SDU Request for Legislation

01/15/2008

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawá:ke would like to inform the community that the Social Development Unit (SDU) has submitted a Request for Legislation to the Interim Legislative Coordinating Committee (ILCC). The ILCC has officially accepted the request for specific Legislation to be drafted and enacted respecting Occupational Safety and Workers’ Compensation for Kahnawá:ke, the first to be formulated under the new Community Decision Making Process (CDMP).

It is hoped that this proposed Legislation will establish a stronger position for the continuity of the current Mohawk Self Insurance program in the face of mounting efforts made by the Province of Quebec and the Commission de la Santé et la Sécurité du Travail du Québec (CSST) to attack the validity of the MSI program.

“Of late, the political climate has changed between Quebec and Kahnawá:ke, more specifically in the area of Workers’ Compensation”, said SDU Director, Michael O’Brien. “The multi-million dollar Mercier Bridge Project has raised the jurisdictional issue between CSST and MSI”, he continued.

Mohawk Self Insurance has been in existence since 1984. At that time it was decided that Kahnawá:ke must develop and institute its own Workers’ Compensation program and no longer have CSST exert its rules and regulations in Kahnawá:ke.

“This proposed Legislation is for the well-being of the Community and an exercise in confirming our jurisdiction on our Territory”, said MSI Program Coordinator, Joel Jacobs.

The date of the first ever session of the CDMP will be announced in the near future. Further information on the proposed Legislation can be obtained by contacting the Social Development Unit at 450 638 0500. SDU offices are located on the first floor of the Kahnawá:ke Services Complex.