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1800s |
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The concept of workers' compensation had its origins in Germany, Great Britain and the United States between the late 1800's and early 1900's. |
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1880 |
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The Employers' Liability Act in Great Britain was introduced. |
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1884 |
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In Germany, Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck introduced a compulsory state run accident compensation system between 1884-1886. This initial system was financed by workers and employers. |
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1886 |
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The Workmen's Compensation for Injuries Act of Ontario was introduced (and was essentially an employer liability act). |
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1897 |
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The first true Workmen's Compensation Act in Great Britain was passed in 1897 (as opposed to the previous employer liability legislation). |
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1902 |
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The passage of B.C.'s Workmen's Compensation Act came in 1902 but it did not come into force until 1917, when the Workmen's Compensation Board was created. |
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1908 |
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In the United States, between 1908 & 1915, several states enacted compensation legislation. The state of Washington enacted an exclusive mandatory system based on collective liability. As compensation was given state jurisdiction, the US developed a mixed bag of WCBs, mandatory insurance, self-insurance and combinations. |
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1910 |
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Workers' compensation in Canada had its beginnings in the province of Ontario. In 1910, Mr. Justice William Meredith was appointed to a Royal Commission to study workers' compensation. |
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1913 |
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Sir William Meredith's final report, known as the Meredith Report was produced in 1913. The Meredith Report outlined a trade-off in which workers' relinquish their right to sue in exchange for compensation benefits. Meredith advocated for no-fault insurance, collective liability, independent administration, and exclusive jurisdiction. The system exists at arms-length from the government and is shielded from political influence, allowing only limited powers to the Minister responsible. |
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1914 |
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Ontario passed the Workmen's Compensation Act, creating the Workmen's Compensation Board (later renamed the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board). |
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1915 |
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Nova Scotia's first workers' compensation legislation was in 1915. |
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On January 1, 1915 Ontario's Workmen's Compensation Act was proclaimed. |
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1916 |
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The Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba was founded in 1916 with the passing of The Workers Compensation Act. |
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1917 |
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The passage of B.C.'s Workmen's Compensation Act came in 1902 but it did not come into force until 1917, when the Workmen's Compensation Board was created. |
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The Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba officially opened in 1917. |
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The Workers' Compensation Board of Nova Scotia opened its doors for business Jan. 1, 1917. |
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There has been a workers' compensation system in the Yukon since 1917 that has protected workers and employers in the territory against the result of workplace injuries and illnesses. |
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1918 |
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The Workers’ Compensation Board of Alberta was set up in 1918. The Alberta Workers’ Compensation Act was enacted in 1918. |
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The first Workers Compensation Act in New Brunswick was passed and became law in 1918. |
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1919 |
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The Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada (AWCBC) was founded in 1919 as a non-profit organization. It was established to facilitate the exchange of information between Workers’ Compensation Boards and Commissions at a time when workers’ compensation law, policy and administration were in their infancy. There were six founding members: Ontario, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Manitoba, Alberta, and New Brunswick. |
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1919 |
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The AWCBC held its first convention/congress in December, 1919 in British Columbia. |
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1928 |
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The Quebec Workmen's Compensation Commission was created in 1928, the year the first act respecting industrial accidents was enacted in Quebec. |
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1929 |
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In Saskatchewan, the Workmen's Compensation (Accident Fund) Act was assented to on February 2, 1929 and came into force for the payment of benefits on July 2, 1930. The Saskatchewan Workers' Compensation Board became a member of the AWCBC in 1929. |
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1930 |
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In Saskatchewan, the report of the 1928 Anderson Commission led to the establishment of the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board in 1930. |
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1931 |
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Quebec's Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail became a member of the AWCBC in 1931. |
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1949 |
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On March 24, 1949, PEI passed workers compensation legislation “An Act Respecting Workmen’s Compensation". |
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The Workers Compensation Board of Prince Edward Island became a member of the AWCBC in 1949. |
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1950 |
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Newfoundland's Workplace Health Safety and Compensation Commission became a member of the AWCBC in 1950. |
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1951 |
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The Workmens’ Compensation Act was passed by the Newfoundland legislature in 1951. The original legislation was primarily a pension system based on physical disability. |
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1974 |
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The Northwest Territories and Yukon Territory joined as members of the AWCBC in 1974. |
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Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan - Workmen's changed to Workers' Compensation Board. |
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1976 |
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Prince Edward Island - Workmen's changed to Workers' Compensation Board. |
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1977 |
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The WCB of the NWT was created in 1977, modeled after the Meredith Principles. |
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1978 |
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Yukon - Workmen's changed to Workers' Compensation Board. |
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1979 |
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Newfoundland, Nova Scotia - Workmen's changed to Workers' Compensation Board. |
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1982 |
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Ontario, New Brunswick - Workmen's changed to Workers' Compensation Board. |
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1985 |
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In Quebec in 1985, the legal landscape underwent another major reform. An Act respecting industrial accidents and occupational diseases, which complements An Act respecting occupational health and safety, replaced the existing act respecting industrial accidents and the act originally passed on compensation for victims of asbestosis or silicosis in mines and quarries. |
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1988 |
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The AWCBC has coordinated an annual Workers’ Compensation College/Learning Symposium for members since 1988. |
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1996 |
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1998 |
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In Ontario, with the passing of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, the WCB is abolished; its functions are absorbed by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. |
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1999 |
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In 1999, after the creation of the new Nunavut territory, the governments of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories agreed to maintain a shared Workers' Compensation Board for the two territories. This arrangement continues to this day |
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2001 |
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Public Forums were held in 2001, 2003 and 2005 to foster greater public understanding of, and dialogue about, workplace health & safety and workers’ compensation. |
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2005 |
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The British Columbia Workers' Compensation Board changes its name to WorkSafeBC. |
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2008 |
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The Workers' Compensation Board of Northwest Territories and Nunavut changes its name to 'Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission'. |
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2008 |
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The Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission of New Brunswick changes its name to WorkSafeNB. |
| 2013 |
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2013 is the centennial of the Meredith Reportwhich was tabled October 31, 1913 with legislation passing the following year, similar legislation was passed in every provincial and territorial jurisdiction between 1915 and 1977. Sir William Meredith was appointed by the Government of Ontario to study workers' compensations systems around the world and make recommendations for the Ontario context. The Meredith principles(no-fault compensation, collective liability, security of payment, exclusive jurisdiction and administration by independent boards) became the basis for workers’ compensation systems in Canada and the United States and still remain so today. |
