Yellowknife (Jul 05/06) - Adding a communications liaison and an employee legal fund were two suggestions heard at last week's public review focused on ways to improve the Workers' Compensation Board.

However, after the three-day review, conducted by the Accountability and Oversight Committee of the legislative assembly, it is unclear what the impact of either of these options will be.

During his testimony, minister responsible for the WCB Charles Dent said he would consider a communications position, but noted that members have always been free to contact the WCB or himself at any time.

Range Lake MLA Sandy Lee suggested establishing an "employee legal fund" to help claimants battle the WCB in court, despite paragraph five of the WCB Act which directs the board to, "Draw all reasonable inferences and presumptions in the favour of the worker."

"My contention is the WCB's policy interpretation is not falling on the benefit of the doubt for the employees, as in the act," Lee said, adding that if the board was not going to keep with the spirit of the act, alternative measures were needed.

"The WCB doesn't have to worry about paying legal costs... The problem is it's turning into a private insurance company rather than a public institution."

The three-day public review - done in the wake of Auditor General Sheila Fraser's report on the NWT and Nunavut WCB - showed there is ample room for improvement at the WCB, yet little idea as to how or when these improvements will take shape.

Dent insists that Fraser's 26 recommendations, all of which the WCB Governance Council agrees with, can be implemented through policy change and not new legislation.

Lee disagrees.

"We need to make legislation changes to balance the playing fields," she insisted.

The issue of communication, both internally and between MLAs, the minister responsible and the WCB, was highlighted in the Auditor General's report.

Dent says improved staff training is forthcoming and he would "explore" expanding the mandate of the workers' advisor office at the WCB.

Showing some skepticism was Great Slave MLA Bill Braden, who noted that last year the WCB spent $302,000 on office furnishings and only $17,000 on staff training.

The committee will present its report to the legislative assembly during its October session.

Braden says he will be pushing for a public hearing to allow labour and employers an opportunity to share their views on how to improve the WCB.