Government Employees' Compensation Act (GECA)
Eligibility:
The Act covers all employees of the federal government and most Crown agencies. The Act, however, excludes members of the regular force of the Canadian Forces or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It also excludes persons engaged to perform a service on a fee or contract basis and volunteers.
Description:
The objective of the Government Employees' Compensation Act (GECA) is to provide compensation for loss of earnings, medical care and other related benefits to federal employees injured in the course of employment or disabled by reason of an industrial disease due to the nature of the employment.
The GECA stipulates that benefits are to be at the same rate and under the same conditions as are provided in the provincial workers' compensation laws. Claims adjudication is provided by the Federal Workers' Compensation Service of Human Resources Development Canada - Labour, and the ten provincial workers' compensation boards/commissions pursuant to administrative agreements.
The Federal Government reimburses the provincial boards for all compensation costs awarded and paid to injured employees and pays administrative fees in accordance to the administrative agreements.
An employee who is injured at work should notify his/her supervisor as soon as possible. The employer must complete the accident report and forward the report to the applicable regional HRDC-Labour injury compensation unit. For additional details, please consult the brochures entitled "If you have an accident" and "Employer's Guide to the Government Employees' Compensation Act".
The regional injury compensation unit reviews the accident report, verifies the eligibility of the employee and forwards the report to the appropriate provincial workers' compensation board/commission for determination of benefits. The regional injury compensation unit also provides liaison services between the boards/commissions, the employee and the employer at all stages of the claim process and guidance and assistance in interpreting and applying federal and provincial legislations and procedures.
Once all necessary documents are received by the provincial board/commission, a decision is made by the board to either award or deny benefits.
Types, levels and durations of benefits vary from province to province. Examples of benefits include:
- compensation for loss of earnings;
- medical, hospital and related services;
- rehabilitation services;
- a lump sum or a pension if you are permanently disabled.