Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to publicly congratulate the Minister on the appointment of Mr. Gilmour to the chair of the Workers' Compensation Board. I have had the pleasure of working with Mr. Gilmour in other capacities and I am confident he has the right qualities to take on this difficult assignment. I am also very pleased with what I have heard of the success of the new general manager in improving morale in the board.
I also want to say I have had a chance to review the legislative review done by Mr. Garven and I think, given the time constraints, it is a very thoughtful and helpful piece of work.
I want to say generally, having been involved with the board myself as the previous Minister, I am aware better than most that it has been under intense scrutiny in the past year or so. Although sometimes the questions and criticisms have not been entirely fair to the employees, I think we should look on this scrutiny as healthy. I do not think the Workers' Compensation Board has ever undergone such scrutiny since it was established as it has in the last year. Everyone should view this as positive, helpful and indicating fundamentally a well intentioned concern that the board work well, that rates be kept as low as possible and services to workers be maximized. I think the board and the new Minister are off to a very good start. I would like to think I have had a small role in helping prepare for some of the changes which have been put in place. However, everything I have heard indicates things are moving forward and that the motions which were presented by this committee will be dealt with expeditiously. There are some tough choices ahead and some difficult issues which have been thrust on the board. I am confident under the leadership of Mr. Todd and Mr. Gilmour, with the new blood on the board, that these difficult issues will be tackled. I want to wish them well in their work ahead. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.