federal government – Benefits Canada.com

Pensions for ousted and retired MPs could cost taxpayers $42M

Gideon Scanlon — Wed, 29 Sep 2021 19:00:41 +0000

The 17 pension-qualified members of parliament who stood down or were ousted during last week’s federal election will receive $1.4 million per year in payments, according to a new report by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. The think tank, which tracks government expenditure in Canada, says that, should the MPs each live to 90 years old, […]

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Transat, WestJet employee vaccination policies taking flight

mdunne — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 19:00:31 +0000

Transat A.T. Inc., like competitors Air Canada and WestJet Airlines, is requiring all of its employees to be fully vaccinated in accordance with a federal mandate for Canada’s air, rail and marine transportation sectors. “Everyone must do their part to ensure that we eventually overcome the virus,” said Annick Guerard, Transat’s chief executive officer and […]

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Federal parties making mental-health services promises on campaign trail

bwolfe — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 13:00:37 +0000

If elected, the Conservative Party is promising it will encourage employers to add mental-health coverage to their benefits plans by offering a tax credit for 25 per cent of the cost of this additional coverage for the first three years. Meanwhile, the Liberal Party is promising Canadians increased access to free mental-health services through a new […]

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NDP promising universal pharmacare, Conservatives looking to double EI sickness benefits

mdunne — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 19:00:11 +0000

If elected, New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh is pledging to begin working with provinces immediately to deliver a single-payer, public pharmacare program for all Canadians. The NDP say millions of people can’t afford to take the medications they need and must skip doses, cut their pills in half or even go without them. “We […]

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Unvaccinated Air Canada employees facing unpaid leave, termination

lbailey — Fri, 27 Aug 2021 13:00:50 +0000

Air Canada is requiring all employees to be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus and to report their vaccination status by Oct. 30. While the company will accommodate employees who have valid exceptions, such as medical conditions, that prevent them from being vaccinated, failure to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 30 will have consequences — including unpaid leave or […]

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Canadian Pharmacists Association calling for blend of private, public pharmacare plans

mdunne — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 13:00:59 +0000

The Canadian Pharmacists Association is calling for a universal national pharmacare plan that blends public and private plans, according to a press release. The call is part of the professional association’s 2021 federal election priorities for all parties and candidates. Canadians go to the polls on Sept. 21 amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which has put […]

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Possible national pharmacare program has pros, cons for employers: experts

bwolfe — Wed, 18 Aug 2021 13:00:51 +0000

Discussion around implementing a national universal pharmacare strategy is growing louder ahead of next month’s federal election. In its 2019 budget, the federal government said it would work with partners to move forward on a national pharmacare program, including the creation of a new national drug agency and formulary, as well as a national strategy for […]

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Trudeau mandating coronavirus vaccinations for federal employees

bwolfe — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 13:00:28 +0000

Ottawa will require federal employees and workers in federally regulated industries to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, marking a shift in the federal government’s position on vaccine mandates. The move — which will affect roughly 1.5 million workers — is necessary to protect against more dangerous variants of the coronavirus, says Dominic LeBlanc, head of the Privy […]

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Border agency employees ending strike after retirement, paid leave wins

bwolfe — Wed, 11 Aug 2021 19:00:52 +0000

The union president for the Canadian Border Services Agency employees is “relieved” after reaching a new tentative agreement that includes retirement benefits and new paid leave programs. Under the four-year agreement, which dates back to 2018, the Treasury Board has committed to working toward the introduction of early retirement benefits for the border employees, along […]

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CLHIA calling for increased access to VPLAs, prescription drugs

bwolfe — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 19:00:32 +0000

The Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association is calling on the federal government to permit standalone variable payment life annuities to pool participants from all registered retirement plans. In its 2022 federal budget submission, the CLHIA said VPLAs, as enacted, will only be available to members of very large defined contribution pension plans, excluding Canadians […]

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