Just a reminder that you are able to make changes to your group benefits plan at any time. Please feel free to contact me if you want a review of your plan design. Being part of a bigger pool, the UBCM Group Benefits Plan allows you to offer better customized plans at a lower cost. Email me today!
A national survey on
what it means to be
Canadian said that "
Canadians believe being a
good citizen means more than having a passport and obeying the law. Just as important are having an active commitment to the community and being accepting of others who are different."
Wishing
you a very Happy Canada Day with your loved ones!
If you have any comments or concerns, do not hesitate to
email
me.
Cheers,
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UBCM Group Benefits Newsletter
June 2019
BC PharmaCare's Biosimilar Initiative: What does it mean for you?
High cost drugs, including biologics, are dominating the drug landscape. They are a major contributor to healthcare costs and increasing at an unsustainable rate. However, there is relief on the horizon with appropriate benefit management techniques for more information see PBC's
June 4 Webinar recording (sign-in to ADMINnet)
.
Keeping you informed: National Pharmacare proposal
On June 12, 2019 Dr. Eric Hoskins released his Advisory Council's report on Pharmacare calling for the federal government to work with the provinces and territories to create a single-payer public Pharmacare program.
For more information see
here
.
Minimum wage increases June 1
B.C.'s general hourly minimum wage will increase to $13.85 from $12.65, and the minimum wage rates for liquor servers, resident caretakers and live-in camp leaders will all also increase, effective June 1, 2019.
Federal - Employment Standards
On May 31, 2019, sections 195 to 214 of the Budget Implementation Act, 2017, No. 2 were proclaimed into force effective September 1, 2019. Among other matters, these sections of the Act amend the Canada Labour Code to:
- provide employees with a right to request flexible work arrangements from their employers
- provide employees with a family responsibility leave for a maximum of three days, a leave for victims of family violence for a maximum of ten days and a leave for traditional Aboriginal practices for a maximum of five days; and
- modify certain provisions related to work schedules, overtime, annual vacation, general holidays and bereavement leave, in order to provide greater flexibility in work arrangements
British Columbia - Employment Standards
On May 30, 2019, Bill 8, Employment Standards Amendment Act, 2019 received royal assent. Among other matters, the bill adds the following new types of job protected leaves of absence effective May 30, 2019:
- Critical illness or injury leave
- up to 36 weeks of unpaid leave to provide care or support to a family member who is under 19 years of age at the start of the leave
- up to 16 weeks of unpaid leave to provide care or support to a family member who is 19 years of age or older
- Domestic or Sexual Violence leave
- up to 10 days of unpaid leave, in units of one or more days or in one continuous period, and
- in addition to the period of time referred to above, up to 15 weeks of unpaid leave in one unit of time (or more than one unit of time with the employer's consent)
Elimination of Medical Services Plan Premiums
On May 16, 2019, Bill 20 - Medicare Protection Amendment Act, 2019, received Royal Assent. Bill 20 eliminates Medical Services Plan (MSP) premiums effective January 1, 2020. With Royal Assent now confirmed, plan sponsors who administer, pay for or subsidize MSP premiums should proceed with final steps to update accounting positions, employment agreements and administrative practices related to the MSP program.
British Columbia-Workers' Compensation
On June 3, 2019, the Ministry of Labour announced the public engagement on British Columbia's workers' compensation system. Comments can be submitted until July 19, 2019.
Feedback from this consultation will be reviewed and will inform the independent reviewer that was appointed in April 2019. The independent reviewer's report is due by September 30, 2019. The review will assess:
- the system's policies and practices that support injured workers' return to work
- WorkSafeBC's current policies and practices through a gender- and diversity-based analysis (commonly referred to as GBA +)
- modernization of WorkSafeBC's culture to reflect a worker-centric service delivery model
- the case management of injured workers; and
- any potential amendments to the Workers Compensation Act arising from this focused review
People experiencing mental health and addictions challenges will soon have better access to the services they need, thanks to a new vision for care outlined in A Pathway to Hope: A roadmap for making mental health and addictions care better for people in British Columbia.
The B.C. government has provided the Canadian Men's Health Foundation (CMHF) with $1 million to support three programs designed to improve men's health.
▶
READ MORE
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 900 and the City of Kamloops are pleased to announce the ratification of a new 5-year collective agreement.
The first-ever ParticipACTION Community Better Challenge is a wrap!
Communities across Canada participated in some friendly competition, all-vying for the title of Canada's Most Active Community and the recipient of the $150,000 grand prize and together they tracked more than 265-million physical activity minutes from coast to coast. But there can only be one winner, Enderby, BC came out on top and took home the crown and the grand prize. There were five regional winners - Harvey, NB; Amqui, QC; Marathon, ON; Headingly, MB; and Gamètì, NWT - which will be awarded $20,000 each.
To find out more about Canada's Most Active Community and the country's regional winners see
this
press release
.
Move for Mental Health
Regular physical activity is essential for good mental health yet very few Canadians get enough. Only 36% of children and 18% of adults are meeting Canada's recommended physical activity
guidelines. With that said, many people are missing out on the mental health benefits of physical activity. Read on to learn
How workplace flexibility can help save your sanity
.
UPnGO with ParticipACTION is your workplace wellness program that believes that physical activity should be part of the mental health conversation. Learn more at
UPnGO.ca
.
Contact us at:
Anna-Maria Wijesinghe
Nathan Roeters
Manager, Member & Association Services
Account Executive
Union of BC Municipalities
Pacific Blue Cross
Phone: 604.270.8226 (ext. 111) Phone: 604.419.2412
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