Labour & Employment
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July 10, 2024
RCMP charges federal consultant with $250K in overbilling to federal agencies
In an unusual move, the federal government has praised the RCMP for investigating an individual consultant who was subsequently charged for “fraudulently overbilling the Government of Canada” as part of an overall RCMP probe into an estimated $5 million in contractor overbilling.
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July 10, 2024
Record-breaking heatwave warnings, employer advice on keeping outdoor workers safe
As provinces across the country struggle with soaring temperatures, many are experiencing an increase in heatwaves. Ontario has been hit hard with its fair share of extreme waves, and now B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan are also witnessing record-breaking heatwaves, posing a significant threat to outdoor workers.
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July 08, 2024
Manitoba regulator running mental wellness challenge for lawyers
The new president of Manitoba’s law society is hoping an ongoing “wellness challenge” for lawyers will put them on the path to minding their mental health while at work. The Law Society of Manitoba’s (LSM) Wellness Challenge 2024, the first of its kind by the regulator, is a voluntary project where participants engage in various wellness activities over an eight-week period. The activities, grouped into two-week slots, began June 17 and will run through to Aug. 9.
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July 08, 2024
New associate joins Mathews Dinsdale
A recent news release from Mathews Dinsdale LLP announced the addition of Dave Bushuev as an associate in the firm’s Toronto office.
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July 05, 2024
SCC-bound case challenges refusal to publicly disclose court records revealing civil case delays
Does the principle of judicial independence enable judicial leaders to veto, in their absolute discretion, the public release of court records that reveal the extent of civil trial delays in the courts they administer? Absent transparency about courts’ operational performance, is the judicial branch of government sufficiently accountable to the public for its role in managing the courts?
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July 05, 2024
Canada’s Capital Gains Tax and the exodus to the U.S.
There may be a change coming to the way Canada taxes capital gains. While Prime Minister Justine Trudeau claims it will affect a minuscule percentage of Canadians, it has more than a minuscule percentage of Canadian taxpayers on edge. The new taxing regime is complex, with 56 pages of guidance. While some taxpayers are already subject to a capital gains tax inclusion rate (meaning the amount of capital gain that is currently included in computing a taxpayer’s income) of 50 per cent on their realized gains, the capital gains inclusion rate under the taxing regime will exceed 66 per cent on some assets in certain circumstances.
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July 05, 2024
Vavilov and Chevron: Does Canada need an Administrative Procedure Act?
The recent refusal of the Canada Industrial Relations Board to follow the direction of the Minister of Labour in connection with the labour dispute involving WestJet Airlines Ltd. (WestJet) and the Airline Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) highlights an ongoing flaw in the administrative law principles that govern the regulatory state in Canada.
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July 05, 2024
B.C.’s Pay Transparency Act: Employer reporting obligations, Pay Transparency Report
Starting Nov. 1, 2024, British Columbia employers with over 1,000 employees (approximately 33 per cent of B.C.’s workforce) will be required to submit pay transparency reports to comply with new obligations under the Pay Transparency Act and related regulations. This mandate will extend to employers with over 300 employees by Nov. 1, 2025, and to those with over 50 employees by Nov. 1, 2026.
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July 04, 2024
B.C. Court of Appeal overturns ruling that invalidated provincial resolution on judicial salaries
B.C.’s top court has ruled that a lower court judge failed to give proper deference to the provincial government when she overturned a resolution from the B.C. legislature on remuneration for provincial court judges and judicial justices.
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July 04, 2024
Enjoying a stress-free immigration summer
Summer has officially started in Canada. With the school year beginning in early September and the difficulty of moving during winter, many newcomers to Canada arrive during the summer months. As a result, work permits and other immigration documents often expire during summer or early autumn. With summer being the peak travel season, serious complications may arise as a result of this timing reality.