Thank you, Mr. Koe. Minister Todd.
Debates of March 1st, 1994
Topics
Bill 6: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 456
Bill 6: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 456
John Todd Keewatin Central
The cap is $24,000, which would be in the act.
Bill 6: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 456
Bill 6: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 456
Fred Koe Inuvik
That's not what I'm getting at. What is the value of the WCB benefit based on? Is it based on income or based on a type of injury?
Bill 6: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 456
Bill 6: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 456
John Todd Keewatin Central
In this particular case, I am told, if you are deemed to qualify, it is $24,000, no higher, no lower. Your compensation will be based on $24,000. Thank you.
Bill 6: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 456
Bill 6: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 456
Fred Koe Inuvik
So, the current act or policy is based on a level of $47,500, current "YMIR." The act, then, will change. The deemed income, now, of $24,000, is about a 55 per cent decrease. Therefore, if that is the case and what you have said is the case, then a benefit to an individual trapper could be reduced by 55 per cent, based on the facts.
Bill 6: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 456
Bill 6: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 456
John Todd Keewatin Central
This change will more clearly reflect the earning capacity of harvesters and will give more harvesters the opportunity, when they are injured, to claim for workers' compensation.
Bill 6: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 456
Bill 6: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 456
Fred Koe Inuvik
I am not arguing that fact. I am not arguing that maybe more will be qualified. What I am saying is, by changing the level of the "YMIR" from $47,500 to $24,000, the amount of benefit an individual harvester can receive is going to be reduced. If you were 100 per cent eligible at $47,500 and now 100 per cent eligible at $24,000, the amount of benefit under the act will change accordingly. Is that true?
Bill 6: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 456
Bill 6: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 456
John Todd Keewatin Central
That is correct, theoretically, but there is one missing link that we should tell Mr. Koe. There was a minimum requirement to generate $10,000 under the current act. That is now precluded and harvesters will now be given, if they are injured, the cap of $24,000. There won't be less or more. And there will be 25 per cent of income based upon the criteria we have set and based upon giving people $7,000 credit or the cash value of Renewable Resources. Thank you.
Bill 6: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 456
Bill 6: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 456
Fred Koe Inuvik
So, the current income a harvester has to make is $10,000. I understand, of that current $10,000, $5,000 was deemed invalid for country food. So, actually a harvester only had to make $5,000. That is my understanding. That $5,000 is now changed to $7,000, but the big change is the definition of the income. It is 25 per cent now or more of the harvesting annual income will be from harvesting. How do you define annual income in this context?
Bill 6: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 456
Bill 6: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 456
John Todd Keewatin Central
Perhaps I should ask Mr. Gilmour to explain that. If somebody makes more than $24,000, they can apply for WCB coverage and get some additional coverage. Mr. Gilmour.
Bill 6: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 456
The Chair Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Todd. You have explained it quite eloquently there, but Mr. Gilmour, perhaps you can elaborate on that.
Bill 6: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 456
Gilmour
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just to expand, if there is anyone who does and can show that they have had receipts that exceed the $24,000, they can apply under the act as an independent operator and they can obtain additional coverage in the realm of $4.25 per $100 of wages. Anyone can exceed that amount if, in fact, they show to the Department of
Renewable Resources, they have income exceeding the $24,000 cap.
Bill 6: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 457
Bill 6: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 457
John Todd Keewatin Central
It is also important to point out, for everybody's benefit, that there is no cost to the trapper for this coverage. None.
Bill 6: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 457
Bill 6: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 457
Fred Koe Inuvik
I guess that was what I was trying to get at, is if an individual earned more and wanted more coverage, they were entitled to more coverage. They weren't limited to what is being said. Currently, a harvester, under the current policy, rules or interpretations, can get coverage now for $100. Is that changed, as an independent operator?
Bill 6: An Act To Amend The Workers' Compensation Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 457