Legislative Feedback

Workers Compensation Board of Prince Edward Island

Legislative Feedback

The WCB is committed to ensuring that PEI’s safety and compensation legislation protects workers and employers, promotes a culture of workplace safety and encourages safe and timely return to work.

The Workers Compensation Act is based on the Meredith Principles, which are the framework of no-fault workers compensation legislation across Canada. The Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) Act sets out the standards for health and safety in Island workplaces in consultation with the OHS Advisory Council.

The WCB works with Island workers and employers to administer the Acts and their regulations, and we welcome feedback on ways the legislation can be improved.

Click here to submit your feedback online or send us your suggestions in writing to:

	Workers Compensation Board
	PO Box 757, 14 Weymouth Street
	Charlottetown, PE C1A 7L7
	Fax: 902-368-5696

Although our legislation is available in English only, we welcome feedback in both French and English. Stakeholders are encouraged to participate in their language of choice.

Bien que nos lois soient seulement disponibles en anglais, les commentaires peuvent être formulés en anglais ou en français. Nous encourageons les intéressés à s’exprimer dans la langue de leur choix.

Draft Legislation

We are currently inviting feedback on the following legislative/regulatory changes.

Legislation		Due Date for Feedback
There are currently no draft legislations.

To provide input on the WCB's draft legislation:

Click on the Legislation link to review the proposed legislation.
Click on the feedback link beside each legislation to provide your feedback.
Submit your feedback prior to the due date listed.

Although all feedback received is considered in the policy approval process, the WCB is unable to respond to each individual submission.

If you have any questions about the WCB's policy process, please contact us.

Thank you for helping us to strengthen PEI's safety and compensation legislation and regulation.

Note: Your name and contact information are collected under the authority of section 31(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and will be used to contact you to reply to your question. If you have any questions about this collection of information, please contact: FOIPP Coordinator, Workers Compensation Board of PEI, 14 Weymouth Street, P.O. Box 757, Charlottetown, PE C1A 7L7, (902) 368-5680 or toll free at 1-800-237-5049.

January 17, 2019

Revised WCB Policies

To reflect amendments to the Workers Compensation Act, a number of WCB policies have been revised:Return to Work (POL-93) has been updated to reflect the legislative change to exclude the employer of a volunteer firefighter from re-employment obligations. Survivor Benefits (POL-12) has been updated to reflect the change in the lump sum payment for the death of a worker.Occupational Disease (POL-65) has been updated to reflect presumptive legislation for claims filed by firefighters and fire inspectors with specific types of cancer. Impairment (POL-89), has been revised to reflect the amended definition for impairment. In addition to physical impairment, the new definition recognizes impairment resulting from psychological conditions and ongoing symptoms, such as chronic pain. The changes are noted in the History section at the end of each policy. The WCB thanks all stakeholders for their feedback in the legislative consultation process.

December 31, 2018

Presumptive Coverage for Firefighters & Fire Inspectors

As of January 1, Prince Edward Island firefighters and fire inspectors will have presumptive coverage for specific types of cancer and heart injuries as a result of amendments to the Workers Compensation Act. “This coverage will offer much needed care to many firefighters who may encounter serious health problems resulting from the valuable work they did to protect their communities,” said Stuart Affleck, Chair of the Workers Compensation Board. “The legislative and regulatory changes ensure that if a firefighter or fire inspector develops specific diseases or heart injury, it will be presumed that it is work related." Eligible firefighters include fire inspectors, and full-time, part-time and volunteer firefighters who are members of a fire department or brigade. “Our hope is that no firefighter suffers from cancer, especially one that is related to their service,” says Gerard McMahon, President of the PEI Firefighters Association. “However, thanks to the PEI Government, this new legislation gives us peace of mind that if a firefighter is diagnosed with a prescribed cancer and meets service criteria, they will be eligible for WCB benefits.” The presumptive coverage is based on the following principles:Specified injuries or diseases are presumed to be work-relatedPresumption would apply to firefighters who experience a heart injury (i.e., heart attack, cardiac arrest or arrhythmia) within 24 hours of responding to an emergencyPresumption would apply to specific types of cancers, provided the firefighter had been exposed to the hazards of a fire over the minimum cumulative period of employment, as indicated below For primary site lung cancer, the presumption applies only if the firefighter has been a non-smoker for 10 consecutive years prior to the initial diagnosis. The Amendments to the Workers Compensation Act will come into effect January 1, 2019. Type of CancerMinimum PeriodType of CancerMinimum PeriodPrimary site brain cancer10 yrsPrimary non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma20 yrsPrimary site bladder cancer15 yrsPrimary site testicular cancer10 yrsPrimary site colorectal cancer15 yrsPrimary site ureter cancer15 yrsPrimary site esophageal cancer25 yrsPrimary site breast cancer10 yrsPrimary leukemia5 yrsMultiple myeloma15 yrsPrimary site lung cancer15 yrsPrimary site prostate cancer15 yrsPrimary site kidney cancer20 yrsPrimary site skin cancer15 yrs

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