BILL NO. 42

(as introduced)

1st Session, 62nd General Assembly
Nova Scotia
63 Elizabeth II, 2014

Private Member's Bill

Workers' Compensation Act
(amended)

The Honourable Frank Corbett
Cape Breton Centre

First Reading: April 8, 2014

(Explanatory Note)

Second Reading:

Third Reading:

This Bill amends the Workers' Compensation Act to

(a) require benefits paid to a worker injured prior to March 23, 1990 to continue for life instead of ceasing at age sixty-five;

(b) require the payment of earnings-replacement benefits to the earlier of the date the Workers' Compensation Board determines the loss of earnings has ended and the date the worker dies instead of age sixty-five;

(c) require annuity payments to commence the date the worker retires from the workforce rather than age sixty-five;

(d) require survivor pensions be paid for life notwithstanding the date the worker dies as a result of a work injury; and

(e) require an employer to re-employ an injured worker until the date the worker retires from the workforce instead of age sixty-five.

1 Subsection 10D(4) of Chapter 10 of the Acts of 1994-95, the Workers' Compensation Act, as enacted by Chapter 1 of the Acts of 1999, is amended by striking out "until the worker attains the age of sixty-five years" in the last line and substituting "for life".

2 (1) Clause 37(9)(b) of Chapter 10 is amended by striking out "attains the age of sixty-five years" and substituting "dies".

(2) Subsection 37(10) of Chapter 10 is repealed.

3 (1) Clause 52(1)(a) of Chapter 10 is amended by striking out "attains the age of sixty-five years" and substituting "retires from the workforce" in subclause (i).

(2) Subclause 52(1)(a)(ii) of Chapter 10 is repealed.

4 Subsections 60(3) and (3A) of Chapter 10 are repealed and the following subsection substituted:

5 Clause 92(1)(b) of Chapter 10 is amended by striking out "attains the age of sixty-five years" and substituting "retires from the workplace".