Mr. Speaker, I think section 8 of the Workers' Compensation Act does make if fairly clear that with regard to the settling of claims, determining the degree of disability, determining whether earning capacity has or has not been impaired by reason of an accident, determining the amount of remuneration, questions like that, I think it is quite clear, Mr. Speaker, that the board has an exclusive jurisdiction that gives them the final say apart from the possibility of a court reviewing for an error of law or failure to exercise natural justice.
So those kinds of policies, policies with respect to issues like the lump sum payment issue which I know is of concern to Members, I believe that the act gives the board, as the Member says, exclusive jurisdiction. Having said that though, Mr. Speaker, being a creature of this Legislature and the board and its chairman being appointed by a Minister accountable to this Legislature, I would hope that there would also be such a good working relationship that the Minister responding to concerns of MLAs in this House, can at least have an influence on policies relating to claims. I certainly am attempting to do that, to raise concerns of Members, to have an impact on the policies that are made with respect to cases and claims.
I am not trying to be evasive, Mr. Speaker, but I think that there is no clear answer to this complicated question, although the board does have an exclusive jurisdiction by virtue of section 8. I think there are other sections, including the responsibility for the very appointment of the board, that mean that the Minister and this Legislature through the Minister, can and should have a good deal of influence on how the board formulates its policies with respect to workers.