Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The standing committee on agencies, boards and commissions, under the authority given to it by this House, has been reviewing matters related to the NWT Workers' Compensation Board. The standing committee has met on several occasions during the second session of the 12th Legislative Assembly, and public hearings were held in Yellowknife from May 11 to 13, 1992. Verbal, written and telephone submissions were received from organizations and individuals involved in the workers' compensation system.
While the primary focus of this comprehensive review has been to consider the structure, accountability and statutory authority of the board, the standing committee has also examined a range of policy and legislative matters pertaining to, or arising from, board operations.
A full report on the findings of the comprehensive review will be tabled during the current June, 1992, sifting of the Legislative Assembly. However, the standing committee on agencies, boards and commissions has taken the position that certain matters related to the Workers' Compensation Act require immediate attention. To this end, an interim report has been prepared with recommendations for action at the earliest possible opportunity.
Some general observations and recommendations. Workers in the NWT must know that there is an adequate system in place to provide them with financial assistance in the event that they become injured or ill as a result of their workplace duties. In the NWT, as in other Canadian jurisdictions, this system is administered by the Workers' Compensation Board. The standing committee on agencies, boards and commissions is aware of the critical role that is played by the Workers' Compensation Board. It is also mindful of longstanding principles which have required the administration of Workers' Compensation claims to take place at an arm's length from government. However, the standing committee takes the position that responsibility for ensuring that the activities of the Workers' Compensation Board adequately meets the needs of all workers in the NWT is vested with the Legislative Assembly. Responsibilities for selecting and vetting appointments to the board and for ensuring that Workers' Compensation operates within a sound legislative framework are shared by the Executive Council and the Legislative Assembly.
In partial fulfilment of these responsibilities, the standing committee on agencies, boards and commissions, on December 16, 1991, tabled Committee Report 3-12(1) to
outline its work plan for the 1992-93 fiscal year. At that time, the standing committee stated its intention to carry out a comprehensive review of organizational and operational aspects of the Workers' Compensation Board. During the course of the review, the standing committee has had an opportunity to review a wealth of information available as documentation and through the receipt of public submissions.
The standing committee on agencies, boards and commissions has been concerned by much of the information it has received. Certain deficiencies in legislation or policy, and some administrative practices within the Workers' Compensation Board have drawn the particular attention of the standing committee Members. These will be identified, and in several cases recommendations for revisions will be forthcoming, with the comprehensive report to follow.
However, the standing committee on agencies, boards and commissions was critically concerned by suggestions that the Workers' Compensation Board has fallen into a pattern where the interests of injured workers have been treated with insensitivity and disregard. This, if true, cannot be tolerated.
During public hearings the standing committee heard from a number of injured workers who had been, to greater and lesser extents, dissatisfied and frustrated in their dealings with the Workers' Compensation Board. Members of the committee were fully aware that this sampling of opinion may not be reflective of the experience of all claimants, perhaps not even the majority Yet the very apparent pain in which some of these workers have found themselves following workplace injury cannot be denied. There are aspects to the operation of the Workers' Compensation Board that are leading some injured workers to believe that they have not been treated in a sensitive and fair manner.
Problems Of WCB Insensitivity Not With Staff
As the standing committee on agencies, boards and commissions looked further into this question of sensitivity, It became increasingly apparent that the problem does not lie with the staff who deliver front line service to the injured workers. In fact, the committee has found that quite the opposite is true.