iGlobal Law

Core Facts

• Population:  36.4M
• GDP:  USD 1,553 billion
• GDP per head:  USD 51,100
• Workforce:  18M
• Unemployment (2017):  6.5%
• Average wages in manufacturing (2017):  CAD 26 per hour

Regulatory

• Government debt:  91.5% of GDP
• Personal income tax:  33.00%
• Corporation tax (top rate):  26.50%
• World corruption ranking 2017:  9th  Transparency International
• Ease of doing business ranking:  22nd  Business Freedom Index
• Labour law:  ILO Conventions ratified
• Data protection:  Recognised by EU as having adequate protection

In Canada, the labour laws and employment standards applying to an employment contract depend on the business sector concerned.  If the sector is regulated at the federal level the federal Canada Labour Code will apply.  Federally regulated sectors include banking, shipping, air transport, road and railways, telecommunications, broadcasting, grain mills, uranium mining and fisheries.

For employment relationships in all other sectors, the labour rules are set out at provincial or territorial levels determined by the place of work. If an employer has multiple facilities it must comply with provincial variations.  There is much consistency across the regions but there are minor variations covering such matters as minimum wages, holiday entitlements and entitlements on termination.

Federally regulated employees account only for approximately ten per cent of the Canadian workforce. Ninety per cent of employees are regulated at regional level.