LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Infectious Illness

Sep 28: Flu season in Prince Edward Island is off to an unusually early start with hospitalizations already reported. In addition to offering free flu and COVID-19 vaccinations, PEI expanded its Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) program by making all infants (8 months of age and younger) eligible for Beyfortus®, a long-acting monoclonal antibody that provides season-long protection.

Action Point: Use the OHS Insider Infection Exposure Control Plan template to prevent COVID, influenza, and other seasonal respiratory illness outbreaks at your workplace.

New Laws

Sep 16: The province launched a new online registry of skilled tradespeople to help employers and contractors verify credentials and verify whether a person holds a Prince Edward Island Certificate of Qualification or Red Seal endorsement and the trade in which they’re certified. Searches can be done using identifying information such as a name and certification number.

New Laws

Sep 26: To reduce living costs, Prince Edward Island temporarily suspended its provincial fuel tax until January 31, 2027. The tax of 8.47 cents per litre on gasoline and 14.15 cents per litre on diesel will return in February, but at only 50% of the current rate before returning to 100% on April 1, 2027.

Workplace Violence

Sep 17: Applications opened for Anti-Racism Youth Cyberviolence Prevention Grants for projects to prevent and address cyberbullying and other forms of cyberviolence. Funding is available through three streams: i. Youth and individual applicants can apply for up to $2,500; ii. Communities, organizations, and charities can apply for up to $5,000; and iii. Larger community projects by organizations can apply for up to $25,000. Deadline to apply: October 30.

Action Point: Cyberviolence and harassment may become an OHS compliance issue when it involves involves workers. That’s why it’s important to create and implement an effective Cyberbullying Prevention Policy at your workplace.

Workers’ Compensation

Sep 8: The WCB completed public surveying on its proposed 2027–2029 Strategic Plan. The agency says it wants to gain a better understanding of how emerging technologies, innovative service approaches, and evolving client expectations can bolster workplace safety, improve service delivery, and support positive return-to-work outcomes.

Workers’ Compensation

Oct 1: The WCB proposed changes to its policy on workers’ compensation coverage of Pre-Existing Conditions (POL-61). The changes are mostly clarifications designed to align PEI with pre-existing conditions rules with other Canadian jurisdictions with little to no expected measurable impact on claims costs. Deadline to comment: October 30.

CASES

There are no cases to report for this month.