February 23, 2018 by Taylor Buckley in British Columbia, English
  • Comments Off on BC Budget Introduces New “Employer Health” Payroll Tax

BC Budget Introduces New “Employer Health” Payroll Tax

The BC government has announced a new payroll tax for employers with payrolls of $500,000 or more, to take effect January 1, 2019. The new tax, similar to Ontario’s Employer Health Tax, is designed to offset the elimination of Medical Services Plan (MSP) premiums effective January 1, 2020.

We don’t yet

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June 19, 2017 by Taylor Buckley in Alberta, British Columbia, English, Pensions and Benefits
  • Comments Off on BC AND ALBERTA PENSION PLAN ASSESSMENTS – DEADLINE APPROACHING

BC AND ALBERTA PENSION PLAN ASSESSMENTS – DEADLINE APPROACHING

As part of the enhanced governance requirements under British Columbia’s Pension Benefits Standard Act and Alberta’s Employment Pension Plans Act, pension plan administrators in Alberta and British Columbia are required to conduct an assessment their plan every three years. The deadline to complete the first assessment is December 31, 2017.

December

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March 15, 2017 by Jillian Frank in British Columbia, English, Human Rights
  • Comments Off on Costs of Accommodation: British Columbia Supreme Court Reaffirms High Threshold for Undue Hardship

Costs of Accommodation: British Columbia Supreme Court Reaffirms High Threshold for Undue Hardship

In a July 2016 decision, Providence Health Care v. Dunkley, 2016 BCSC 1383, the British Columbia Supreme Court held that Providence Health Care (PHC) and the University of British Columbia (UBC) failed to establish that the costs of providing interpreter services for a deaf medical resident constituted undue hardship.

The decision

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October 05, 2016 by Jeff Bastien in British Columbia, English, Labour
  • Comments Off on British Columbia Arbitrator Reinstates Firefighter Convicted of Possession of Stolen Boat

British Columbia Arbitrator Reinstates Firefighter Convicted of Possession of Stolen Boat

In a recent grievance decision, Re Prince George and Prince George Firefighters, Local 1372 (Williams), 2016 CarswellBC 2591, a labour arbitrator reinstated a firefighter whose employment was terminated after being found guilty of possession of a stolen boat and trailer.

This case serves as a reminder to employers that in order

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September 01, 2016 by Matthew Curtis in British Columbia, English, Human Rights
  • Comments Off on B.C. and Canada Adopting Gender Identity and Gender Expression Human Rights Protections

B.C. and Canada Adopting Gender Identity and Gender Expression Human Rights Protections

Both the British Columbia and the Federal Government have recently introduced legislation to amend their respective human rights legislation to include gender identity and gender expression among the protected grounds of discrimination. These amendments will mean that individuals will have a right under the respective legislation to make a complaint

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May 23, 2014 by Dana Hooker in British Columbia, English, Human Rights
  • Comments Off on Your Partners Are Not Your Employees: Supreme Court of Canada Clarifies the Application of the Control/Dependency Test

Your Partners Are Not Your Employees: Supreme Court of Canada Clarifies the Application of the Control/Dependency Test

In 2009, John McCormick, an equity partner in the law firm Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP (the “Firm”) filed a complaint with the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal, alleging the Firm’s requirement that equity partners retire from the partners...

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April 14, 2014 by Matthew Curtis in British Columbia, English, Executive Compensation
  • Comments Off on Contract Requiring Ex-Employee to Compensate Former Employer for Competing Ruled Enforceable in British Columbia

Contract Requiring Ex-Employee to Compensate Former Employer for Competing Ruled Enforceable in British Columbia

A recent decision of the B.C. Court of Appeal has endorsed a novel approach to post-employment competition by upholding an employment contract whereby the employee was required to compensate the employer if she competed soon after her employment ended....

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September 04, 2012 by Employment and Labor Group in British Columbia, English, Human Rights, Privacy
  • Comments Off on Wither ‘Big Brother’? B.C. Privacy Commissioner Reins-in Government of British Columbia Criminal Record Checks

Wither ‘Big Brother’? B.C. Privacy Commissioner Reins-in Government of British Columbia Criminal Record Checks

In keeping with her stance on overly-invasive employee background checks, British Columbia’s Information and Privacy Commissioner, Elizabeth Denham, has issued […]

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July 19, 2012 by Matthew Curtis in British Columbia, English, Human Rights
  • Comments Off on Human Rights Tribunal Has No Jurisdiction to Hear Equity Partner’s Human Rights Complaint in British Columbia

Human Rights Tribunal Has No Jurisdiction to Hear Equity Partner’s Human Rights Complaint in British Columbia

 The British Columbia Court of Appeal has unanimously held that the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal did not have jurisdiction […]

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May 03, 2012 by Matthew Curtis in British Columbia, English, Wrongful Dismissal
  • Comments Off on Proposed New Limitation Period in British Columbia Announced

Proposed New Limitation Period in British Columbia Announced

Bill 34 has been introduced in the British Columbia legislature to establish, for most claims, a basic limitation period of […]

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