66. (1) Subject to subsection (2) and sections 66.1 and 66.3, the Commission shall set the premium rate for a year, taking into account

(a) the principle that the premium rate should generate just enough premium revenue during that year to cover the payments that will be made under subsection 77(1) during that year, based on the information provided by the Minister of Finance under section 66.2, taking into account any regulations made under section 69, and considering any changes to payments made under subsection 77(1) that have been announced by the Minister;

(b) the report of the chief actuary to the Commission for that year; and

(c) any public input.

 (2) The premium rate for a year may not be increased or decreased by more than fifteen one-hundredths of one per cent (0.15%) relative to the premium rate for the previous year.

 (3) The Commission shall set the premium rate for a year on or before November 14 in the previous year

66.1 For 2006 and 2007, the premium rate in each year may not be greater than 1.95%.

66.2The Minister of Finance shall, on or before September 30 of a year, provide to the chief actuary and the Commission the most current forecast values of the economic variables that are relevant to the determination, under section 65.3 or under subsection 66(1), as the case may be, of a premium rate for the followingyear.

66.3 Subject to subsection 66(2) and section 66.1, on the joint recommendation of the Minister and the Minister of Finance, the Governor in Council may, on or before November 30 in a year, substitute a premium rate for the following year that is different from the one set by the Commission under subsection 66(1), if the Governor in Council considers it to be in the public interest.

66.4   If the calculation of a premium rate under section 65.3, 66 or 66.3 results in a rate that includes a fraction of one per cent, the resulting percentage is to be rounded to the nearest one-hundredth of one per cent or, if the resulting percentage is equidistant from two one-hundredths of one percent, to the higher of them.

66.5 The Statutory Instruments Act does not apply in respect of a premium rate set under section 66 or 66.3 or the premiums determined under sections 67 and 68. However, the premium rates must, as soon as possible, be published by the Commission in Part I of the Canada Gazette.

66.6 For greater certainty, the User Fees Act does not apply in respect of the premium rate set under section 66 or 66.3 or the premiums determined under sections 67 and 68.

67.  Subject to section 70, a person employed in insurable employment shall pay, by deduction as provided in subsection 82(1), a premium equal to their insurable earnings multiplied by the premium rate set under section 66, 66.1, 66.2 or 66.3, as the case may be.

1996, c. 23, s.66 & 67  ; 2001, c. 5, s.9 & 10. ; 2003, c.15, s.21 ; 2004, c.22, s.25 ; s.26 ; 2005, c.30, s. 126

68.  Subject to sections 69 and 70, an employer shall pay a premium equal to 1.4 times the employees' premiums that the employer is required to deduct under subsection 82(1).

69.  (1) The Commission shall, with the approval of the Governor in Council, make regulations to provide a system for reducing the employer's premium where

(a) the payment of any allowances, money or other benefits because of illness, injury, quarantine, pregnancy, child care or compassionate care under a plan that covers insured persons employed by the employer, other than one established under provincial law, would have the effect of reducing the special benefits payable to the insured persons; and

(b) the insured persons will benefit from the reduction of the employer's premium in an amount at least equal to 5/12 of the reduction.

(a) prescribing the manner and time for making an application for a premium reduction;

(b) prescribing the standards that must be met by a plan to qualify for a premium reduction and the time during which the plan must be in effect;

(c) prescribing the method for determining the amount of reduction for plans that meet the prescribed standards and the use to be made of actuarial calculations and estimates;

(d) prescribing the manner in which insured persons are to benefit from the premium reduction;

(e) providing for the making of decisions relating to premium reduction and appeals in cases of dispute;

(f) prescribing how the insured earnings of insured persons will be reported by employers to the Canada Revenue Agency; and

(g) generally, providing for any other matters necessary for carrying out the purposes and provisions of subsections (1) and (2).

(5) The Commission may reconsider any decision relating to an employer's premium reduction within 36 months after the date of the decision and any new decision that it makes shall apply in place of the reconsidered decision.

(6) The reference to the payment of allowances, money or other benefits because of compassionate care in subsections (1) and (2) means the payment of allowances, money or other benefits for the same or substantially the same reasons for which benefits are payable under section 23.1.

1996, c. 23, s. 69; 1999, c. 17, s. 135; 2003, c. 15, s. 22; 2006, c. 38, s. 138