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

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Recommendations: 3.2.9 Authority <strong>to</strong> Enter in<strong>to</strong> Agreements1. <strong>The</strong> legislation should be changed <strong>to</strong> enable <strong>the</strong> <strong>WCB</strong> Board <strong>of</strong> Direc<strong>to</strong>rs <strong>to</strong> enter in<strong>to</strong>agreements with o<strong>the</strong>r parties for <strong>the</strong> purpose <strong>of</strong> administering <strong>the</strong> <strong>Act</strong>s.2. <strong>The</strong> legislation should be changed <strong>to</strong> enable <strong>the</strong> <strong>WCB</strong> Board <strong>of</strong> Direc<strong>to</strong>rs <strong>to</strong> delegatesuch authority.3. It is suggested that agreements with o<strong>the</strong>r parties cover <strong>the</strong> protection <strong>of</strong> confidentialstakeholder information.3.2.10 Authority <strong>to</strong> Initiate Prosecutions<strong>The</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> was asked <strong>to</strong> consider recommending legislative change that would give <strong>the</strong><strong>WCB</strong> authority <strong>to</strong> initiate prosecutions under <strong>the</strong> <strong>Act</strong>s. <strong>The</strong> Crown Prosecu<strong>to</strong>r’s Officenow undertakes prosecutions for <strong>of</strong>fences, such as fraud, under <strong>the</strong> <strong>Act</strong>s. <strong>The</strong>re appears<strong>to</strong> be concern that <strong>the</strong> Crown Prosecu<strong>to</strong>r may not undertake or pursue a prosecution forits own reasons – reasons with which <strong>the</strong> <strong>WCB</strong> does not agree.A small minority <strong>of</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r jurisdictions has limited authority <strong>to</strong> prosecute alleged<strong>of</strong>fenders.<strong>The</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> strongly believes that workers’ compensation systems should not beadversarial. <strong>The</strong> introduction <strong>of</strong> any authority <strong>to</strong> prosecute alleged <strong>of</strong>fenders flies in <strong>the</strong>face <strong>of</strong> this belief. <strong>The</strong> focus <strong>of</strong> <strong>WCB</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficials should be on administering <strong>the</strong> <strong>Act</strong>s andnot taking on <strong>the</strong> job <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Crown Prosecu<strong>to</strong>r.3.2.11 Peace Officer Status for <strong>WCB</strong> Official<strong>The</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> was asked <strong>to</strong> consider recommending legislative change that would confer“peace <strong>of</strong>ficer” status <strong>to</strong> a <strong>WCB</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficial. Police <strong>of</strong>ficers, <strong>the</strong> RCMP in <strong>the</strong> NWT andNunavut, and, for certain purposes, by-law <strong>of</strong>ficers are examples <strong>of</strong> those that hold <strong>the</strong>responsibilities and authorities <strong>of</strong> a peace <strong>of</strong>ficer.<strong>WCB</strong> <strong>Legislative</strong> <strong>Review</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> <strong>Report</strong> Page 25 <strong>of</strong> 128December, 2001

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