Interpretations, Policies and Guidelines (IPGs)

The Labour Program develops interpretations, policies and guidelines (IPGs) for specific provisions of the acts and related regulations under its responsibility, including the Canada Labour Code the Employment Equity Act and the Government Employees' Compensation Act . IPGs are intended to ensure that legislation is interpreted consistently and that programs are delivered effectively across the country by Labour Program employees trained in interpretation of regulatory requirements. In support of the Government's commitment to reduce regulatory red tape burden for employers, the Labour Program ensures that its IPGs are updated, easily accessible, written in plain language, and based on stakeholder needs and feedback.

Disclaimer: These pages have been prepared for reference only.

Labour standards IPGs (Employment standards)

This document is also available by telephone at 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232), or by TTY at 1-800-926-9105, in alternate formats upon request: Large Print, Braille, audiocassette, CD with audio file, floppy disk with text file, CD with text file, or DAISY system.

Title Number
Hours of work IPG-002
Vacation pay IPG-012
Parental leave IPG-014
Maternity Leave IPG-017
Constructive dismissal IPG-033
Reporting pay IPG-048
Excluded employees from hours of work provisions IPG-049
Averaging of hours of work IPG-053
Reasonably practicable - Maternity and work-related illness/injury IPG-057
Deductions from wages or other amounts IPG-060
Compassionate care leave IPG-063
Determining the "real employer" IPG-068
Determining the employer/employee relationship IPG-069
Survey procedure for confirming a prevailing industry practice in a geographical area: Motor vehicle operators hours of work regulations IPG-071
Rejection of complaint IPG-082
Situation that the employer could not have reasonably foreseen – Exceptions IPG-091
Imminent or serious threat – Exceptions IPG-092
Threat of damage to or loss of property – Exceptions IPG-093
Serious interference with the operation of the establishment – Exceptions IPG-094
Reasonable steps IPG-095
Family responsibilities IPG-096
Family member IPG-097
Reasonably practicable - Leaves IPG-098
Stacking – Personal leave IPG-099
30 minute breaks IPG-100
Interns and student interns IPG-102
Misclassification IPG-105
Administrative Monetary Penalties IPG-106
Elect-to-work and On-Call or Standby employees IPG-110
Personal Leave IPG-117
Medical Leave with Pay IPG-118
Medical Leave with Pay - No stacking IPG-119
Reimbursement of work-related expenses IPG-120

