The Acting President and C-E-O at WorkSafe NB, Tim Peterson is defending the 33 per cent increase to $1.48 in workers compensation rates for employers. He says the number of claims is up as is the amount of time injured workers are off the job.
He says they’re actually getting a discount because of more claims as well as the amount of time injured workers are out are increasing. Peterson told the M-L-A’s on the Crown Corporations Committee, if employers were charged the true cost, the rate would be $1.71 instead of $1.48.
He adds even with the increase, the New Brunswick rate is still lower than any other province in the Atlantic region and is 4th lowest in the country.
Peterson told the Crown Corporations Committee, the cost of claims for hearing loss alone since 2010 have gone through the roof.
