December 10, 1998
(Executive Council)

Government tables legislation to define employer in home support situations

Paul Dicks, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board, today tabled legislation which will provide clarity and certainty on the issue of the client or client's representative as the employer in home support situations. The act, entitled An Act Respecting Home Support Services Provided to Persons In Self-Managed Care, received First Reading in the House of Assembly today.

"This legislation is consistent with rulings by the Labour Relations Board and the Supreme Court which have upheld that government is not the employer," said the minister. "This legislation will serve to end the debate on the issue of employer in home support service arrangements, by clearly establishing the client, or the client's representative, as the employer."

The minister noted that clients and their representatives have expressed a desire to have their role as employer clarified, and to preserve their fundamental ability to choose self-managed care.

Media contact: Paula Dyke, Communications, (709) 729-0329.

1998 12 10                                    4:10 p.m.