Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The standing committee on agencies, boards and commissions deliberated long and hard on the review of the Workers' Compensation Board, and I believe the report which I read into the record this afternoon, very clearly expresses the feeling of Members while reviewing this report. I also indicated that this is an interim report, and that a more comprehensive report on the Workers' Compensation Board will be reported on further on
in this sitting.
However, I think the two recommendations that were made are very crucial and important and should be giving direction to the government to act on very, very quickly, These are two areas that are very important and deal with two issues that are of major concern to all people working and dealing with the Workers' Compensation Board.
I would also like to reiterate the statements made about the employees of the Workers' Compensation Board. The expressions of insensitivity were not directed at them as employees, but they were directed basically at the poor or outdated legislation which forces employees to create policies within which to work and to deal with this type of legislation. Because of this, I think the injured workers, other people who apply for compensation and deal with the board, feel it is employees. But we as Members very strongly feel that it is not the staff and that we have to deal with the major issue; that being the issue of poor legislation. One of the recommendations we will be making is to look at addressing and reviewing some form of new legislation.
I have a couple of motions to make, and I will make those after general comments. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.