Latest news in Legal issues

Manager in Sudbury benefits fraud case ordered to pay $20M to former employer

Manager in Sudbury benefits fraud case ordered to pay $20M to former employer

A former Atlas Copco Canada Inc. manager sentenced to jail time for his part in a benefits kickback scheme now faces a $20-million bill from his…

Insurers stepping up fight against benefits fraud with analytics, big data

Insurers stepping up fight against benefits fraud with analytics, big data

According to estimates from the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association, benefits fraud results in the loss of two to 10 per cent of health-care dollars.…

Learn how legal marijuana will affect the workplace at the Benefits and Pension Summit

With the impending legalization of marijuana in Canada, what do plan sponsors need to consider? How will the workplace be affected by both recreational and medical…

Editorial: Benefits, bullying and the minimum wage

Editorial: Benefits, bullying and the minimum wage

The issue of benefits changes at some Tim Hortons outlets in response to Ontario’s boost to the minimum wage to $14 per hour is a…

TTC fraud update: More than 220 employees fired or have resigned, retired

TTC fraud update: More than 220 employees fired or have resigned, retired

Some 223 Toronto Transit Commission employees have been dismissed or have resigned or retired to avoid dismissal as part of an ongoing investigation into benefits fraud,…

  • By: Staff
  • March 15, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 10:01
Ontario sets out pay transparency legislation

Ontario sets out pay transparency legislation

The province of Ontario is tackling pay transparency by introducing legislation that requires employers to track and publish information about compensation in their organizations. The proposed legislation, if passed,…

  • By: Staff
  • March 6, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 16:15
B.C. employers to consider benefits plan design in light of new health tax

B.C. employers to consider benefits plan design in light of new health tax

B.C. plan sponsors will have lots of questions to consider as the provincial government prepares to introduce a new employer health tax. “It’s going to…

  • By: Ryan Murphy
  • February 28, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 15:30
Saskatchewan reinstates tax exemption on health premiums

Saskatchewan reinstates tax exemption on health premiums

Saskatchewan’s announcement that it’s reinstating its provincial sales tax exemption for life and health insurance premiums is welcome news for plan sponsors in the province. …

  • By: Ryan Murphy
  • February 27, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 15:45
Patient advocacy organizations urge government to halt drug-pricing review

Patient advocacy organizations urge government to halt drug-pricing review

A group of 28 patient advocacy organizations are urging Health Canada to stop its review of drug pricing. The federal government announced changes to drug price regulation…

  • By: Staff
  • February 15, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 16:50
Are benefits plan members being exposed to counterfeit pharmaceuticals?

Are benefits plan members being exposed to counterfeit pharmaceuticals?

Counterfeit pharmaceutical drugs are a rising risk to Canadians as they’re appearing in brick-and-mortar pharmacies, rather than just on the street or online, according to a new report…

  • By: Staff
  • February 14, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 09:00
McCarthy Tétrault names new partner in pension, benefits group

McCarthy Tétrault names new partner in pension, benefits group

Deron Waldock has joined McCarthy Tétrault LLP as a partner in its national pension, benefits and compensation group, working out of the firm’s Toronto office.…

  • By: Staff
  • February 9, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 09:04
Workplace safety leading HR issue as marijuana legalization approaches: HRPA

Workplace safety leading HR issue as marijuana legalization approaches: HRPA

The majority (71 per cent) of Canadian employers are unprepared for how the legalization of recreational marijuana will affect the workplace, according to a new survey by…

  • By: Staff
  • January 29, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 10:42
CLHIA warns of unintended consequences in Health Canada’s proposed pot rules

CLHIA warns of unintended consequences in Health Canada’s proposed pot rules

While the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association acknowledges that Health Canada’s proposed approach to the regulation of marijuana aims to improve patient access, it’s expressing concern…

  • By: Staff
  • January 24, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 09:00
New Brunswick considering domestic violence leave

New Brunswick considering domestic violence leave

New Brunswick is planning to join other provinces in offering job-protected leave for victims of domestic violence. “It is essential that New Brunswick’s employment standards…

  • By: Staff
  • January 23, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 10:20
CLHIA launches cross-Canada sessions about compensation disclosure guideline

CLHIA launches cross-Canada sessions about compensation disclosure guideline

The Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association will be holding information sessions in the coming weeks about its new guideline for disclosing compensation to intermediaries…

  • By: Staff
  • January 16, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 10:22
Hotline set up to expose companies cutting benefits following minimum wage hike

Hotline set up to expose companies cutting benefits following minimum wage hike

An Ottawa labour council has set up a hotline to allow employees to report on companies that are cutting paid breaks and other benefits following Ontario’s minimum wage…

Have your say: Are new labour law changes a concern for employers?

Have your say: Are new labour law changes a concern for employers?

New labour law changes, particularly enhanced leave provisions in Ontario, are likely to increase costs and administrative challenges for employers, according to one expert. Amendments in…

Sounding Board: How will the WSIB’s mental-stress changes affect employers?

Sounding Board: How will the WSIB’s mental-stress changes affect employers?

The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board is expanding its work-related mental-stress policy following decisions at the appeals tribunal that found the limits currently placed on entitlement criteria are unconstitutional.…

Return-to-work plans, coverage for mental-health injuries among proposals in new Alberta bill

Return-to-work plans, coverage for mental-health injuries among proposals in new Alberta bill

A new bill tabled in the Alberta legislature on Monday includes a number of proposals that would affect employers. If passed, Alberta employers will have to continue…

  • By: Staff
  • November 29, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 09:00
Arbitrator upholds employer’s move to cut down on pharmacy visits

Arbitrator upholds employer’s move to cut down on pharmacy visits

A recent arbitration decision underlines the pivotal role that collective bargaining agreement language plays in the extent to which employers and their insurers can make…

B.C. ruling adds further clarity to long-term disability saga

B.C. ruling adds further clarity to long-term disability saga

Does disability interfere with an organization’s right to terminate employment and employer-provided benefits? It’s a question that commonly arises when it comes to employees who…

TTC condoned benefits fraud, union argues in fighting staff terminations

TTC condoned benefits fraud, union argues in fighting staff terminations

The Toronto Transit Commission condoned the benefits fraud involving millions of dollars for orthopedic claims, the union representing workers is arguing in a number of…

  • By: Glenn Kauth
  • November 14, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 15:30
Inclusion of medical marijuana in government’s tax plan for cannabis criticized

Inclusion of medical marijuana in government’s tax plan for cannabis criticized

The new tax framework for cannabis products will include medical marijuana, according to the proposed excise duty framework published by the federal government on Friday. Advocates…

  • By: Staff
  • November 13, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 10:52
Court dismisses age discrimination appeal in long-term disability case

Court dismisses age discrimination appeal in long-term disability case

A recent Court of Appeal of Alberta dismissal of a case relating to age discrimination and the eligibility of receiving long-term disability benefits provides some…

Earlier maternity leave benefits, other EI changes coming this fall

Earlier maternity leave benefits, other EI changes coming this fall

Changes are coming for employment insurance and leave allocations for some Canadian employees later this fall. The leave changes, which received royal assent in June, affect the…

  • By: Staff
  • October 19, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 15:00