial seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 4.6 per cent in October, down from 6.3 per cent in October 2021. (Full Story)

November 3, 2022 - Legislation Introduced That Helps Make Workplaces Safer - Today the Government of Saskatchewan introduced amendments to The Saskatchewan Employment Act that will help improve health and safety and better meet the needs of modern workplaces in the province. The amendments come after engaging stakeholders in a review of the occupational health and safety provisions of the Act. (Full Story)

October 31, 2022 - WCB raises employer premium rate 4.1 per cent - The Saskatchewan Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) has announced the 2023 preliminary average employer premium rate at $1.28 per hundred dollars of payroll, compared to the 2022 rate of $1.23, an increase of 4.1 per cent. The announcement was made at the WCB's annual preliminary rate information meeting with Saskatchewan employers, workers and stakeholders. (Full Story)

October 25 2022 - Are employers making progress in hiring persons with disabilities? - The Saskatchewan government has committed $10.8 million for Employability Assistance for Persons with Disabilities (EAPD) programming and services this year, allowing these workers to succeed in the workplace. The funding provided by the province supports 73 agreements with 52 different service providers. (Full Story)

October 20 2022 - Liability protection for Saskatchewan employers for COVID-19 measures, including mandatory vaccination - Saskatchewan employers now have statutory protection regarding the implementation of COVID-19 restrictions and regulations at the workplace in accordance with public health recommendations. The Saskatchewan Employment Amendment Act, 2021 confirms that employers who enacted mandatory vaccination policies were within their legal rights to do so. (Full Story)

November 23, 2022 - Yukon government eyes permanent sick leave program - The Yukon government is seriously eyeing a permanent paid sick leave program, according to the minister of Economic Development. How much will the program cost, how many days will it cover and who will be eligible for it have yet to be determined for the long-term iteration of the program, he said. The Yukon NDP pressed the territorial government on its plan during question period on Nov. 21. (Full Story)

October 12, 2022 - ‘Respect and fair wages' sought for workers - Employees of the Yukon Arts Centre picketed the building early Tuesday evening as management personnel worked to present a concert featuring Basia Bulat. The workers are members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada/Yukon Employees Union (PSAC/YEU). The PSAC served strike notice to the arts centre's management last Friday. (Full Story)