Month in Review – Nunavut

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Month in Review – Nunavut

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LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Minimum Wage

Jun 30: Nunavut will become the first jurisdiction in Canada to cross the $20 minimum wage threshold on September 1, when the territory’s general minimum wage rate will increase 42 cents to $20.17 per hour. Yukon and British Columbia are the only other jurisdictions where the minimum wage is as high as above $18.

Action Point: Find out how to avoid common payroll errors when adjusting to minimum wage increases.

New Laws

Jun 22: The federal government announced $17.2 million in funding for four remote renewable energy projects in Nunavut: i. Over $4.8 million to Nunavut Nukkiksautiit Corporation (NNC) for a solar, wind, and battery microgrid project with the goal of offsetting future diesel consumption by over 50%; ii. Close to $8.5 million to NNC for the construction of a clean energy system for the new Aqsarniit Hotel and Conference Centre; iii. Over $1.3 million from NRCan for Qulliq Energy Corporation to accelerate renewable energy projects in the territory’s 25 diesel-dependent communities; and iv. $2.5 million to Sakku Investments Corporation to demonstrate the first solar and battery project in Nunavut capable of operating both connected to the local microgrid and in islanded mode.

New Laws

Jun 18: The Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) is providing up to $4,787,324 in targeted funding for two community food processing plants in Nunavut, one in Gjoa Haven focusing on Arctic char, with the potential to later process other country foods, such as muskox, and the other the Niqihaqut Cut and Wrap Facility in Taloyoak.

New Laws

Jul 8: CanNor announced that it’s investing over $586,000 to rehabilitate and improve the Kangiqsukutaaq Quarry, located on South Baffin Island. The money will be used for quarry expansion, increasing local employment, and ensuring that Nunavut’s renowned carvers have continued and sustainable access to carving stone.

Health & Safety

August 10: August 10 is the deadline to apply to the WSCC for OHS Funding Program support from service providers that help Nunavut and Northwest Territories employers improve workplace safety and comply with OHS requirements. Applicants can request between $5,000 to $250,000 per year, per initiative.

Workers’ Compensation

August 5: August 5 is the deadline to comment to the WSCC on proposed changes to Policy 05.02, Vocational Rehabilitation Services and Programs. Under current rules, vocational rehabilitation begins with vocational exploration, which is used to develop a vocational rehabilitation plan (VR Plan) identifying the injured worker’s return-to-work goals and establishing time frames to obtain suitable work and/or regain employability.