As the federal government winds down in anticipation of the October general election, CPHR Canada reflects on the past year and its involvement on many legislative issues of interest to human resource professionals.
A key plank in the Trudeau government platform was to pass proactive pay equity legislation during its mandate. The legislation received Royal Assent on December 13, 2018.
The Act creates a number of obligations for federally regulated organizations. Regulations are currently being drafted and once again CPHR Canada was at the fore sharing expertise on how regulations could be drafted without creating unforeseen consequences. Pay equity legislation will come into force three years after the regulations have been approved. According to pay equity expert, Denise Perron, CRHA, who assisted CPHR Canada in the development of submissions to government, it’s not too early to start preparing a work plan to ensure successful completion of the pay equity project.
On behalf of CPHR Canada, Madame Perron and pay consultant François Trottier appeared before the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance on the legislation in December 2018.
CPHR Canada was again invited by the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance to share its views on amendments to the employment equity legislation.
The law requires private sector employers under federal jurisdiction to report information on their employees’ compensation. It’s CPHR Canada’s position that these requirements need to align with the requirements of the pay equity legislation in order to reduce the compliance burden for employers. Unfortunately, with the passing of the legislation, employers will be required to submit a different set of data to comply with both laws.
Have Your Say
Budget 2019 announced the creation of a new Canada Training Benefit. CPHR Canada has had the opportunity to participate in round-table discussions on the topic. The training benefit proposes to provide funding to employees to help pay for training through the new Employment Insurance Training Support Benefit while offering job protection for workers who take time away from work to upgrade their skills.
The design of some components of the support benefit is not yet finalized so there is still time to provide your views.
Click here for the online survey. It is available until July 31.
Anthony Ariganello, CEO, CPHR Canada (right) meets with Wayne Easter, MP, Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance
Denise Perron, CRHA and Francois Trottier, CRHA on Parliament Hill in advance of their appearing before the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance.
What’s next
The government has mandated an expert committee to study the modernization of the Canada Labour Code.
Specifically, the Committee was studying issues around federal minimum wage, labour standards protections for non-standard workers, the right to disconnect, access and portability of benefits and the collective voice for non-unionized workers.
CPHR Canada weighed in on the topic of the right to disconnect.
At this time, the Committee’s report should be on the Minister’s desk. But with the countdown to the October election, it will be up to the next government to act on these important issues.
For further information, please contact Carole Presseault, Government Relations Consultant to CPHR Canada at carole@presseaultstrategies.ca.
