Can I ask the Minister to commit to...Could I ask the Minister whether there's any intention under this
legislation to give workers a chance to have a say on who that third medical opinion will be?
Debates of Aug. 21st, 2007
This is page numbers 451 - 494 of the Hansard for the 15th Assembly, 6th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was work.
Topics
Committee Motion 14-15(6): Amend Clause 12 Of Bill 6, Workers' Compensation Act, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 485
Committee Motion 14-15(6): Amend Clause 12 Of Bill 6, Workers' Compensation Act, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 486
Committee Motion 14-15(6): Amend Clause 12 Of Bill 6, Workers' Compensation Act, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 486
Aitken
Thank you, Mr. Chairperson. The way I interpret this when I look at 27(2), it states that the medical advisor to the worker, sorry, the medical advisor, is to seek the opinion of another medical professional. So I take this to mean where they can agree on a third medical practitioner who they concur is an expert. The two of them choose that medical professional. Presumably if there is a disagreement as to who would be a third medical professional, they would rely on the policy in 4(a) and seek some mechanism to determine who it would be. In the first instance, if they are able to agree in the instance, maybe -- maybe the person has a skin condition and they think it's caused by chemicals at work and the two doctors agree on a third doctor who is a dermatologist -- that would be acceptable. That would be the first step to be taken to see if they can agree. Thank you, Mr. Chairperson.
Committee Motion 14-15(6): Amend Clause 12 Of Bill 6, Workers' Compensation Act, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 486
Committee Motion 14-15(6): Amend Clause 12 Of Bill 6, Workers' Compensation Act, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 486
Sandy Lee Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I read that subsection 2(2) and it says, "they shall seek the opinion of another medical professional who specializes in the area of the conflict." It says they shall seek but it's not clear to me whether the medical advisor or the worker will have the same say on who that third medical opinion should be. Is that the correct way to do that? Is that the sound medical opinion to say that both parties have equal power? It doesn't say they have to agree.
Committee Motion 14-15(6): Amend Clause 12 Of Bill 6, Workers' Compensation Act, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 486
The Chair David Ramsay
Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Minister. Thank you, Mr. Minister. I am not sure who you are pointing to, Mr. Aitken or Mr. Wright? Mr. Aitken. Thank you.
Committee Motion 14-15(6): Amend Clause 12 Of Bill 6, Workers' Compensation Act, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 486
Aitken
Sorry, Mr. Chairperson. I was speaking with Mr. Doyle and I missed the question, so I didn't hear the follow-up question. I apologize.
Committee Motion 14-15(6): Amend Clause 12 Of Bill 6, Workers' Compensation Act, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 486
Committee Motion 14-15(6): Amend Clause 12 Of Bill 6, Workers' Compensation Act, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 486
Sandy Lee Range Lake
Thank you. Yes, the question to Mr. Aitken: Does he read subsection (2) to mean that both parties have equal say on who the third party will be?
Committee Motion 14-15(6): Amend Clause 12 Of Bill 6, Workers' Compensation Act, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 486
Committee Motion 14-15(6): Amend Clause 12 Of Bill 6, Workers' Compensation Act, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 486
Aitken
Thank you, Mr. Chairperson. I read it to mean both of the doctors have an equal say in how the third medical expert would be selected.
Committee Motion 14-15(6): Amend Clause 12 Of Bill 6, Workers' Compensation Act, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 486
The Chair David Ramsay
Thank you, Mr. Aitken. Anything further, Ms. Lee? Thank you, Ms. Lee. Back to clause 27, committee.
Committee Motion 14-15(6): Amend Clause 12 Of Bill 6, Workers' Compensation Act, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 486
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 14-15(6): Amend Clause 12 Of Bill 6, Workers' Compensation Act, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 486
Committee Motion 14-15(6): Amend Clause 12 Of Bill 6, Workers' Compensation Act, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 486
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 14-15(6): Amend Clause 12 Of Bill 6, Workers' Compensation Act, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 486
Committee Motion 14-15(6): Amend Clause 12 Of Bill 6, Workers' Compensation Act, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 486
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 14-15(6): Amend Clause 12 Of Bill 6, Workers' Compensation Act, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 486
Committee Motion 14-15(6): Amend Clause 12 Of Bill 6, Workers' Compensation Act, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 486
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 14-15(6): Amend Clause 12 Of Bill 6, Workers' Compensation Act, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 486
Committee Motion 14-15(6): Amend Clause 12 Of Bill 6, Workers' Compensation Act, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 486
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 14-15(6): Amend Clause 12 Of Bill 6, Workers' Compensation Act, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 486
Committee Motion 14-15(6): Amend Clause 12 Of Bill 6, Workers' Compensation Act, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 486
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 14-15(6): Amend Clause 12 Of Bill 6, Workers' Compensation Act, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 486
Committee Motion 14-15(6): Amend Clause 12 Of Bill 6, Workers' Compensation Act, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 486
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.