Latest news in Legal issues

Key stakeholders highlighting value of private payer health care amid plans for dental, pharmacare programs

Amid plans by the federal government to introduce national dental and pharmacare programs, key stakeholders in the private payer health-care sector should highlight the value…

What’s in the federal budget for employers, employees?

The federal government’s 2022 budget, which set out $56 billion in new spending on Thursday, has a few offerings that could impact employers and employees.…

  • By: Staff
  • April 8, 2022 April 8, 2022
  • 09:00
Copyright_Wavebreak Media Ltd_123RF

Quebec biosimilars policy could cut drug costs for plan sponsors: expert

Changes to Quebec’s policy on the use of biosimilars in its public drug plan could result in savings for private benefits plans, says one expert.…

Yale University settles lawsuit over employee wellness program

Yale University and some of its employees have settled a class-action lawsuit over the university’s employee wellness program for US$1.29 million net of lawyers’ fees.…

An update on Canada’s national strategy for drugs for rare diseases

In 2020, members of the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association spent $650 million on drugs for rare diseases for more than 13,000 patients. Rare…

Benefits, pension plan administrators face bevy of challenges in 2022: webinar

The shift to hybrid and remote work models during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic is one of several issues impacting pension plan and group benefits administrators…

Most coronavirus vaccine refusers won’t get federal pandemic benefits: minister

The federal minister in charge of aid to the unemployed says jobless Canadians who refuse to get vaccinated may find themselves blocked from benefits so…

Liberals eye easing access to maternity, parental leave in EI review: minister

The minister in charge of Canada’s federal social safety net for workers says the government is looking at removing rules that make it difficult for…

Liberals once again delay PMPRB changes to lower price of medicines in Canada

Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos has put a six-month pause on new regulations designed to lower the cost of patented medicines in Canada. Health Canada…

Sounding Board: Legal issues for employers dealing with coronavirus vaccine exemption requests

Employers have had to navigate many unique legal issues this year, including how to deal with the issue of coronavirus vaccines and employees. One question…

CDIPC estimates 34% rise in high-cost drug burden for Canadians since 2016

The Canadian Drug Insurance Pooling Corp.’s high-cost drug framework provided coverage to almost 28,000 Canadians and their families where drug costs exceeded $10,000 annually in…

  • By: Staff
  • December 22, 2021 December 21, 2021
  • 09:00

Share transfers to executives, employees are income not capital gains: appeal court

A Federal Court of Appeal ruling will make it very difficult for executives and employees to treat share transfers from their companies as capital gains…

Road to returning to office filled with legal potholes for employers

Angry mobs of anti-vaccination protestors holding up handmade signs with messages like “freedom not fear” have been popping up across the country and around the…

Copyright_Mikhail Tsikhanovich_123RF

Ontario recommending introduction of new portable benefits program

A new report by the Ontario government’s advisory committee on the future of work is recommending the introduction of a new portable benefits program. The…

  • By: Staff
  • December 10, 2021 December 9, 2021
  • 09:00

Employers enforcing rules for unvaccinated employees

Employers are beginning to enforce rules for employees who aren’t vaccinated against the coronavirus. To go to work today, Ontario long-term care staff must have…

Government extending deadline for consultations on modernizing EI program

The federal government is extending the deadline for its consultations on modernizing the employment insurance program. The online survey, which was opened in August and…

  • By: Staff
  • November 10, 2021 November 9, 2021
  • 09:00
Copyright_Mikhail Tsikhanovich_123RF

Ontario investing $12.4M in mental-health support for frontline health workers

The Ontario government is promising to expand mental-health and addictions support for frontline health and long-term care workers by investing $12.4 million over two years. In…

  • By: Staff
  • November 5, 2021 November 10, 2021
  • 09:00

Public service union ‘concerned’ managers may decide validity of employee vaccine views

The deadline for employees in the core federal public service to declare their coronavirus vaccination status was Oct. 29, but unions say there are still many…

‘Significant’ wave of terminations coming due to workplace vaccine mandates: lawyer

Canada is facing a potential wave of terminations tied to mandatory workplace vaccine policies as a growing number of employers require workers to be fully…

New study calling on permanent reforms to Canada’s sickness, caregiving leaves

With the coronavirus pandemic exposing gaps in sickness and caregiving leave provisions across Canada, the Institute for Research on Public Policy is calling for permanent…

  • By: Staff
  • October 8, 2021 October 8, 2021
  • 15:00

New paper calls for linking DB pension solvency minimums to plan member age

A new white paper published by the Canadian Institute of Actuaries is proposing new rules during defined benefit plan windups, requiring higher solvency ratios for members…

Pandemic changing ‘must have’ perks for U.S. millennial managers: survey

The coronavirus pandemic is changing what perks millennial managers consider “must haves,” according to a new survey by MetLife Inc. It found millennial managers (ages 26…

  • By: Staff
  • September 24, 2021 September 24, 2021
  • 15:00

How will federal election platforms impact HR, benefits and pensions?

As Canadians head to the polls today, Benefits Canada takes a look at how the federal parties’ campaign promises could impact the human resources, benefits…

  • By: Staff
  • September 20, 2021 September 17, 2021
  • 09:00

A look at current provincial policies on bereavement leave

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has made legislated bereavement leave policies top of mind for both employers and employees. As of Sept. 15, at least one…

  • By: Blake Wolfe
  • September 16, 2021 September 16, 2021
  • 09:00

How could the federal parties’ childcare platforms affect working parents?

The result of the federal election could have a direct impact on working parents. The Liberal Party made a national $10 a day childcare system…

  • By: Staff
  • September 15, 2021 September 15, 2021
  • 09:00