MLT Alert! Government Seeks Feedback on Worker's Compensation Act Report

The Government of Saskatchewan is asking stakeholders to provide feedback on the Workers’ Compensation Act Committee of Review report, which contains 57 recommendations for changes to the workers’ compensation system in Saskatchewan. The recommendations are built around six main themes, namely, prevention, inclusion, service to stakeholders, fairness, improved Workers’ Compensation Board (“WCB”) operations and accountability. Below are a few of the recommendations that employers should be aware of.

  • The Workers’ Compensation Act should apply to all employees in Saskatchewan with no exclusions.
  • The maximum benefit level which is currently set at $55,000 should be raised immediately to $59,000. The Committee has recommended that, over the next 4 years, it be increased annually by a percentage of the annual average wage in Saskatchewan until it reaches 165% of that average wage. This recommendation did not receive unanimous agreement by the Committee.
  • With respect to rate groups, the Committee has recommended that the WCB examine all rate groups with a view to determining groups in as fairly and balanced way as possible. The Committee put particular focus on examining and adjusting the rate groups within large sectors such as mining and the health care industry.
  • The Committee has also recommended that the rates for the upcoming year be circulated to employer groups and large employers to provide them with enhanced opportunities for input before finalization.
  • Voluntary incentive programs should be offered within industries and sectors and implemented on a gradual basis. The Committee suggests that the industries would be responsible for how the incentive program would be structured and that payment for the program would be by an additional charge on premiums within the industry. This recommendation did not receive unanimous agreement by the Committee.
  • There were also a number of recommendations respecting changes in the systems and structures to improve WCB’s operations and the delivery of its services in an efficient and cost-effective manner, including, but not limited to, the following:
    • An additional two full-time members, one from labour and one from employers, be appointed to the WCB Board of Directors as soon as possible.
    • All workers and employers have timely access to files without the need to appeal.

 

Click here to access an online version of the Workers’ Compensation Act Committee of Review report. Feedback on the recommendations is being requested prior to March 5, 2012 and can be sent to:

Committee of Review Consultations
c/o Central Services Division
Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety
300 - 1870 Albert Street, REGINA, SK S4P 4W1
or submitted electronically to: cor-consultation@gov.sk.ca.

This Alert! is intended for general information only. Please feel free to contact us for additional information on this or any other issue:

  • Brian Kenny, Q.C. | Regina | (306) 347-8421 | bkenny@mlt.com
  • Kevin Wilson, Q.C. | Saskatoon | (306) 975-7103 | kwilson@mlt.com