UCCO-SACC-CSN salutes the announcement of British Columbia Labour Minister Harry Bains to amend the Worker’s compensation Act to add post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other occupational stress injuries to a list of presumptive conditions. This annoucement, made on April 11th, 2018, will allow first responders in B.C., (including Federal Correctional Officers) to receive assistance for mental disorder without having to prove their injury is work related.
“This announcement is paramount for our officers and first responders that there is now a streamlined process and without further delay, assistance is timelier to help with mental health injuries. Often times, the burden of proof for the officer not only delays a much needed treatment but it also aggravates the mental injury of the officer in question”, said Pacific Region UCCO-SACC-CSN President, Derek Chin.
“We’d like to acknowledge Minister Bains and his team for taking the time in viewing our short film Working on the Edge and hearing our concerns about the occupational stress injuries that are prevalent in our profession as Correctional Officers. Hopefully the remaining provinces without this amendment will take British Columbia’s lead, which is similar to other provinces who have already enacted this type of legislation. The legislation is crucial for the wellbeing of first responders, including Correctional Officers, who perform the duties of all 3 first responders behind the walls of Federal Penitentiaries”, added Chin.