PREMIER RECEIVES REPORT ON NORTHERN OVERTIME EXEMPTION

Premier Lorne Calvert today received a report by Regina Northeast MLA Ron Harper on the Northern Overtime Exemption.

“Mr. Harper conducted a thorough round of consultations and I am pleased to see the diversity of opinion reflected in his final report,” Calvert said.  “This government is committed to the North, its vast potential and helping people in the North build better futures.  Mr. Harper’s report will provide us with the information we need to make an informed decision about how to proceed with regard to Saskatchewan’s Northern Overtime Exemption.”

“I want to thank the many people who took time to speak to me about this issue,” Harper said. “I saw first hand how passionate northerners are about their part of the province and it was inspiring.  I hope my recommendations reflect that and will help to shape an informed decision about how best to proceed.”

Harper’s report contains five recommendations:

1. Eliminate sections 7(1) and 7(2) (d) of the Labour Standards Regulations, 1995 (Northern Exemption) without delay.

2. Establish a labour standards office in La Ronge with at least two officers.  The officers will provide public education on all aspects of labour standards to employers and employees.  Expand staff duties to include monitoring and compliance responsibilities upon completion of the initial public education phase.

3. Treat fishers and trappers as primary producers (traditional family farm) under The Labour Standards Act.

4. Grant a province-wide regulatory exemption to sections 6 and 12 of The Labour Standards Act to outfitters.

5. Maintain and publicize existing Labour Standards Act provisions.  Compressed workweeks, averaging of hours permits, and other variances provide sufficient flexibility to accommodate northern Saskatchewan’s unique work scheduling needs.  No further statutory or regulatory exemptions – occupational or sectoral – are required beyond those recommended above.

The government will study the report and respond to the recommendations in the coming weeks.

The Northern Overtime Exemption was put into place in 1953 to address the unique employment situation in Saskatchewan’s North.  The Northern Overtime Exemption is a labour standards regulation that exempts some employers operating north of Township 62 from the hours of work and overtime provisions of The Labour Standards Act, 1995.  It does not apply to Uranium City, or workers within 10 km of (or inside) La Ronge and Creighton.

Harper was appointed to conduct this review in May 2006.  The report is available at www.labour.gov.sk.ca.

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For more information, contact:

Natosha Lipinski
Labour
Regina
Phone: 306-787-3716
Email: nlipinski@lab.gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-527-5643