Labour Legislation of the Past Decade

Sessions were held during 1917 by the Dominion Parliament and by the legis lative bodies of all the provinces and of the Yukon Territory. In Quebec, however, the session opened late and extended into 1918, and the labour legislation enacted does not form part of the present volume, but will appear in the report for 1918. Two sessions of the Saskatchewan Legislature were held during the year. Labour laws were passed by all the legislatures, although in Prince Edward Island the only enactment in this field was an amendment to the law on compulsory school attendance. Probably the most important enactment of the year was the new Alberta Factory Act, since prior to the passing of this statute the province was without legislation for the regulation and inspection of factories, shops and office buildings. The Act contains an interesting feature which, at the time of writing, is without parallel in the factory legislation of other provinces, namely, a section fixing a minimum wage. Another important law is that creating a Department of Labour in British Columbia with powers and duties similar to those of the Trades and Labour Branch established in Ontario in 1916. The growth of the movement for better compensation legislation is marked by the enactment of a Workmen's Compensation Ordinance in the Yukon Territory, and of numerous amendments to existing provincial legislation. Another ordinance of the Yukon Territory establishes an eight hour day for employees on public works. The ordinance also contains a fair wage provision. An interesting statute for the protection of electrical workers was passed by the Alberta Legislature, while in Manitoba a law for the licensing of electricians was enacted. Other enactments for the examination and licensing of workmen, affecting chauffeurs and certain classes of mine workers, were passed in various provinces.

A number of laws regulating the employment of women and children, chiefly as to hours of labour and conditions of employment, and in the case of children the age of employment, appear among the statutes for the year. The legislation upon the subject of wages, apart from the minimum wage provision in the Alberta Factory Act noted above, deals for the most part with the time of payment, but several amending Acts dealing with mechanics' liens were also passed. Early closing hours for shops received attention in several provinces, and Nova Scotia passed a law respecting rest days for street railway employees. Less important legislation bearing upon the regulation of factories was enacted in Manitoba and in Nova Scotia. Only two provinces, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia, dealt with the subject of mines. The Coal Mines Act of Saskatchewan was replaced by a new Mines Act which is practically a continuation of the former Act, although, as the title indicates, it is of wider application. Minor amendments were made to the Coal Mines Regulation Act of Nova Scotia. The licensing and regulation of employment agencies was the subject of legislation in Ontario, and regulations have also been issued in that province under the authority of the new Employment Agencies Act. These regulations and others of labour interest passed during the year are noted below in connection with the subjects to which they refer, although the text is not reproduced. A few regulations which do not fall under any of the subject headings may be mentioned here. The Board of Railway Commissioners for Canada issued a general order, number 178, respecting the inspection and testing of locomotives, while the Department of Railways in British Columbia made certain additions to the rules already in force concerning

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