Month in Review – Prince Edward Island
LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Minimum Wage
Apr 1: Prince Edward Island increased its general minimum wage 40 cents to $15.40 per hour. The rate will increase another 60 cents to what will probably be an Atlantic Provinces’ high of $16.00 per hour on October 1.
Action Point: Find out about the latest round of minimum wage increases taking effect across Canada
Leaves of Absence
Mar 22: Effective October 1, employees continuously employed for 90 days will receive up to 5 days’ paid sick leave per calendar year. Employees can’t carry forward unused sick days to the next year and must provide a signed medical practitioner note certifying that they couldn’t work due to illness or injury if the employer requests it.
Action Point: Find out about the current paid sick leave rules across Canada
Immigration
Mar 7: PEI plans to introduce a new provincial attestation letter (PAL) system for post-secondary institutions to use to confirm the eligibility of international students to study in Canada under the federal Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) program. The federal government has allocated PEI 2,000 new student study permits for the period between January 22, 2024, to January 22, 2025.