Practical Information

Entrepreneurship & Employment Law

Entrepreneurs interested in starting a business in Canada must be familiar with both federal and provincial/territorial laws, as both legislate employment. Industries such as airlines, telecommunications and railways, are regulated by the federal government. The federal agency, Human Resources and Social Development (HRSDC) administers Canada’s employment insurance program, federal labour standards and related programs governing employers in the federal jurisdiction.

Most industries (the other 90%) fall under provincial jurisdiction. Therefore, to obtain the most current employment laws, contact the appropriate provincial authority. Employers with operations in more than one location across Canada will likely need to familiarise themselves with the employment laws of more than one province.

Employment laws define such things as hours of work, overtime pay, minimum wages, holidays, vacations, employee benefit plans, pregnancy, parental leave, notice of termination of employment, and severance and termination pay. There are numerous laws to be aware of and to ensure compliance; you may want to consider consulting with either a knowledgeable human resource consultant or an employment/labour lawyer.