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

Recommendations: 3.4.2 Workers’ Advisor1. The legislation should be changed to require the establishment of a Workers’Advisor, independent of the WCB administration, and appointed by the WCB Boardof Directors.2. The legislation should be changed to include the requirement for the Workers’Advisor to make an annual report to the WCB Board of Directors and stakeholders.3. It is suggested that the WCB Board of Directors use a transparent process for theengagement of the Workers’ Advisor.4. It is suggested that the ongoing requirement for a Workers’ Advisor be considered inthe reviews recommended in Section 3.2.6, Regular Reviews of the Workers’Compensation Acts.3.4.3 Employers’ AdvisorSome stakeholders told the Panel that employers need assistance in dealing with theWCB administration. The majority of respondents to the Stakeholder Questionnairethought there should be an employers’ advisor.The majority of other jurisdictions do not have an employers’ advisor. For those that do,there is no consistency in the source of funds to pay for the employers’ advisor or for thereporting relationship of employers’ advisors. The Panel does not recommend theestablishment of an employers’ advisor, in legislation or otherwise, for the reasons statedin Section 3.4, Stakeholder Advisors.3.5 Review and Appeals ProcessIf a worker (or dependant) or employer does not agree with a decision of the WCBadministration, they have access to an appeals process. The first step in the appealsprocess is the Review Committee. The Review Committee is an internal committeewithin the WCB. The legislation provides that with the approval of the WCB Board ofDirectors, the Review Committee may hear representations on behalf of the appellant. Itis understood that the WCB Board of Directors has, by policy, made a decision thatWCB Legislative Review Panel Report Page 36 of 128December, 2001