Human Resources Legislative Update

Ontario Passes PTSD Bill

Human Resources Legislative Update

Ontario Passes PTSD Bill

Date: April 5, 2016

On April 5, 2016, Bill 163, Supporting Ontario’s First Responders Act (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder), 2016, passed Third Reading as amended by the Standing Committee on Social Policy.

As previously reported, Bill 163 amends the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 to create a rebuttable statutory presumption in favour of granting workers’ compensation benefits to certain workers diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Bill 163 will come into force upon Royal Assent. Typically, a Bill will receive Royal Assent shortly after it passes in the Legislature. We will monitor and communicate the specific date once it is known.

An FTR Now is being prepared and will be available shortly.