Workers Compensation Act (Manitoba ministerial responsibility)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Since 1981, the Executive Council of Manitoba has included a Minister responsible for the Workers Compensation Act. This is not a full cabinet portfolio, and has always been held by a minister with other cabinet responsibilities.

Most ministers responsible for the Workers Compensation Act have also been Ministers of Labour. The current minister is Nancy Allan, who is also the Minister of Labour and Immigration.

Assessments under the act are levied upon employers and gathered into a common fund out of which benefits are paid to workers who are injured as a result of their employment. Administration and adjudication are carried out by the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba.

[edit] Ministerial designation

The exact ministerial designation has changed several times:

  • The position was established in 1981. In addition to holding other positions in cabinet, Jay Cowan was designated as Minister responsible for the Workers Compensation Act and Minister responsible for the Workplace Safety and Health Act.
  • In 1983, both positions appear to have been incorporated into the new cabinet portfolio of Workplace Safety and Health. The first minister to hold this position was Gerard Lecuyer, who was also Minister of Environment.
  • The Workplace Safety and Health portfolio was eliminated in 1991.

[edit] List of Ministers

  Name Party Took Office Left Office
     Jay Cowan (*)
 New Democratic Party November 30, 1981 November 4, 1983
     Gerard Lecuyer (**)
 New Democratic Party November 4, 1983 May 9, 1988
     Harry Harapiak (***)
 New Democratic Party February 4, 1987 May 9, 1988
     Edward Connery (+)
 Progressive Conservative May 9, 1988 February 5, 1991
     Gerrie Hammond (++)
 Progressive Conservative April 21, 1989 February 5, 1991
     Darren Praznik (+++)
 Progressive Conservative February 5, 1991 May 9, 1995
     Vic Toews
 Progressive Conservative May 9, 1995 January 6, 1997
     Harold Gilleshammer
 Progressive Conservative January 6, 1997 February 5, 1999
     Mike Radcliffe
 Progressive Conservative February 5, 1999 October 5, 1999
     Becky Barrett
 New Democratic Party October 5, 1999 June 25, 2003
     Steve Ashton
 New Democratic Party June 25, 2003 November 4, 2003
     Nancy Allan
 New Democratic Party November 4, 2003 present
  • (*) Cowan was designated as the Minister responsible for the Workers Compensation Act and Minister responsible for the Workplace Safety and Health Act.
  • (**) Lecuyer was designated as the Minister of Workplace Safety and Health.
  • (***) Harapiak was designated as the Minister responsible the Workers Compensation Act (except at it relates to Worker Advisers).
  • (+) Connery was designated as Minister of Workplace Safety and Health and Minister responsible for the Workers Compensation Act (except as it relates to Worker Advisers).
  • (++) Hammond was designated as Minister responsible for the Workers Compensation Act (as it relates to Worker Advisers). She did not seek re-election in the 1990 election, and it is not clear if she continued to hold the portfolio until February 1991.
  • (+++) From 1991 to 1993, Praznik was designated as the Minister responsible for the Workers Compensation Act (as it relates to Worker Advisers).

[edit] See also