Changes to Fatal Accidents Act could have been more effective if Opposition amendment was accepted

While government’s improvements to the Fatal Accidents Act are to be applauded, there was certainly room to further strengthen the legislation to protect the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, says Opposition House Leader Kelvin Parsons.

Parsons introduced an amendment last night calling on government to include “non-pecuniary” losses in the Fatal Accidents Act. This would allow family members to receive compensation for emotional damages associated with the loss of a loved one. The actual amendment read, “Clause one of the Bill is amended by adding the word non-pecuniary immediately before the word loss in the proposed subsection 6(2).” Government defeated the amendment.

“While I support the legislative changes put forward by government on the Fatal Accidents Act, I certainly feel that non-pecuniary loss should be included in the legislation,” said Mr. Parsons. “Not all pain and suffering is physical in nature, many people suffer emotionally when a loved one is taken from their lives. By including non-pecuniary suffering, the loss of companionship would be recognized and the impact this has on families. Unfortunately, government was clear that they did not want compensation awarded based on grief and sorrow as is done in some other jurisdictions.

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