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ARTICLE · 02 NOVEMBER 2016

Guide To Doing Business In Canada: Employment Law

Gowling WLG
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Employment and labour law can be complex for foreign and domestic employers alike. Before becoming an employer in Canada, there are certain logistical requirements that must be met.

CanadaEmployment and HR
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Employment law

Employment and labour law can be complex for foreign and domestic employers alike. Before becoming an employer in Canada, there are certain logistical requirements that must be met. Firstly, an employer must be registered with the Canada Revenue Agency, or Revenu Québecif the employee is based in Québec. Depending on the size of the payroll, an employer may also have to register with other provincial taxation authorities.

The applicable employment and labour laws are determined by the nature of the employer's business. The vast majority of employers are governed by provincial laws, and an employer operating in more than one province must comply with each province's legislation. Approximately 10 per cent of the Canadian workforce is governed by federal laws, such as the Can­ada Labour Code and the federal Employment Equity Act. Even if an employer is federally regulated, it must still conform to certain provincial laws related to matters such as

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