Yellowknife (Mar 26/03) - Changes to the Workers' Compensation Act will make it easier for injured workers to file claims, but the two-part act leaves the bulk of the dramatic changes for the next government to sort out.

The minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board, Joe Handley, said it was "urgent" part one be completed in the life of the current government. The bill tackles 70 per cent of the recommendations made by Act Now -- a Nunavut-NWT panel brought together a year ago to deal with the Worker's Compensation Act.

The changes are mostly in wording, and are minor in nature.

But there are a few important changes, said Handley, including the appeals process, which was criticized for years for not being independent enough from the Worker's Compensation Board (WCB).

The new bill also proposes that the injured worker will be able to hire their own doctor.

"In the end somebody's going to have to make the decision whether they're qualified or not.

"But it puts it clearly in legislation."

Part two, which includes a complete rewrite of the act, has been left to the next government to deal with. It promises to cover much bigger issues.

Part two, said Handley, requires "further research and thought because it could have huge implications."

One of the major issues is whether the WCB goes from its current arrangement where the WCB compensates people on their injury, to a new system based on wage loss.

From the WCB's perspective as an insurance company, said Handley, they'd have to look at the cost of doing that, and even increasing fees they charge employers.

From the worker's point of view, there's an issue with wage loss.

"Your compensation ends at the end of your normal working career.

"So by age 65 your WCB payments would be cut off. The present formula compensates you for life."