Released on February 12, 1999
Labour Minister Joanne Crofford today announced the government willintroduce legislation to authorize the Workers' Compensation Board to
make a one-time, tax free payment of $80,000 to widows who had their
benefits terminated as a result of remarriage or entering into a
common-law relationship prior to April 17, 1985.
A regulation under The Workers' Compensation Act will also be put
forward to reinstate the future benefits of six widows whose benefits
were terminated between April 17 and September 1, 1985. They will
begin receiving their benefits once the regulation comes into effect.
These women will also be eligible to receive the $80,000 payment.
"The legislation and regulation will finally address the long-standing
issues for these women," Crofford said. "These changes have been
complicated, involving both federal and provincial legislation and
significant costs. We had to be sure we had all the information
needed to fairly balance the needs of the widows with the overall
public interest."
The termination of the benefits of these six widows was directly
related to the time between Section 15 of the Canadian Charter of
Rights and Freedoms coming into force in April, 1985 and the amendment
of Saskatchewan's Workers' Compensation Act in September 1985.
Section 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms forbade
discrimination on the basis of marital status.
Once the legislation is passed and an enabling regulation
enacted, the one-time tax-free payments will be made by the
Workers' Compensation Board upon receipt of a letter of
application and proof of eligibility.
"The government is concerned about the well being of these women;
many of whom are elderly or are in difficult financial
situations," Crofford said.
It is estimated that these payments will total approximately $23
million. That includes $21.8 million for the one-time payment of
$80,000, plus $1.2 million for the reinstatement of future
benefits to the six widows whose benefits were terminated between
April 17 and September 1, 1985. The costs will not result in any
increase in Workers' Compensation premiums to employers.
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For more information, contact:
Carol Todd Janice Siekawitch
Saskatchewan Labour Workers' Compensation Board
Regina Regina
Phone: (306)787-4156 Phone: (306)787-4386