Section 6 of the Workers' Compensation Act (WCA) authorizes the Board of Directors to determine policy. The WCA, Regulation and policy provide the decision-making framework on entitlements and benefits for injured workers and on the responsibilities of employers.
WCB's Policy Development department supports the Board of Directors in this responsibility by:
- researching and analyzing policy issues
- managing WCB’s consultation process through our website
- drafting policy for consideration by WCB's senior management team and the Policy Committee of the Board of Directors
Get more in-depth information about our policy development and consultation process. To view policies currently posted for consultation and to provide comments and feedback, visit our What's new in policy? section.
If you have a question about how a policy applies to your claim or employer account, contact your adjudicator, case manager or account manager directly. Policy Development does not work with individual claims or employer accounts.
If you feel a policy should be changed, you can request a policy review. Please follow the process in the Policies & Information Manual under G-4.
2024-2026 Policy Project Plan
Our policy project plan includes internal and external feedback. The plan lists policy projects we plan to tackle over the next few years. Quarterly updates reflect changes in our priorities. Learn more in our latest 2024-2026 Policy Plan.
Policy consultations
We are seeking your feedback on the following topic:
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Occupational hearing loss (Policy 03-01, Part II, Application 5)
Our Policy Project Plan includes a review of Policy 03-01, Part II, Application 5 (Hearing Loss) to provide additional guidance when adjudicating hearing loss claims. Our preliminary review identified opportunities to make our policy more transparent and easier to understand and apply. See the overview of changes and draft policy.
Consultation is open until October 7, 2024.
Closed policy consultations
2024
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Policy 04-04 – definition of permanent total disability (PTD)
Apr. 9/2024 to Jul. 8/2024
Consultations Materials – Apr/24
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Industry custom pricing (ICP) automatic re-polling
Dec. 12/2023 to Mar. 11/2024
Consultation Materials – Nov/23
Verbatim Comments
Board of Directors Minutes Excerpt – Apr/24
Post consultation policy – Jun/24
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Policy 01-08: Reconsiderations, reviews, and appeals
Dec. 12/2023 to Mar. 11/2024
Consultation Materials – Nov/23
Verbatim Comments
Board of Directors Minutes Excerpt – Apr/24
Post consultation policy – Jul/24
2023
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Policy project planning
Jul. 5/2023 to Oct. 3/2023
Consultation materials
Verbatim Comments
Board of Directors Minutes Excerpt – Nov/23
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Working remotely – Policy 02-01, Part I and Part II, Applications 1 to 3
Dec. 6/2022 to Mar. 20/2023
Consultation Materials – Nov/22
Verbatim comments
Board of Directors Minutes Excerpt – Jun/23
Post consultation policy – Sep/23
2022
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Opioid policy – Policy 04-06, Part II, Application 4
Jun. 28/2022 to Sep. 26, 2022
Consultation Materials – Jun/22
Verbatim comments
Board of Directors Minutes Excerpt – Nov/22
Post consultation policy – Jan/23
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Funding policy – Policy 01-01
Feb. 15/2022 to Jun. 20, 2022
Consultation Materials – Jan/22
Verbatim comments
Board of Directors Minutes Excerpt – Nov/22
Post consultation policy – Jan/23
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Medical cannabis – Policy 04-06, Part II, Application 6 and Addendum A
Jan. 25/2022 to May 2/2022
Consultation Materials – Jan/22
Verbatim comments
Board of Directors Minutes Excerpt – Jun/22
Post consultation policy – Sep/22
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Cost relief for reactions to compulsory COVID-19 vaccinations – Policy 05-02, Part II, Application 2
Jan. 25/22 to Mar. 28/22
Consultation Materials – Jan/22
Verbatim Comments
Board of Directors Minutes Excerpt – April/22
Post consultation policy – May/22
2021
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Policy Project Plan
Jul. 6/21 – Oct. 4/21
Consultation materials – Jul/21
Verbatim comments
Board of Directors Minutes Excerpt – Nov/21
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Reimbursement of housekeeping expenses prior to December 1, 2013
Jul. 6/21 – Oct. 4/21
Consultation materials – Jul/21
Verbatim comments
Board of Directors Minutes Excerpt – Nov/21
Post consultation policy – Jan/22
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Third party recoveries – cost relief – unknown or uninsured third parties
Jul. 6/21 – Oct. 4/21
Consultation materials – Jul/21
Verbatim comments
Board of Directors Minutes Excerpt – Nov/21
Post consultation policies – Jan/22
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Fairness Review Mandate
Jan. 15/21 - Feb. 15/21
Consultation materials – Jan/21
Verbatim comments
Board of Directors Minutes Excerpt – Mar/21
Fairness Review Mandate – Apr/21
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Duty to Cooperate
Jan. 15/21 - Feb. 15/21
Consultation materials – Jan/21
Verbatim comments
Board of Directors Minutes Excerpt – Mar/21
Post consultation policies – Apr/21
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Egregious Conduct
Jan. 15/21 - Feb. 15/21
Consultation materials – Jan/21
Verbatim comments
Board of Directors Minutes Excerpt – Mar/21
Post consultation policy – Apr/21
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Maximum Compensable Earnings (MCE)
Jan. 15/21 - Feb. 15/21
Consultation materials – Jan/21
Verbatim comments
Board of Directors Minutes Excerpt – Mar/21
Post consultation materials – Apr/21
2020
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Pension Midpointing
Sep. 30/20 – Dec. 1/20
Consultation Materials – Sep/20
Verbatim comments
Board of Directors Minutes Excerpt – Feb/21
Post consultation policy – Mar/21
2019
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Phase two - Review of employer accounts and premium policies
Oct. 1/19 – Dec. 2/19
Consultation materials – Oct/19
Verbatim comments
Board of Directors Minutes Excerpt – Jan/20
Board of Directors Minutes Excerpt – Nov/20
Post consultation policies
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2020 Policy Project Plan
Oct. 1/19 – Dec. 2/19
Consultation materials – Sep/19
Verbatim comments
Board of Directors Minutes Excerpt – Jan/20
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Phase one - High-level review of employer accounts and premium policies
May 14/19 – Jul. 15/19
Consultation materials – May/19
Verbatim comments
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Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID)
Jan. 3/19 – Mar. 5/19
Consultation materials – Jan/19
Board of Directors Minutes – Apr/19
Post consultation policy – Jun/19
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2019 Policy Project Plan
Jan. 3/19 – Mar. 5/19
Consultation materials – Jan/19
Board of Directors Minutes – Apr/19
2018
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Obligation to Return Injured Workers to Work
Jan. 2/18 – Mar. 6/18
Consultation materials – Jan/18
Board of Directors Minutes – Apr/18
Post consultation policy – Sep/18
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Estimating Earning Capacity
Jan. 2/18 – Mar. 6/18
Consultation materials
Board of Directors Minutes – Apr/18
Post consultation policy – Sep/18
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Interim Relief
Jan. 2/18 – Mar. 6/18
Consultation materials – Jan/18
Board of Directors Minutes – Apr/18
Post consultation policy – Sep/18
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Code of Rights and Conduct
Jan. 2/18 – Mar. 6/18
Consultation materials – Jan/18
Board of Directors Minutes – Apr/18
Post consultation Code of Rights and Conduct – Sep/18
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Funding Policy
Jan. 2/18 – Mar. 6/18
Consultation materials – Jan/18
Board of Directors Minutes - Nov/18
Post consultation policy – Jan/19
