Administration

The Minister may appoint committees of persons to assist or advise the Minister on any matter that the Minister considers advisable concerning occupational health and safety related to employment to which this Part applies.

Remuneration and expenses

At the discretion of the Minister, persons appointed to those committees may be paid the remuneration that may be fixed by the Minister and, in accordance with any applicable Treasury Board directives, any reasonable travel and living expenses that are incurred by them while performing their functions away from their ordinary place of residence.

Inquiries

The Minister may cause an inquiry to be made into and concerning occupational health and safety in any employment to which this Part applies and may appoint one or more persons to hold the inquiry.

Powers on an inquiry

A person appointed pursuant to subsection (2) has all the powers of a person appointed as a commissioner under Part I of the Inquiries Act.

Research

The Minister may undertake research into the cause of and the means of preventing employment injury and occupational illness and may, where the Minister deems it appropriate, undertake such research in cooperation with any department or agency of the Government of Canada or with any or all provinces or with any organization undertaking similar research.

Publication of information

The Minister may publish the results of any research undertaken under subsection (4) and compile, prepare and disseminate data or information bearing on health or safety of employees obtained from that research or otherwise.

Occupational safety and health programs

The Minister may undertake programs to reduce or prevent employment injury and occupational illness and may, where the Minister deems it appropriate, undertake those programs in cooperation with any department or agency of the Government of Canada or with any or all provinces or any organization undertaking similar programs.

The Minister may undertake medical surveillance and examination programs with respect to occupational health and safety and may, if the Minister considers it appropriate, undertake those programs in cooperation with any department or agency of the Government of Canada or with any or all of the provinces or any organization undertaking similar programs.

Appointment of medical officers

The Minister may appoint any medical practitioner qualified in occupational medicine to undertake the medical surveillance and examination programs.

The Minister shall prepare and publish an annual report that contains statistical data relating to harassment and violence in work places to which this Part applies. The report shall not contain any information that is likely to reveal the identity of a person who was involved in an occurrence of harassment and violence.

Statistical data

The statistical data contained in the report shall include information that is categorized according to prohibited grounds of discrimination under the Canadian Human Rights Act.

Five years after the day on which this section comes into force and every five years after that, the Minister shall commence a review of the provisions of this Part relating to harassment and violence. At the conclusion of the review, the Minister shall prepare a report on the review.

Report to be tabled

The Minister shall cause the report to be tabled in each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after the day on which the report is completed.