Vancouver Sun | Rob Shaw | Jul 17, 2020
VICTORIA — B.C.’s NDP government is boosting benefits for injured workers, but stopping short of fully implementing recommendations from an expert review that would have cost the workers’ compensation system hundreds of millions of dollars during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Labour Minister Harry Bains introduced legislation this week that would raise the maximum salary on which compensation claims are based to $100,000, from the current $87,100.
If passed, the bill would also let WorkSafeBC determine a person’s retirement date for benefits (rather than simply use the age of 65), extend the time limit to make workplace claims for traumatic events or mental stress, and allow coverage for some medical treatments and mental health counselling before a determination is made on the validity of the claim.
Bains called them upgrades to “the heart and purpose of our workers compensation system.”
Visit: https://canada.constructconnect.com/joc/news/government/2020/07/b-c-government-brings-in-changes-to-workers-compensation-system