Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board, Mr. Todd.

Madam Speaker, I believe we can do both. Thank you.

Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. I have a question for the Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board. I understand that the Workers' Compensation Board set up a task group to address the issue of appeals. I think there was an appeals tribunal set up. Can the Minister tell us what the current status of that group is?

Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I know this was an important issue in the last session. There was concern out there that perhaps the WCB was not moving in a timely manner to deal with appeals. The original appeal chairperson was Mr. Bourque who resigned, I believe, in February 1994. We have a new appeals chairman, Mr. McNenly, who is a Giant employee and former union employee.

The backlog of appeals at the time was somewhere in the region of 44 or maybe 60 cases. I don't have an up-to-date figure as of today, but it is my understanding that the majority of those cases have been dealt with and the appeals tribunal is moving forward in an orderly, and much more timely manner, to deal with this very important appeal process. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Madam Speaker, in the 1993 annual report, we read that there were 25 appeals outstanding at the end of 1992 and 32 more cases were appealed during 1993. Yet, only 13 appeals were resolved and one of those was a case withdrawn by the appellant. Can the Minister explain why only 12 appeals were heard in 1993?

Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board, Mr. Todd.

I believe that with the appointment of Mr. Bourque as chairperson, it was realized at that time that the appeal process was taking an inordinate amount of time to deal with. That's all I can say. The process didn't allow for the timely decision-making of the appeals tribunal. Since that time, it is my understanding that a significant amount of progress has been made on the appeals.

I understand that to date, in 1994, 19 appeals have been filed and it is anticipated that the appeals tribunal will be able to hear four cases a month, which gives, hopefully, a completion date of January 31, 1995 to clean up the appeals that currently stand. There will be future appeals, but certainly it's an area that the Workers' Compensation Board and, particularly, the appeals committee, knew was under serious public scrutiny, and understandably so. They are making every effort to quickly, effectively and fairly deal with these important outstanding issues.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Can the Minister advise us, then, what the Minister or what the board is going to do to make sure that appeals are dealt with efficiently and quickly in the future?

Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board, Mr. Todd.

The current chairman of the appeals tribunal, Mr. McNenly, is going to follow the pattern established by the former chairman, Mr. Bourque, and that is to meet on a more regular basis to ensure these appeals are dealt with in a timely manner. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is again to the Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board. In his statement to the House on October 14th, the Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board announced a dramatic turnaround in the WCB's finances, from a deficit of $8 million to a surplus of over $5 million.

In that statement, the Minister placed a great deal of emphasis on a more efficient, less costly and more accessible operation. But, the 1993 annual report says that administration and general expenses increased slightly between 1992 and 1993 from $4.648 million to $4.756 million, while the number of claims reported decreased from 3,638 to 3,531. Can the Minister explain how higher costs for fewer claims translate into a more efficient operation?

Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board, Mr. Todd.

I'm so excited about answering the question. Madam Speaker, I perhaps was misinterpreted. What I meant by a more efficient board was with respect to policies and some of the major changes they made with respect to assessments, rehabilitation, supplementary pensions and the capitalization of the pension and accident fund. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Whitford.

Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board, Mr. Todd.

We felt, at the time, that we should have an impairment schedule that was more reflective of the Northwest Territories and the AMA guidelines were changed to NWT impairment assessments, Madam Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Whitford.