Working Here
We are happy to provide you with information on Northwest Territories Employment Standards, as well as information regarding Workers’ Compensation Board and work permits required for hiring foreign workers in Canada.
Northwest Territories Employment Standards Act
The Employment Standards Act applies to most employees and employers and sets out minimum employment standards in the NWT. Topics Include: General Exemption Regulation, Hours of Work and Overtime, Minimum Wage and Minimum Wage Regulation, Vacation and Vacation Pay, General Holidays and Payment of Wages.
NWT Payroll Tax
The NWT Payroll Tax applies to all employees who work, perform duties, or provide services in the NWT, regardless of the province or territoy of residence of the employee or employer or the employee's age. Unlike other jurisdictions that impose a payroll tax on employers, the NWT Payroll Tax is levied on employees however, all employers are required to deduct it and remit it to the Government of the Northwest Territories.
Every employer must register with the GNWT, Department of Finance within 21 days of their first payroll cycle for work or services performed in the NWT. You can read more about the NWT Payroll Tax here or download payroll tax forms and/or an employer guide here.
Workers' Safety & Compensation Commission
The Workers’ Safety & Compensation Commission (WSCC) is responsible for workplace safety and health, regulations, enforcement, education and provides rehabilitation, health care and wage benefits for workers injured as a result of their employment. Employers registered are protected from lawsuits and fund the cost of the system. Contact the WSCC office directly for details on employee/employer registration, responsibilities and regulations.
Click here for a pdf of the Employer Handbook
Canadian Work Permits
In general, each person (who is not a Canadian citizen and/or Permanent Resident of Canada) who enters Canada intending to work, requires a confirmation for the job in order to apply for a Work Permit which can be applied for at a Canadian Consulate, Embassy, or High Commission, or, in the case of U.S. residents, in Canada at a Port of Entry (POE).
There are some exceptions:
- Producers acting on their own behalf or representing a company coming into Canada to film are exempt from requiring a Work Permit. These individuals are required to report to a Canadian Immigration Officer when first entering Canada at a Port of Entry.
- Some pre-production staff are allowed to enter without a Confirmation for the Job, temporarily, for scouting a location. If these individuals return to Canada to begin production, they require a Confirmation for the Job and a Work Permit.
Work permit approval involves consultation between Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC), the film production company, and the relevant Unions, Guilds, and/or Associations to ensure the issuance of a Work Permit will not adversely affect employment and career opportunities for Canadian citizens and/or permanent residents. A Confirmation for the Job is given by HRDC and this information is forwarded to Citizenship and Immigration who issue the Work Permit. For more information click here
Hiring Foreign Workers in film and entertainment can be an important part of making a production or holding a cultural or entertainment event in Canada. The entry of foreign workers in film and entertainment can also bring unique international talent to Canada and support cultural exchange.
In most cases, Canadian employers hiring foreign workers in film and entertainment must get a Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) labour market opinion (LMO). The foreign worker also requires a Citizenship and Immigration (CIC) work permit to work in Canada. These conditions are designed to take into account career development and employment opportunities for Canadians.
For Work Permits, please refer to the following Government of Canada website at www.cic.gc.ca. This site will provide you will all the information that you will need to know to obtain a Work Permit for Canada.
