FRANCAIS

February 25, 2004

Labour and Immigration Minister Nancy Allan announced today that public hearings on the Workers Compensation Act are to be conducted by a four-person review committee beginning April 14.

Allan introduced the committee chaired by Wally Fox-Decent: Chris W. Lorenc, Pete Walker and Susan E. Rogers. The committee will hold public meetings throughout the province to seek the views and ideas of Manitobans and will also accept written submissions.

"It has been almost 20 years since the public was consulted about the workers compensation legislation," Allan said. "It’s important that the act be reviewed regularly to determine if there are areas that need to be improved and updated. Our ultimate goal is to ensure we have a system that appropriately meets the needs of workers, employers and the public.

"Times change, as do the needs of the stakeholders of the compensation system. We need to hear what workers and employers have to say and address that through up-to-date legislation that is reflective of the environment we work and live in."

"Considering the dramatic changes that have taken place in the workplace over the last 20 years, this review is timely," said Fox-Decent. "It is time to consult with the public on the Workers Compensation Act.

"We will listen carefully to all who wish to attend the hearings in person and/or make written submissions. We welcome all ideas. This has to be collaborative in order to meet the needs of everyone the compensation system serves."

The review committee includes a representative from business, labour and the public interest. Their mandate is to conduct a complete review of the Workers Compensation Act with input from all stakeholder groups. The review committee, after hearing all points of view expressed by the people of Manitoba, will submit a report to the Government of Manitoba.

The government will provide one further opportunity to obtain further input once it has received the review committee’s report. This is the process that was recently used in the review of the Workplace Safety and Health legislation, and all participants felt it was a very productive process, Allan said.

Public meetings will be held between April and June of this year in Beausejour, Brandon, Dauphin, Flin Flon, Gimli, Morden, Portage la Prairie, Selkirk, Steinbach, The Pas, Thompson and Winnipeg.

Meeting dates, venues and written submissions will be posted on the website at http://www.wcbactreview.com. Further information about the hearings and/or how to register to make a presentation can be obtained by telephone at 957-0024 or toll-free at 1-866-868-4214. Verbal presentations will have a time limit of 10 minutes in order to ensure all presentations are heard.

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All submissions must be received by June 3, 2004, and should be sent to:

Legislative Review Committee

P.O. Box 1770

Station Main

Winnipeg, MB R3C 2Z9

Website: http://www.wcbactreview.com

E-mail: info@wcbactreview.com

Phone: 204-957-0024

Fax: 204-957-0092

Toll Free: 1-866-868-4214

PUBLIC MEETING SCHEDULE AND BIOGRAPHIES.

For some 35 years, Wally has been a mediator and arbitrator in labour/management disputes.

Fox-Decent has been chair of the Workers Compensation Board (WCB) of Manitoba since 1992, as well as chief executive officer from 1995 to 1998. A former professor of political studies at the University of Manitoba for 33 years, he has chaired a number of provincewide committees, such as the Commission on Pay, Pension and Allowances for Members of the Legislature, and three Manitoba constitutional task forces.

Wally Fox-Decent has been a member of the Canadian Forces Reserve for 48 years, retiring with the rank of rear admiral.

He presently also chairs the Advisory Council on Workplace Safety and Health, and the Labour Management Review Committee. Fox-Decent serves on the Crocus Investment Fund board of directors, is a member of the Local Investment Council and is the chair of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.

Fox-Decent is an Order of Canada member, Order of Manitoba member and commander of the Order of Military Merit.

Chris Lorenc is currently president of the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association (MHCA), the Infrastructure Council of Manitoba (ICM), the Western Canada Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association (WCR&HCA) and vice-chair of the Transportation Awareness Partnership (TAP), a coalition of regional and national associations whose objective is to promote to the public the importance of transportation.

As president of the MHCA, Lorenc initiated the Environment Program in 1997 and, in 1999, was instrumental in developing and implementing the integrated Safety, Health & Environment Program (SHEP), a first such initiative by any heavy construction association in Canada.

A lawyer by background, Lorenc graduated from the University of Manitoba with bachelor of arts and LL.B. (law) degrees. He is a former Winnipeg city councillor having served for nine years between 1983 and 1992, chairing a number of standing committees and holding a variety of senior positions.

Lorenc has been and continues to be involved in a number of committees including: the Manitoba Construction Conference; SAFE Manitoba Steering Committee; Manitoba Employer’s Council (MEC); Manitoba Labour Board; Canadian Construction Association; Roadbuilder & Heavy Construction Council; the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce and St. Paul’s High School Board.

In 2001 he served on a government appointed task force which reviewed Workplace Safety and Health legislation. He has also served and continues to serve on a number of boards of cultural, community and hospital organizations.

PETE WALKER (Labour Representative)

Occupational Health and Safety representative, Pete Walker, is currently the Occupational Health, Safety, Environment and Workers Compensation representative for the Manitoba Federation of Labour (MFL). Prior to joining the MFL he was a welder/steel fabricator with the Canadian National Railway.

Walker's educational background includes: University of Manitoba Occupational Health and Safety Certificate Program, Manitoba Labour Education Centre Levels 1 & 2 Health and Safety and Workers Compensation Advocacy, and Steel Fabricator, Red Seal Apprenticeship, Manitoba.

Walker has been involved in a number of committees including: the Advisory Council on Workplace Safety and Health; Manitoba WCB Return to Work advisory committee, Workers With Disabilities Partnership, MFL Workers Compensation Committee, Canadian Labour Congress Health and Safety & Environment Committee, Canadian Labour Congress Persons with Disabilities Working Group, MFL Occupational Health Centre board of directors, SAFE Workers of Tomorrow Safety Centre board of directors, Manitoba Safety Council.

He is a commissioner of oaths for the Province of Manitoba and representative for workers on a wide variety of ad hoc committees that deal with workplace health and safety issues.

Susan Rogers is currently president of ROGERS Leadership Consulting, a company that specializes in board governance consulting and coaching. Prior to starting her own business, Rogers held CEO positions with both the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba and the Canadian Diabetes Association.

Rogers' educational background includes: University of Manitoba bachelor of arts (pre-masters), Carver Policy Governance® Academy in Atlanta and the Banff School of Management. She is one of a handful of Canadians, and the only Manitoban, who has met the requirements for and has been accepted for full membership in the International Policy Governance® Association.

A results oriented senior executive with over 15 years experience in organization leadership at both the CEO and board president levels in the public and not-for-profit sectors, Rogers is recognized for her expertise as an educator and consultant. She has worked with a wide variety of more than 250 boards of directors including regional health authorities, credit unions, registered charities, and professional and trade associations. She is respected for exceptional facilitation, leadership coaching and team-building skills.

Rogers has held leadership positions on a number of boards and committees including: the Canadian Society of Association Executives (MB); Canadian Centre for Philanthropy, National Certificate Board; and St. Mary's Academy board. Her volunteer activities have ranged from the Canadian Evaluation Society and the United Way to the YMCA and Children's House.

Based in Winnipeg, Rogers specializes in Policy Governance® coaching with clients in Canada, the U.S.A. and the Netherlands.