Did you know the Workers’ Compensation Principles in Canada are now just over 100 years old? The Meredith Report, which guides the legislation across the country, was penned by Sir William Meredith in 1913. As per the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada (AWCBC), the majority of Canadian workers’ compensation legislation includes the following 5 basic concepts:
- “No-fault compensation, which means workers are paid benefits regardless of how the injury occurred. The worker and employer waive the right to sue. There is no argument over responsibility or liability for an injury.
- Security of benefits, which means a fund is established to guarantee funds exist to pay benefits.
- Collective liability, which means that covered employers, on the whole, share liability for workplace injury insurance. The total cost of the compensation system is shared by all employers. All employers contribute to a common fund. Financial liability becomes their collective responsibility.
- Independent administration, which means that the organizations who administer workers’ compensation insurance are separate from government.
- Exclusive jurisdiction, which means only workers’ compensation organizations provide workers’ compensation insurance. All compensation claims are directed solely to the compensation board. The board is the decision-maker and final authority for all claims.”
The AWCBC website contains detailed information on each Provincial/Territorial Workers’ Compensation Board in Canada. The website includes provincial/territorial comparison charts for premium rates, injury statistics, benefits, emerging trends, research as well as links to Occupational Health & Safety resources for each province and territory. Please visit the comprehensive AWCBC website at http://awcbc.org
Please also feel free to contact your PEO Canada workers’ compensation administrator today!
Jenniffer Barabonoff / WCB Administrator / PEO Canada