Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1981-07-22, Page 1011110•10111116 We are ready to handle your 1981 • WHEAT • BARLEY • CORN • fast, efficient service • truck hoist • buy, sell, store, or custom dry We now have trucking facilities available to servo you better. Call for on-farm pkkup or delivery J. DITSCH FARMS R.R. 3 Brussels Atwood 356.2292 Resident. 887-6824 441. Listimal Heart 44* THE BRUSSELS POST, JUtlf 22, 1981 Changes in WC benefits Report from Queen's Park BY MURRAY ELSTON, M.P.P. {Hump-Brucel Some important changes have been projected for the Workmen's Compensation programs, and I felt that the following capsuled analysis of these proposals should be brought to the attention of everyone in the Riding. As a result, I have again prepared a Queen's Park Report. In the last week of the legislative session, the Min-, ister of Labour tabled in the House a White Paper which Proposed major changes to Ontario's system of work- men's compensation. These changes are intended to compensate injured workers more accurately and fairly for actual income loss.. The Minister's proposals would also make provision for a more elaborate appeal and review structure to hand- le decisions of the Work- men's Compensation Board. These proposed amend- ments arise from a wide- ranging review of the exist- ing system which was con- ducted last year by Harvard University Professor Paul Weiler. In January 1980, Professor Weiler was asked by the Minister -of Labour to undertake a comprehensive re‘ iew of the current system, of the schedule of benefits, and the operation of the Workmen's Compensation Board. His report was deliv- ered in November 1980, and was entitled "Re-shaping -Workers' Compensation for Ontario". It recommended major revisions to the benefit structure and adjudicative system. The second phase of the enquiry is soon to com- mence, and Professor Weiler will be taking a longer-range, view of the compensation problems associated with in- dustrial disease, the advant- ages and disadvantages of moving to a universal plan for guaranteeing against loss of income from personal injuries, whether work relat- ed or not, existing administ- rative and functional relat- ions between the Workmen's Compensation Board and the Ministry of Labour, and other related matters. Included in the White Paper is a proposal for the abolition of automatic com. pensation for permanent in-, jury, regardless of actual loss of earnings. It is proposed, instead, that an injured worker should be paid a lump sum of compensation for the injury sustained, followed by periodic payments based on any actual wage losses. The maximum lump-sum payment would be equivalent _ to the compen.sable earnings ceiling used • to calculate wage-loss benefits. At the present time, there is a fixed ceiling of $18,500. Under the new proposals, this would be replaced by a ceiling calculated at 250 per cent of the average industrial wage in Ontario. Last year, such a formula would. have yielded a $40,000 ceiling. The White Paper proposed that the Workmen's Com- penSation Board should be giVen the power to discontin- ue the periodic payments fir wage losses Sustained due to permanent injury in the event that an individual refuses to accept work deena- ed suitable by The Board. As the Minitter of Labour has explained, the $oard would need to have this authority in order to ensure that those people who are able to work do so, even if the work involved is not related to their previous occupation. The proposed system of a lump .sum payment plus periodic payments based up- on actual wage losses, would eliminate the so-called "meat chart" approach, under which everyone is assessed at the same degree of impairment, based on the. injury itself rather than on the impact of the injury upon the individual's earning cap- acity. The market at Brussels Stockyards traded lower to the week's decline on all classes of cattle due to the lower priced beef coming from Western Canada. Cows traded steady. There were 617 cattle and 1396 pigs on offer. Choice Steers - 81.00 to 84.00 with sales to 87.00. Good Steers - 78.00 to 81.00. A steer consigned by L & B Farms