Tag: New Laws

Over the last half of 2017 there was a flood of information on what was going to take effect in 2018 and how we are to prepare for it all, taking the form of articles and news segments discussing controversial components of what will be implemented as of January 1st and how it will impact Canadians as a whole.

To help simplify what to expect for 2018 in Canada and Ontario specifically, here’s a quick summary of some things to expect this year:

Parental Leave (Canada)

Changes to parental leave in Canada provide Canadians with the ability to spread a years worth of federal employment insurance over 18 months, stay home with their children longer, and allow for a 15-week leave caregiver benefit to assist critically ill or injured adults or 35-week leave for an ill or injured child.

 

Microbeads Ban (Canada)

Microbeads are officially banned from being manufactured and imported in Canada. They have been seen and used in many toiletries including toothpaste, facial scrubs, lotions, gels, and other beauty products.

The ban has been implemented due to the inability for the microbeads to break down and are too small to be caught by wastewater treatment filters, ending up in our bodies of water. In addition, microbeads have also been added to the list of toxic substances under the Environmental Protection Act.

 

Small-business Tax Changes (Canada)

The primary change to small-business taxes is the issue of “income sprinking”. This is one of the many changes that have been implemented by the government in their tax reform plan as they continue to make Canada’s tax system fair and close certain loopholes that exist.

 

Legalization of Marijuana (Canada)

July 1, 2018 is the expected date for Canada’s legalization of cannabis to take place and introduce LCBO managed stores (Ontario), personal growth regulations, and licensing of cannabis producers and sellers among many other components to be introduced with the sale of cannabis in Canada.

 

Minimum Wage Increase (Ontario)

The Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017 proposed changes to Ontario’s Employment Standards Act, which included an increase of the minimum wage to $14 per hour by January 1^st, 2018 and again to $15 per hour by January 1^st, 2019.

 

Scalper Bot Ban (Ontario)

The scalper bot ban has attracted the most attention. Within the consumer protection bill is the Ticket Sales Act, which will address ticket bots and ticket resale prices. In summary, the Ticket Sales Act would:

• ban scalper bots
• ban tickets from being resold at more than 50 per cent of the face value
• will make it illegal to knowingly resell tickets that were purchased by bots
• sellers will need to display all fees, taxes, service charges
• resellers will need to disclose the face value of the ticket

The legislation passed at Queen’s Park as of December 13, 2017. The province voted in favour of the bill, with MPPs from the Liberals supporting, while the Progressive Conservatives and the New Democrats opposed it.

If you have any questions or concerns about any upcoming changes, or require any legal services please contact our office at 416-449-1400 to speak with a lawyer at Devry Smith Frank LLP.

“This article is intended to inform. Its content does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon by readers as such. If you require legal assistance, please see a lawyer. Each case is unique and a lawyer with good training and sound judgment can provide you with advice tailored to your specific situation and needs.”