A coast-to-coast look at key legislative changes that impact employers, sorted by jurisdiction.

Federal Video surveillance in private-sector organizations under new guidelines (4/8/2008) Privacy commissioners issue guidelines to minimize impact on privacy of employees and customers Labour ministers promote safe and healthy workplaces (3/11/2008) Meeting brings agreement to exchange information on addressing workplace violence and adoption of global standard on classifying chemicals to replace WHMIS Job protection introduced for federal employees and students in the reserves (2/13/2008) Proposed legislation will ensure employees and post-secondary students will have jobs and school upon return from active duty	Alberta Alberta and federal governments work together to protect foreign workers in the province (9/21/2007) Agreement will allow better monitoring of employment standards for increasing numbers of foreign workers Alberta students to have more financial freedom while job training (8/20/2007) Students receiving support under Alberta Works training program will be allowed to supplement their income through work Alberta addresses labour shortage by expanding immigrant skilled worker program (8/8/2007) Greater variety of skilled applicants will be reviewed for permanent residency
British Columbia British Columbia surpasses targets for skilled immigrant program (5/14/2008) Province attracted nine per cent more skilled and business immigrants than planned and 41 per cent more than previous year British Columbia reservists have job protection during missions (5/1/2008) Province joins trend of unpaid leave for military reservists while on duty British Columbia wants foreign workers in tourism, trucking industries to stay (2/22/2008) Pilot project makes it easier for workers to gain permanent residency and meet growing labour demand in province	Manitoba Manitoba looks to weed out illegitimate foreign recruiters and agencies (11/29/2007) Government hopes new licensing requirement will protect immigrants, young women and children from unscrupulous recruiters Seminar program aims to improve business skills of young rural women across Manitoba (11/9/2007) Courses will help educate women on modern farm operation Louis Riel gets a holiday (9/27/2007) Manitoba’s new February holiday named after controversial historical figure
New Brunswick New Brunswick and federal government co-operate on expanded job training (4/11/2008) Workers not eligible for training under EI to get more opportunities to develop skills Expanded skills development program in New Brunswick (3/7/2008) Federal and provincial governments agree to training and skills development program for groups under-represented in the workforce Military reservists in New Brunswick get job protection (12/18/2007) New Brunswick latest province to ensure reservists called to active duty will still have their jobs when they return home	Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland and Labrador reservists getting job protection (5/14/2008) Under employment standards amendments, employers must grant unpaid leave with job protection unless undue hardship results Minimum wage increase in Newfoundland and Labrador (4/2/2008) Latest raise to $8 per hour part of incremental increase to eventually hit $10 per hour Newfoundland and Labrador minimum wage going up (9/13/2007) Wage to increase twice by spring 2008
Northwest Territories The Northwest Territories addresses growing and changing workforce (1/22/2008) New employment standards legislation a move towards modernization and consolidation	Nova Scotia Nova Scotia considers expanding compassionate care leave (7/25/2007) Proposed changes would allow more people to take leave to care for a loved one Mandatory retirement eliminated in Nova Scotia (5/16/2007) New legislation will help address skills shortage and allow workers to choose when to retire Smoking ban in Nova Scotia’s public places goes into effect (4/11/2007) Nova Scotia departments busy with inspections after smoking ban in public places goes into effect in December
Nunavut Nunavut’s payroll tax, cost of living deduction to be increased on April 1, 2007 (11/22/2006) Rate employees pay doubling from one per cent to two per cent Suppliers’ safety duties expanded (4/14/2004) Compassionate care leave legislation protects jobs of workers, allows access to federal benefits (1/21/2004)	Ontario Ontario’s minimum wage increases for fifth time in four years (4/11/2008) Planned annual increases will result in 50 per cent increase by 2010 Federal government invests in job training of marginalized groups in Ontario (3/13/2008) New cash will fund training of those ineligible for EI training and minority groups Ontario increases benefits for injured workers (1/18/2008) Three raises in 18 months come after more than a decade of little change
Prince Edward Island Jobs of P.E.I. reservists safe while taking leave for military service (12/12/2007) New legislation creates reservist leave and ensures reservists will still have jobs when they return from active duty Prince Edward Island fights hearing loss at work (11/29/2007) New amendments dealing with noise and confined spaces at work aim to prevent hearing loss Unemployed older workers in PEI to get help in job searches (8/31/2007) Joint initiative between federal and provincial governments to provide training, job counselling	Quebec New Quebec legislation to improve development of workforce skills (1/31/2008) Regulations focus on professional training, certification and qualification methods Quebec makes changes to holiday requirements (6/20/2007) Sunday holidays will no longer be moved to Mondays for Sunday workers Quebec's minimum wage going up (4/27/2006) Wage to rise 15 cents an hour on May 1, 2006
Saskatchewan Agreement to develop employment opportunities for Aboriginal workers in Regina (4/30/2008) Program agreed to by provincial, municipal governments and unions to create more jobs for urban Aboriginals Recruitment and retention in health care sector a priority in Saskatchewan (4/16/2008) Government offers grants for initiatives recommended by health care employees to attract and keep more workers Saskatchewan and federal governments reach agreement to expand job skills development (4/2/2008) Agreement will make training available to people who don’t qualify for EI benefits	Yukon Yukon looks to improve workers’ compensation system (4/21/2008) New act aims to reduce costs with early recovery and return to work Yukon’s minimum wage increasing (2/15/2008) Government implements recommendation to tie wages to consumer price index Review of Yukon's WCB act moves into the next stages (2/13/2006) Panel wants feedback on a paper outlining options for possible legislative changes to the Workers' Compensation Act