WCB policies adopted by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) under S. 183 of the Workers’ Compensation Act (the “Act”) are formal statements of the Board’s position on a given issue and are followed in the application of the Act and Workers’ Compensation General Regulations. Policies approved by the Board are binding on both the WCB and the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Tribunal (WCAT). This means they become part of the legal framework and have the force of law. Policy topics include, for example, entitlement, short and long term benefits, and assessments.
The WCB uses a policy framework that ensures we identify the topics that require policy development and is consistent with our commitment to transparent policy development. The two main parts of the policy framework are:
1. Development of the Annual Policy Work Plan
The WCB identifies potential policy topics through environmental monitoring, Board and WCB staff outreach and interaction with workers, employers, stakeholders, and system partners. The Board approves the final Annual Policy Work Plan in the Fall after consideration of their policy prioritization criteria.
Recognizing that an unexpected high priority policy issue can emerge throughout the year(s) that could be time sensitive, the Board of Directors always maintains the ability to adjust the Annual Policy Work Plan to allow for a timely response.
2. Stakeholder Consultation on Specific Policy Topics
As reflected in Policy 10.3.11 - Policy Consultation, the Board is committed to appropriate consultation with stakeholders before making policy decisions. The WCB consults stakeholders on all draft new and revised policy.
View a more detailed discussion of WCB Nova Scotia’s Policy Framework.