Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Section 14 is on lump sum payments. The standing committee on agencies, boards and commissions received extensive commentary on the position that has been taken by the Workers' Compensation Board with respect to allowing the commutation of disability pensions for lump sum payouts. The standing committee was aware that the 1989 review committee provided direction to

the board that more stringent criteria needed to be applied to decisions about when and whether to allow injured workers to commute their pensions. The standing committee heard a very wide range of opinion on this subject during the public hearings. Several submissions indicated that persons receiving lump sum settlements risked their own security. The Federation of Labour submission made the point that persons are not allowed to commute Canada Pension Plan payments or Unemployment Insurance benefits in advance, and argued that workers' compensation should be treated similarly.

Others stated that the board's current practices are paternalistic and insensitive to the needs of injured workers. Submissions received from the Council for Disabled Persons, the workers' advisor, and the injured, disabled and discarded workers group, left the clear impression that this is one of the central issues for injured workers--workers that receive permanent disability pensions.

The standing committee on agencies, boards and commissions wrestled with the issues surrounding this matter, but finally came to the conclusion that, not withstanding the many excellent presentations it had received on the subject, they just plainly lacked the background and expertise to make specific recommendations. There is no shame in acknowledging this. Policy problems with lump sum payments plague workers' compensation boards and their claimants all across Canada. To date, solutions capable of satisfying all interests have not been found. The standing committee did feel that it was essential for this subject to be addressed. The report of the 1989 review committee, while helpful, is fairly strongly founded in a set of priorities which differ from those of pensioned workers. There is a need for an additional examination of this issue, and the Minister's legislative initiative to be undertaken may provide the most appropriate opportunity.

Motion To Accept Recommendation 25, Carried

Therefore, the standing committee on agencies, boards and commissions recommends, and I move this committee recommends that the legislative action paper include a full consideration of questions surrounding the commutation of disability pensions.