Bill 272: Workers' Compensation Act (amended)

This bill primarily affects employers in Nova Scotia who pay into the workers' compensation system across all industries — from construction and manufacturing to healthcare and retail. In practice, it raises the bar for the Workers' Compensation Board when managing injured workers' medical claims, meaning employers may see longer or more robust treatment coverage periods and a slower wind-down of approved medical aid during appeals. Businesses with higher injury rates — like trades, warehousing, or forestry operations — are most likely to feel the downstream effects, as the Board will face tighter constraints on cutting off treatments, potentially influencing claim duration and overall assessment costs. Solo operators and small teams are affected the same as larger employers since WCB assessments are based on payroll and industry, though larger employers with active return-to-work programs may need to adjust how they coordinate with the Board on medical decisions.