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Act Now - The Report of the WCB Legislative Review Panel to the

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<strong>The</strong> Ministers have directed that <strong>the</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> must use this general policy base provided by<strong>the</strong> Meredith Principles in our assessment <strong>of</strong> public input and <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> ourrecommendations.2. Transparency<strong>The</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> believes that transparency and accountability should be part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> workers’compensation and safety systems. We believe this starts with legislation that is clearabout intent, authorities, entitlements, responsibilities, and obligations.3. Enabling versus Prescriptive LegislationSome stakeholders <strong>to</strong>ld <strong>the</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> that workers’ compensation legislation should beamended <strong>to</strong> spell out as much detail as possible so <strong>the</strong>re would be no question aboutinterpretation or administrative discretion. O<strong>the</strong>rs <strong>to</strong>ld <strong>the</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> that legislation shouldprovide a framework for <strong>the</strong> workers’ compensation system, with <strong>the</strong> Minister and <strong>WCB</strong>Board <strong>of</strong> Direc<strong>to</strong>rs filling in <strong>the</strong> details through regulation and policy.<strong>The</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> has generally adopted this latter position. However, <strong>the</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> believes that <strong>the</strong>legislative framework must include <strong>the</strong> standards and means for holding governors andadministra<strong>to</strong>rs accountable for <strong>the</strong>ir actions.4. Adjudication versus LitigationWorkers’ compensation systems are “no fault.” That is, <strong>the</strong> systems are based on resultsra<strong>the</strong>r than laying blame. Stakeholders <strong>to</strong>ld <strong>the</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> in many different ways that <strong>the</strong>yperceive <strong>the</strong> NWT and Nunavut workers’ compensation system as an adversarial one.<strong>The</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> does not accept that making <strong>the</strong> workers’ compensation system moreadversarial and litigious is an acceptable solution <strong>to</strong> addressing <strong>the</strong> very real problemsraised by stakeholders.<strong>WCB</strong> <strong>Legislative</strong> <strong>Review</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> <strong>Report</strong> Page 107 <strong>of</strong> 128December, 2001

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