The Workers Compensation Amendment Act, 2020
(“Bill 23”) received Royal Assent on August 14, 2020,
bringing its amendments to the Workers Compensation Act,
RSBC 2019, c. 1 (the “Act”) into force.
Bill 23 made 34 changes to the Act. These changes address
COVID-19, worker benefits entitlement, regulatory compliance and
the collection of unpaid assessments.
Effective immediately, Bill 23 fast-tracks WorkSafeBC's
July 22, 2020 resolution of its Board of Directors providing a
presumption of workplace causation of infections caused by
communicable pathogens, including COVID-19, that are subject
to:
- A notice given under section 52(2) of
the Public Health Act;
- A state of emergency declared under
section 9(1) of the Emergency Program Act;
