Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 02/04) - Workers' Compensation Board Minister Brendan Bell says he won't commit to an independent review of the agency despite strong recommendations that he should.

In December 2001, the WCB Legislative Review Panel recommended an independent review be carried out at least every five years, but the government never followed through.

Last week, Great Slave MLA Bill Braden asked why that recommendation hasn't been adopted, citing numerous complaints he received from injured workers about delays and cancelled benefits.

"After having WCB in operation for many, many years, it really is time we have a review of our operations and how we are doing things," said Braden.

"You can't ask the WCB to review itself.

"I have constituents that have had their case workers changed at least once a year. How do you get any consistency that way?"

John Huffman, who has fought several public battles with the WCB since 1996, says he won an appeal against the board two years ago in effort to obtain higher benefits, but said they are still refusing to accept it.

He claims he suffered stress injuries to his arms as result of the work he did while employed as an electrician.

"It doesn't matter if you win the appeal because WCB staff turn around and do whatever they want to do anyway," said Huffman, who spent most of last week protesting outside the legislative assembly.

"The only option you have after that is to appeal again."

He said the experiences he's had with WCB convinced him they need an independent review.

"They're an insurance company, basically that's what they are," said Huffman. "They just try to out wait you."

Bell said he won't commit to a review unless it has a specific focus.

"I was reluctant to commit to some sort of independent, operational review with terms of reference as of yet to be defined and these other things that will suck up time and money, and maybe prove not that useful," said Bell.

"If there are specific issues, I say: 'Let's address them.'"