Item 5, Oral Questions. Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Obviously the briefing was not a very adequate one, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister whether he will assure this House that prior to making further appointments to the Workers' Compensation Board he will show the proper leadership to brief people in a way so they fully understand exactly what the feelings of Members are on the issue of the operation of the Workers' Compensation Board?

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I will certainly endeavour to do so. I believe there is ample evidence of the views of Members of this Assembly on the appropriate role and responsibilities of the Workers' Compensation Board, reflected principally in the very comprehensive report of the A.B.C. committee, and as well reflected in the transcripts of this Legislature. I will certainly endeavour to do so. I should say, Mr. Speaker, that sometimes, once appointed, members develop their own views on a board and their own corporate approach, but I will certainly, within the powers that are available to me, make it clear in making appointments the views of Members on the accountability as outlined very eloquently in a number of statements made in this House today. Thank you.

Oral Questions. Mr. Dent.

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I have spoken to the new Chair of the Workers' Compensation Board about this very issue and I can inform the House that it was only a few days ago that the board finalized its budget for the forthcoming fiscal year. I think it is a very responsible budget that has been developed, I might add. I am informed by the Chairperson that both the budget and a strategic plan of the W.C.B., which will be part of that budget, will soon be in my hands and I can inform the House that I will immediately table that document upon receipt. Thank you.

Oral Questions. Mr. Bernhardt.

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I received the board's annual report for the last fiscal year and I tabled it in this House. That is all I have received other than the budget information that was presented to the Standing Committee on Finance. I have received nothing else.

Supplementary, Mr. Bernhardt.

Supplementary, Mr. Speaker. The standing committee report also recommended that the Minister should make legislative changes to ensure that the Workers' Compensation Board's strategic plan was received for his approval and for tabling in this House on a yearly basis. Will the Minister make a commitment to ensure that this amendment is outlined in the legislative action paper he is supposed to bring forward by December 31 of this year?

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, that recommendation makes very good sense to me and I will commit that it will be part of the legislative action plan presented to this House. It makes eminent good sense. Thank you.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board. When the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions reviewed the appeals process within W.C.B., it noted that the former practice of referring claimant files for review by the manager of claims service had been discontinued. The standing committee felt that reinstating this procedure would avoid some of the cumbersome, intimidating and adversarial interaction that seemed to characterize the appeals process. The workers' advisor for W.C.B. had also recommended reinstating the earlier process in the policy. Can the Minister inform the House whether this recommendation had been complied with?

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the House that that procedure has been reinstated. Thank you.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is also for the Minister of the W.C.B. Mr. Speaker, the Minister should be aware that the report of the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions recommended that he should undertake a major review of the office of the workers' advisor who is responsible for helping injured workers navigate their way through the workers' compensation process. During public hearings, it became apparent that the W.C.B. was making it difficult for the workers' advisor to access the full range of material she required to carry out her duties. Can the Minister advise the House whether the necessary policy changes have been made which allow the workers' advisor better access to information?

Mr. Patterson.

I had better take this one as notice, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.