Highlights of Bill C-45, second of two federal budget bills

Bill C-45 was up for third and final reading in the House of Commons on Wednesday, setting the stage for the second of two omnibus budget bills to go to the Senate be enacted into law before year’s end.

Here are some of the highlights of this 400-page-plus legislation:

– Public servants will have to fund up to 50 per cent of the costs of their pension plans, and their retirement age moves up to 65 from 60.

– The bill provides temporary relief to small businesses by refunding the difference of 2012 and 2011 employment insurance premiums, if the former was higher, for firms whose premiums were $10,000 or less in 2011, with a maximum refund of $1,000.

– Bill C-45 amends the Navigable Waters Protection Act so that just projects affecting oceans, 97 lakes and 62 rivers are subject to approval under this legislation. The changes mean municipalities, cottagers and homeowners will no longer require a federal approval for small projects such as culverts or docks.

– A proposed bridge over the Detroit River is exempted from federal environmental laws. Bill C-45 states the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, Fisheries Act, the Navigable Waters Protection Act and the Species at Risk Act “do not apply to the construction of the bridge, parkway or any related work.”

– New rules limit an employee’s ability, under the Canada Labour Code, to bring up past labour issues.

– The budget bill disbands the Canada Employment Insurance Financing Board Act and gives the finance minister and human resources minister the power to set employment insurance rates.

– This omnibus bill dissolves the Merchant Seaman Compensation Board, which is tasked with determining whether seamen injured or disabled on the job are eligible for benefits. Its powers are transferred the labour minister.

– Bill C-45 amends the Fisheries Act so that fines collected for polluting or damaging fish habitats will be directed to the environmental damages fund and used to help efforts to conserve fish and fish habitat.