Amendments to Workers' Comp Act Receive Royal Assent

The majority of amendments to the Workers' Compensation Act was given royal assent today by Lt.-Gov. John J. Kinley.

The Workers' Compensation Board can now implement changes brought forth following public consultation that lasted almost a year.

"This has to be good news for injured workers, those who suffer from chronic pain, and the widows of those killed in the workplace," said Labour Minister Russell MacKinnon. "It is another important step toward our goal of fairness for both the employees and employers."

Mr. MacKinnon said that from the outset, when an all-party select committee began travelling the province last summer, government's intent was to strike a balance between the needs of workers and employers.

"We needed an effective mechanism to begin clearing up the unacceptable backlog of cases," he said. "It was important to bring about a definition of chronic pain and also to address the problems with the widows' pensions. I am confident this, and other critical areas of concern, have been addressed."

The three amendments still to be approved are:

• transfer of the workers' compensation appeals tribunal to the Department of Justice

• the appeals tribunal must file an annual report with the minister of justice within 90 days of the fiscal year-end

• the appeals tribunal must render a final decision on all appeals within one year of this section coming into force

"These points will be addressed by cabinet and will be proclaimed no later than Oct. 15, 1999," Mr. MacKinnon said.