Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Boot Lake, that Bill 6, Workers' Compensation Act, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill repeals and replaces the existing Workers' Compensation Act and makes consequential amendments to other acts in order to clarify and extend entitlement to compensation when a worker suffers a personal injury, disease or fatality arising out of and during the course of employment.
To nightlight the importance of workers safety in the new act, the name of the Workers' Compensation Board is changed to the Workers' Safe and Compensation Commission and the accident fund is renamed as the safety fund.
The levels of compensation payable to workers for various forms of disability have been rationalized and increased. In exceptional cases, the commission will have the power to grant extended compensation. Vocational training and rehabilitation are given increased emphasis.
The range of compensation available to workers has been expanded. The entitlement of spouses and persons in a conjugal relationship to compensation has also been widened to include a larger group of persons and a higher level of pensions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.