of Wallenstein weigh- ing 1310 lbs. sold for 87.00 with his lot of 12 steers averaging 1207 lbs. selling for an overall price of 85.85. A heavy steer consigned by Earl Kelly of. R.R. 2, Blyth weighing 1440 lbs. sold for 86.00. Married workers with de- pendents would receive higher temporary compen- sation benefits than single workers under the new, scheme, since such benefits would be based upon 90 per cent of net earnings, rather than the current 75 per cent of gross earnings. Combined with the $18,500 ceiling, the current 75 per cent of gross earnings formula yields maximum benefits of $7,500 a year. Eight steers consigned by Horace Crawford of R.R. 6, Goderich averaging 1133 lbs. sold for 82.00. Forty steers consigned by Henry Farms of Blyth aver- aging 1164 lbs. sold for an overall price of 82.40. Three steers consigned by Ed Waechter of R.R. 4, Walkerton averaging 1250 lbs. sold for 82.60 with his lot of 6 holstein-hereford steers averaging 1300 lbs. selling for 81.85. A steer consigned . by. Lorne Forester of Lucknow weighing 1350 lbs. sold for 83.75 with his load of 29 steer averaging 1301 lbs. selling for an overall price of 82.25. Choice Heifers - 76.00 to Employers would be ob- liged to maintain fringe benefits for twelve months for injured workers receiving total disability benefits and would have to offer available re.employment to injured workers or face increased assessment costs. Wage-loss benefits for permanent injur- ies would no longer be paid until the worker's death, but would be replaced at age 65 with retirement income loss benefits, in an effort to keep 79.00 with sales to 81.25. Good Heifers - 74.00 to 76.00. 'A heifer consigned by R & K Young Farms of Tiverton weighing 1060 lbs. sold for 81.25. A heifer consigned by Russell Zettler of R.R. 3, Hanover averaging 1100 lbs. sold for 79.75 with his lot of 6 'heifers averaging 1070 lbs. selling for 78.90. A heifer consigned by Bill Rintoul of Wingham weigh- 1200 lbs. sold for 79.75. Choice. Cows - 54.00 to 57.00 with sales to 61.00. Good Cows - 51.00 to 54.00. Canners & Cutters - 48.00 to 51.00. compensation more closely aligned with actual income IOW Coverage would also be extended to domestic ern- Ployees. The $335 million cost of the increases will be met from employer contributions to the accident fund. In. the White Paper, the Nfinister of Labour requested that written comments be received no later than Aug- ust 31st, 1981, . in order to be considered prior to the in- troduction of any legislation. Comments should be _ ad- .30 to 40-lb. pigs traded to a high of 34.50. 40 to 50-lb. pigs to a high of 41.75. 50 to 60.1b. pigs to a high of 47.00. 60 to 70-lb. pigs to a high of 52.00. 70 to 80-lb. pigs to a high of 56.50. dressed to: The Workers' Compensation Revision Committe, Ministry of La- bour, 400 University Avenue, Toronto. M7A IT7. 07/012 - During the mail strike,any mail which you would like to direct to the Government Offices in Toronto can be dropped off at either of my Constituency Offices. - in Wingham or Kincardine. Licences which are renew- able in July or August are being extended to the end of August, also because of the mail strike. During this period, Work- men's Conspensation che- ques can be picked up from the. London or Owen Sound offices. Bruce County resid- ents should call Owen Sound: 371.0036, before going into the office, and Huron County residents should call the London Regional Office at 433.2331 to confirm that the cheque is there before mak- ing the trip into the office. OHIP payments can also be taken into either of my constituency offices during this period. Western beef makes prices lower Beussels, Wingham Memorial Shop QUALITY SERVICE CRAFTSMANSHIP Open Every Weekday Your Guarantee for Over 35 Years of CEMETERY LETTERING BOX 158, WINGHAM JOHN MALLICK' GUESS J.R.'S WEIGHT Guess the combined weight of the staff at J.R.'s and we'll give you a dollar for every pound you weigh. eg. winner weighs 150 lbs. you win $150.00 With every food order of $5.00 or more or gas purchase of $10.00 or more you get a chance to win. Winner to be announced August 10,1981. J.R.'s Shake Shoppe; - Variety and Gas Bar