Mr. Speaker, the matter of a presence of the Workers' Compensation Board in the regions is of concern to me. I am pleased to inform the Assembly that I have actively been working with the Department of Safety and Public Services and the staff of the W.C.B. to develop a protocol which will allow the field presence of the Department of Safety to be better utilized in providing safety education and training in cooperation with the W.C.B. in the field. I recognize that I am avoiding the Member's specific question about protocol with regional health boards, but because of the rate increases, the increases in accident severity in the Northwest Territories in recent years, it has been recommended to me that safety training and education and improved safety inspections are a critical matter that must be dealt with even in advance of anything else. As far as the Department of Health is concerned, Mr. Speaker, I can tell the Member that the department's first priority is to work with the W.C.B. on the recommendation that there be northern based rehabilitation services provided for injured workers, and that we stop the expensive practice of sending injured workers to the south for this kind of treatment when we could probably offer this kind of service in the north. That has been actively worked on, Mr. Speaker. As far as the matter that the Member specifically referred to, I have no progress to report to date for the reasons I outlined. Thank you.
Dennis Patterson on Question 42-12(3): W.C.B. Establishment Of M.o.u.s With Regional Health And Hospital Boards
In the Legislative Assembly on November 23rd, 1992. See this statement in context.
Return To Question 42-12(3): W.c.b. Establishment Of M.o.u.s With Regional Health And Hospital Boards
Question 42-12(3): W.C.B. Establishment Of M.o.u.s With Regional Health And Hospital Boards
Revert Back To Item 5: Oral Questions
November 22nd, 1992
Page 58
Dennis Patterson Iqaluit
See context to find out what was said next.