Occupational Health and Safety IPGs

Index of Interpretations, Policies and Guidelines on Health and Safety Issues
Title (HTML) No. PDF
Work Place Harassment and Violence Prevention (HVP) 943-1-IPG-104 N/A
Availability of Safety Data Sheets (SDS) 985-1-IPG-037 WHMIS 2015 Availability of Safety Data Sheets (SDS) -Download
(PDF 61.25 KB)
Bomb Threats - Right To Know 937-1-IPG-003 Bomb Threats - Right To Know -Download
(PDF 21 KB)
Building Safety (Door Release) 922-1-IPG-044 Building Safety -Download
(PDF 31 KB)
Complaint is Trivial, Frivolous, Vexatious or Made in Bad Faith 920-1-IPG-083 Complaint is Trivial, Frivolous, Vexatious or Made in Bad Faith -Download
(PDF 44 KB)
Criteria for Reasonably Practicable, and Reasonably Possible 920-1-IPG-055 Criteria for Reasonably Practicable, and Reasonably Possible -Download
(PDF 18 KB)
Criteria for Reasonably Practicable - Levels of Sound 927-1-IPG-054 Criteria for Reasonably Practicable - Levels of Sound -Download
(PDF 22 KB)
Danger as a Normal Condition of Employment 920-1-IPG-070 Danger as a Normal Condition of Employment -Download
(PDF 57 KB)
Definition of Danger 905-1-IPG-062 Definition of Danger -Download
(PDF 30 KB)
Determining the "real employer" IPG-068 N/A
Determining the employer/employee relationship IPG-069 N/A
Employer requirement to keep supplier safety data sheets (SDS) up to date (three years) 985-1-IPG-050 WHMIS 2015 Employer requirement to keep supplier safety data sheets (SDS) up to date (three years) -Download
(PDF 71 KB)
Fall-Protection Systems for Mobile Elevated Work Platforms 932-1-IPG-065 Fall-Protection Systems for Mobile Elevated Work Platforms -Download
(PDF 88 KB)
Fire Protection Systems in Primary Grain Elevators 950-1-IPG-026 Fire Protection Systems in Primary Grain Elevators -Download
(PDF 20 KB)
Instruction and Training of Employees in the Location, Use and Operation of Fire Protection Equipment 937-1-IPG-038 Instruction and Training of Employees in the Location, Use and Operation of Fire Protection Equipment -Download
(PDF 23 KB)
Instruction and Training of Employees Who Have Supervisory or Managerial Responsibilities in Health and Safety 104-2-IPG-061 Instruction and Training of Employees Who Have Supervisory or Managerial Responsibilities in Health and Safety -Download
(PDF 31 KB)
Interns IPG-088 Interns -Download
(PDF 78 KB)
Investigations of Motor Vehicle Accidents on Public Roads IPG-066 N/A
Investigations of non-work related fatalities IPG-067 N/A
Labelling requirements for hazardous products in laboratories 985-1-IPG-027
WHIMS 2015
Labelling requirements for hazardous products in laboratories -Download
(PDF 101.96 KB)
Levels of sound - Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, Part VII IPG-074 Download
(72.8 KB)
Means of egress 922-1-IPG-032 Means of Egress -Download
(PDF 14 KB)
Measurement of lighting levels in the work place - Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, Part VI - IPG-039 928-1-IPG-039 Measurement of Lighting Levels in the Work Place -Download
(PDF 128 KB)
Participation of the Safety and Health Committee or Representative 935-1-IPG-004 Participation of the Safety and Health Committee or Representative -Download
(PDF 15 KB)
Health and Safety Committee Meetings – Payment of Wages and Alternative Means of Holding Meetings 907-1-IPG-005 Payment of Wages and Powers of Committee -Download
(PDF 88 KB)
Selection of Safety and Health Committee Members and of Representatives Using "Managerial Functions" as a Criterion 907-1-IPG-006 Selection of Safety and Health Committee Members and of Representatives Using Managerial Functions as a Criterion -Download
(PDF 17 KB)
Section 137, Work Place Health and Safety Committees and Representatives 907-1-IPG-051 N/A
Substance use in the work place, Canada Labour Code, Part II IPG-080 Substance use in the work place, Canada Labour Code, Part 2 -Download
(PDF 52 KB)
Interpretation of "Work Space" in the non-smokers' Health Act 907-1-IPG-075 Interpretation of Work Space in the Non-smokers' Health Act -Download
(PDF 23 KB)
Powers of the health and safety officer to enter any defence establishment, work for defence or materiel 700-5-IPG-040 Powers of the Health and Safety Officer to Enter Any Defence Establishment, Work for Defence or Materiel -Download
(PDF 33 KB)
Reacting to non-compliance within the public service 700-5-IPG-035 Reacting to Non-Compliance Within the Public Service -Download
(PDF 87 KB)
Role of the canada health and safety officer before CLRB and PSSRB hearing 905-1-IPG-030 Role of the Canada Health and Safety Officer Before CLRB and PSSRB Hearing -Download
(PDF 140 KB)
Violence prevention in the work place 943-1-IPG-081 Violence Prevention in the Work Place -Download
(PDF 492 KB)
Workers working alone at a workplace under the control of the employer 905-1-IPG-059 N/A
Administrative Monetary Penalties IPG-106 N/A

Workers' Compensation IPGs

Index of Interpretations, Policies and Guidelines on Compensation Issues
Title (HTML) No. PDF
Dependants 610-6-IPG-025 Dependants -Download
(PDF 564 KB)
Employees Locally Engaged Outside Canada (currently being updated) 602-5-IPG-022 Employees Locally Engaged Outside Canada -Download
(PDF 15 KB)
Subrogation 610-1-IPG-090 Subrogation -Download
(PDF 176 KB)

Workplace Equity IPGs (Employment Equity)

Index of Interpretations, Policies and Guidelines on Employment Equity
Title (HTML) No. PDF
Construction industry IPG-084 Constructive industry -Download
(PDF 49 KB)
Dual Jurisdiction Employers IPG-087 Dual Jurisdiction Employers -Download
(PDF 50 KB)
Employment Equity Act – Communication, Consultation, Collaboration IPG-115 N/A
Employment Equity Act – Employment Equity Plan IPG-114 N/A
Employment Equity Act – Monetary Penalties IPG-121 N/A
Employment Equity Regulations – Collection of Workforce Information IPG-111 N/A
Employment Equity Regulations – Definitions and interpretations for reporting salary IPG-106 N/A
Employment Equity Regulations – Employment Systems Review IPG-113 N/A
Employment Equity Regulations – Records IPG-116 N/A
Employment Equity Regulations – Reporting salary IPG-107 N/A
Employment Equity Regulations – Workforce Analysis IPG-112 N/A
Joint Venture Suppliers IPG-086 Joint Venture Suppliers -Download
(PDF 40 KB)
Standing Offers and Supply Arrangements IPG-085 Standing Offers and Supply Arrangements -Download
(PDF 54 KB)

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