Mr. Chairman. A properly funded outreach program utilizing the office of the workers' advisor would undoubtedly make progress toward increasing general awareness of the board and the principles on which workers' compensation is based. It would not, in most cases, address the needs of injured workers who have questions about information requirements or time lines; persons who do not speak or write English or employers who wish clarification on board policy. It is not sufficient to take the approach that these individuals should pick up the phone and call Yellowknife. Enhanced communication and understanding can be facilitated by ensuring that there is a regional resource person in place to assist perspective clients and to respond to general information with the press. Generally people feel more comfortable in asking and more confident in trusting a member of their own community or region than an official telephone in the capital city several thousands of kilometres away.

The standing committee on agencies, boards and commissions was of the opinion that the volume of requests for assistance or information in any one region would not justify the establishment of regional offices or the allocation of full-time personnel. However, the standing committee believed that there could be considerable promise in the concept of establishing agreements which would ensure that a resource person was available on an as needed basis in regional centres or larger communities. One approach might be for the Workers' Compensation Board to establish agreements with regional health boards and in some cases hospital boards to identify a senior nursing professional or other senior health care officials who could serve as a regional resource. Through a moratorium of understanding the health or hospital board would build a Workers' Compensation Board on a fee for service base for hours spent by the regional resource person in dealing with workers' compensation matters. This would have the advantage of placing in each region at minimal administrative costs, a knowledgeable resource person capable of serving as an information conduit and providing interpersonal support of both workers and employers.

Motion To Accept Recommendation 6, Carried

I move that the Workers' Compensation Board establish memoranda of understanding with regional health boards and hospital boards to provide resource and supportive services to regional clientele.