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

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

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<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. <strong>The</strong>re appears <strong>to</strong> be concern that <strong>the</strong> CrownProsecu<strong>to</strong>r may not undertake or pursue a prosecution for its own reasons – reasons withwhich <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.In Section 3.2.10, Authority <strong>to</strong> Initiate Prosecutions, <strong>the</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> discussed its reasons fornot recommending giving authority <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>WCB</strong> <strong>to</strong> initiate prosecutions under <strong>the</strong>Workers’ Compensation <strong>Act</strong>s. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> believes that <strong>the</strong> <strong>WCB</strong> should leaveprosecutions under <strong>the</strong> Safety <strong>Act</strong>s <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Crown Prosecu<strong>to</strong>r and focus on administering<strong>the</strong> <strong>Act</strong>s.4.1.9 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.Legislation in 2 o<strong>the</strong>r jurisdictions confers peace <strong>of</strong>ficer status on <strong>WCB</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficials.For <strong>the</strong> reasons given in Sections 3.2.10 and 11, (Authority <strong>to</strong> Initiate Prosecutions andPeace Officer Status for <strong>WCB</strong> Official) and Section 4.1.8, Authority <strong>to</strong> InitiateProsecutions, <strong>the</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> does not recommend legislative change <strong>to</strong> confer peace <strong>of</strong>ficerstatus <strong>to</strong> a <strong>WCB</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficial.<strong>WCB</strong> <strong>Legislative</strong> <strong>Review</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> <strong>Report</strong> Page 92 <strong>of</strong> 128December, 2001

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