Revised Labour Standards for Federal Employers

On December 13, 2018, the federal government gave royal assent to a bill that promised substantial changes to the employment standards for federal employers. The changes themselves have not yet been implemented, however, this is expected in 2019 and will be subject to staggered implementation dates. Overview of Key Changes There are a number of […]

Structuring Your Fishing Business for Growth: Selecting the Optimal Business...

Have you received advice from an accountant or a lawyer on the best way to structure your fishing business? If so, did that advice take the most recent Income Tax Act amendments into consideration? Finding the structure that is optimal for your circumstances can make a world of difference to you and your family.

February 12, 2019

New Regulations in Newfoundland and Labrador to Address Workplace Harassment...

Newfoundland and Labrador has recently announced upcoming revisions to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2012 (the “New Regulations”). The New Regulations follow similar changes made last year in New Brunswick and attempt to tackle the issues of workplace harassment and violence. New Brunswick’s regulations, initially scheduled to come into force last September, are now […]

The Atlantic Immigration Pilot, an Option for Immigrating to Nova...

The Atlantic Immigration Pilot (“AIP”) is an excellent option for employers wishing to hire immigrants and for immigrants wishing to immigrate to Nova Scotia: the program is a 3-year pilot program that is scheduled to run until December 2021. The AIP is designed to allow Atlantic Canadian employers looking to fill labour gaps with applicants […]

General Holdback Chart

Each province has its own holdback requirements, which makes managing construction projects and contracts across provincial borders complex. For easy reference to holdback details across Canada, see the chart below which includes details for the holdback percentage, holdback period, lien registration deadline, and whether there is provision for an early release, for each province and […]

January 31, 2019

New Year, New Changes to Prince Edward Island’s Employment Standards...

On December 29, 2018, new amendments to Prince Edward Island’s Employment Standards Act concerning maternity, parental and adoption leave, compassionate care leave, and the qualifying period for sick leave came into effect. What Are the Changes? Maternity, Parental & Adoption Leave The most noteworthy change arising from the new amendments is that the parental leave […]

Update: An Overview of Parental and Maternity Leave in Atlantic...

In June 2018, we published an article, Recent Changes Affect Parental and Maternity Leave in Atlantic Canada. That article included a chart which summarized the benefits in each province. Since that time, there have been changes, and we have updated the chart below to reflect the current information. Please see below for an updated overview of […]

Cap and Trade Primer on NS Emissions

In October 2017, Nova Scotia amended the Environment Act (Nova Scotia) allowing the province to implement a cap and trade program. With the program’s regulations now coming into effect, the impact of this program will be felt intensely within the Nova Scotia business community and in particular the energy sector. Companies must now report their greenhouse gas […]

CPP Disability Payments Deductible From Future Loss

The Nova Scotia Court of Appeal overturned a motion decision in Sparks v Holland, 2019 NSCA 3 (“Sparks”), holding that Canadian Pension Program (“CPP”) disability payments are deductible from future loss of income and earning capacity. Background The respondent, Catherine Holland, was involved in a motor vehicle accident with the appellant, Josh Sparks, on May […]

Nova Scotia Aims to Supercharge Start-up Growth With Revised Equity...

On January 17, 2019, Nova Scotia’s Finance and Treasury Board (“NSFTB”) announced changes to the Province’s Equity Tax Credit program, a popular tax credit program that has been in place since 1994 and utilized by many Nova Scotia companies and investors in a number of different industries. The Province’s stated goal for re-working the Equity […]