EMPLOYEE BENEFITS EXPENSE

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS EXPENSE

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS EXPENSE

20.    EMPLOYEE BENEFITS EXPENSE

	For the years ended December 31,
	2021		2020		2019
Salaries and wages	$	8,504,373	$	10,536,409	$	9,583,936
Pension plan and employment insurance		419,414		506,025		458,276
Contribution to defined contribution pension plan		144,634		198,342		182,449
Health benefits		485,431		765,948		651,269
Cash-based employee expenses	$	9,553,852	$	12,006,724	$	10,875,930
Employee termination expenses		210,893		—		26,050
Share-based payments		5,285,813		4,905,812		3,189,808
Total employee expenses	$	15,050,558	$	16,912,536	$	14,091,788