BC Citizens Voice: Concerns on WCB Review

The BC Liberal government is in the process of four separate reviews on the WCB. They will make recommendations that will affect injured workers and survivors - now, in the future and could possibly be retroactive affecting claims settled in the past.

The purpose of this form is to let everyone in BC take part in having their voice heard regarding their own concerns about proposed changes to the WCB.

We need BC citizens to put their concerns forward to the government right now. Citizens need to know that this will have a huge effect on injured workers, employers and survivors all over the province. Why wait until you or a family member is injured and cannot access financial or appropriate medical aid following a work place injury or fatality. Please participate and be a part of this very important process. Deadline for input is Dec 31, 2001.

You can find information on these reviews at the following websites: WCB Service Review Information –Labour.gov Ministry of Labour News

My name is Patti; I am the widow of a worker who, committed suicide 2½ years after suffering a work related head injury. Much of those 2½ years was spent fighting with the WCB system. I lost everything I owned and was left with 3 small children.

I am also the Mother of a worker who sustained a serious work related brain injury on May 14th 2000 (Mother’s Day). He has a young family and WCB has not accepted his claim, it is currently under appeal. He is not able to access desperately needed medical or financial help; I’ve been forced to mortgage my home in order to give the help he deserves. Don’t think it can’t happen to you or your loved ones; life can change in the blink of an eye, that is how workplace injuries happen.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

There are many injured worker and survivor groups spread across BC; we all have valid concerns regarding these Reviews. We need to collectively let the government know that we are together on this and are concerned for the rights of injured workers, families, survivors and the general public now and in the future.

We want to ensure that the current rights of workers and survivors are kept in place. We can work together to implement effective and fair change.

The following are a few examples of some very important issues:

§ Keep Canada Pension available to injured workers and survivors on pension

§ Ensure that present wage loss and pension systems are not eroded

§ Ensure fair and timely adjudication in appeal process

§ Ensure no elimination of functional pensions for workers who return to their jobs who are permanently disabled, or able to return to work for time periods

§ Stop discrimination based on age of survivor for survivor’s benefits

Provided below is space to put in writing your own concerns. Feel free to add a page if you have need extra space.

Please forward your concerns by fax, email or letter to:

§ Your local MLA - website to access liberal MLA’s is: http://www.bcliberals.com/

§ Premier’s Office: Gordon.campbell@leg.bc.ca #207-2083 Alma St. Vancouver, BC V6R 4N6 Fax: 250-387-0087

§ Attorney General: Geoff Plant, PO Box 9041, STN Prov Govt, Victoria, BC

V8W 9E2 Fax: 250-387-1866

§ WCB Core Review, Allan Hunt #201 - 865 Hornby St. Vancouver, BC V6Z 2G3, fax 604-775-1983, phone 604-775-1976

§ labourministry@gems2gov.bc.ca

This form can be accessed through the following website: WCB Complaints Web Site

Thank you for your participation.

Patti MacAhonic and Bonnie Windsor: pattimac@attcanada.net

Injured Workers and Survivors Educational Association

Chilliwack, BC V2R 1W9