Mr. Speaker, the Department of Renewable Resources pays all the bills for a claim by a hunter under the Workers' Compensation Board and its policies. The W.C.B. is simply a device for assessing the claim, and deciding the extent of disability. Once that is done, unlike the other claims that come to the W.C.B., the Department of Renewable Resources pays the bills. The Member has asked for a broader definition to include more hunters. It has been recommended by the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions in its review of the W.C.B. It has been criticized by the W.C.B.'s own appeal committee, I acknowledge that. Mr. Speaker, until the Department of Renewable Resources can accept the financial commitment that a broader definition will require and identify the funds, and approve what is in effect new guidelines for paying these claims, there will be no money to pay under a more generous definition. So, I am waiting for the department, which is going to pay the bills, to accept the new definition, to budget the necessary monies, once that is done, and we are close to having that done, Mr. Speaker, then the board will be happy to apply the new policy. The board is not the problem. The problem is identifying the necessary funds. Thank you.
Dennis Patterson on Question O867-12(2): W.C.B. Policy For Traditional Harvesters
In the Legislative Assembly on September 28th, 1992. See this statement in context.
Further Return To Question O867-12(2): W.c.b. Policy For Traditional Harvesters
Question O867-12(2): W.C.B. Policy For Traditional Harvesters
Item 5: Oral Questions
September 27th, 1992
Page 1116
Dennis Patterson Iqaluit
See context to find out what was said next.