Mr. MacDonald: Thirteen per cent of new cancer cases identified each year in Alberta could be work related. 

However, only 31 cancer-related claims were accepted by the Workers’ Compensation Board in the last reported year. My first question is to the Premier. Given that there is over $300 million in the WCB’s occupational disease reserve fund, will the Premier ensure that all Alberta workers have the same protections that firefighters have for work-related cancers? I believe the government did the right thing when they enhanced protection for firefighters.

Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, it’s a technical matter, and the minister will respond.

The Speaker: The hon. minister.

Mr. Lukaszuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, with pleasure. The Workers’ Compensation Board makes decisions based on the facts, facts presented to the Workers’ Compensation Board by the medical professionals. That is how cases are adjudicated. That is how entitlement is being adjudicated on files. When a worker gets injured, there’s an obligation for either the employer, the worker, or the medical staff to report the accident. Reports are filed. Decisions are made by the WCB.

Mr. MacDonald: Again to the Premier, and this is not a technical matter; it’s a matter of health and safety for Alberta workers. Why is the government reluctant to bring in legal protection so that Alberta workers such as welders have WCB protection if they are exposed to cancer-causing agents in their line of work?

Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, the minister just answered the question. WCB makes the determination. They’re a quasi-judicial authority separate from government, and they make those decisions on behalf of Albertans.

Mr. MacDonald: I would remind the hon. Premier that it’s this government, his government, that writes the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Now, again to the Premier: given that there are as many as 2,500 Albertans who could possibly die of occupational cancer by the year 2015, how can the Premier justify waiting five years before cutting exposure rates to cancer-causing agents in the workplace by half?

The Speaker: The hon. minister.

Mr. Lukaszuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It should be known to Albertans that aside from insuring Albertans following an unfortunate work accident, the Workers’ Compensation Board also provides our department of occupational health and safety with a significant amount of money for mitigating accidents. One of the areas where the funds are being spent is on making sure that our workers are informed properly and that laws relevant to the occupational health act are being enforced. We are focusing on preventing accidents by education, by putting the proper rules around workplace environments. But when accidents occur or when occupational diseases are developed, decisions by the WCB are made based on medical evidence.

Alberta Hansard, April 21, 2010

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