Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 06/00) - Michel De La Salle claims he is "being shafted" by the Workers' Compensation Board.

He can be seen marching up and down the sidewalk outside the WCB office on 49th Street, two pieces of plywood hanging over his shoulders decorated with messages of the injustices he claims to be enduring.

De La Salle has been diagnosed with bilateral epicondylitis, commonly known as tennis elbow, which affects the tendons, muscles and joint of the elbow.

He says he developed the injury from tearing down walls with a crowbar while working as a carpenter over the years.

He has been unable to work for nine months now as a result of his injuries, and he says WCB has made virtually no effort to assist him with medical bills or compensate him for lost wages.

De La Salle said he has seen five doctors since his injury, one of them appointed by WCB, and all of them agreed he has tennis elbow.

He saw another doctor yesterday, as he now believes he has nerve damage in his hands and fingers because he has difficulty writing.

"I came to Workers' Compensation and all I got out of them was the run around ... nothing ever came my way.

"They haven't done a single thing, medically, for me at all. Everything I have done was all on my own.

"Financially, I just got some finance (Tuesday) after nine months," said De La Salle.

To date, WCB has provided him with a little less than $5,000 for the nine months he has been unable to work.

He claims to have lost $25,000 in wages as a result of his impairment, but the WCB spokesperson said he has received all the compensation he is entitled to, based on his income of $8,700 for the 12 months prior to his accident.

"They said that ($5,000) was all I was getting ... no matter if I've been nine months out of commission, to them it doesn't matter."

Longer than usual

A statement from the WCB said De La Salle did not file his claim until May 31 and the employers Report of Accident was not received until Aug. 1.

"The WCB acknowledges that the claim took a bit longer to process than we would have liked. Claims are usually processed in less than 25 days -- Mr. De La Salle's claim took eight weeks," said the statement.

But De La Salle is not happy.

"All I want is what's coming to me in compensation, full compensation, from my last day of work to the day I'm entitled to go back to work, and I want the rest of my medicals done," he said.

De La Salle has received several cortisone shots to relieve the discomfort associated with his injury. He said he feels a little better, but the pain is still there.

"Today I'm happy, I've got my strength back, I've got the movement of my arms, but I'm still in pain from morning to night," he said.

De La Salle was told by one doctor that he could go back to work, but he would require special braces so that his injury does not worsen.

He reported that information to WCB, asking that they provide financing for the braces so he could return to work that very same day.

"I never got nothing out of them."

The WCB said the organization can find no medical reason why De La Salle cannot return to work, as he has had a complete medical diagnosis, treatment, and has now obtained an elbow brace.

In its statement, WCB told Yellowknifer that De La Salle will be reimbursed for the elbow brace, but the WCB is not aware of any other medical bills.

De La Salle said he and several other individuals plan a large-scale protest outside the WCB office on Tuesday.

"Starting next Tuesday I have a full campaign coming to this street and I will be building a WCB wall of shame."

"Whoever had a problem with WCB, come and sign it, and whoever had a success story, I will have a success wall for people to sign too ... we'll see who wins the race," he said.