News Release Archive
NEWS RELEASE (CNS910) -->> LABOUR--WCB ON TOUR WITH NEW
CHAIR, MEMBERS
LABOUR--WCB ON TOUR WITH NEW CHAIR, MEMBERS
-----------------------------------------------------------------
As part of its plan to improve service to injured workers and
employers throughout the province, the Workers' Compensation
Board (WCB) has been on the road with its new chairman, board
members and staff.
In his first major role as chairman, Innis Christie has been
leading a series of information sessions for injured workers and
employers, outlining WCB activities and plans.
Joining Mr. Christie on the board of directors is Ben Chisholm, a
new worker representative. The board of directors consists of
equal representation from the business and labour communities.
"The board of directors has an important job to do in making
decisions that affect employers and injured workers across the
province," said Labour Minister Manning MacDonald. "With the
solid leadership of Mr. Christie, the hands-on experience of the
members, and a strong voice from the labour and management
communities, the board is in good shape to deal with serious
issues."
The minister said that the information tour is an important part
of the board's commitment to inform all stakeholders about the
WCB's activities and long-term plans. "This is an important
aspect of improving service, making better decisions, and keeping
an open dialogue with all partners."
Mr. Christie, who had served as a lay member of the board for a
year, brings a wealth of experience in the field of labour and
arbitration law to his position. A native of Amherst, he was
educated at Dalhousie, Cambridge and Yale universities.
He is a law professor, and former dean, at the Dalhousie Law
School. Mr. Christie has also served as deputy minister for the
Department of Labour, chair of the Nova Scotia Labour Relations
Board, and counsel for the province's Labour Standards Tribunal.
The newest appointment to the board is Ben Chisholm, a native of
Antigonish. He has a long history of service with the United
Association of Plumbers, Pipefitters and Welders (UA) as both a
member and business manager. He has served on the Unemployment
Insurance Appeal Board as a labour representative and as a union
trustee for the pension and welfare plan of UA Local 244. He is
currently UA's vice president to the Nova Scotia Council of the
Canadian Federation of Labour, and delegate to the mainland Nova
Scotia Pipe Trades Association and the Mainland Nova Scotia
Building Trades Council.
Other recent re-appointments to the board include vice-chairman
John Bishop, worker representative Wally Power and employer
representative Jim Sapp.
Mr. Bishop is vice-president of Jack & Co. Ltd., a family-owned
insurance brokerage firm and is a Canadian accredited insurance
broker. Mr. Power is a member of the compensation committee and
health and safety committee of the Nova Scotia Federation of
Labour and long-time chairman of the compensation committee of
the Canadian Paperworkers' Union. Mr. Sapp is the owner of an
investment consulting firm and a part-time advisor to the Federal
Development Bank of Canada.
The remaining board members include worker representative Roberta
Morrison, and employer representatives Barry Wark and Gary Dean.
This brings the board of directors up to its full complement of
eight.
The WCB's board of directors is responsible for the development
of policies that will guide the board in the implementation of
the Workers' Compensation Act. A new act came into effect on Feb.
1, 1996.
The remaining information sessions will be in Kentville, Dec. 11,
at the Wandlyn Inn; and Bridgewater, Dec. 16, at the Wandlyn Inn.
Information sessions have taken place in Halifax, Sydney and
Stellarton.
-30-
Contact: donalee Moulton 902-424-8339
Jennifer MacIsaac 902-424-4680 or 902-424-3219
trp Dec. 6, 1996 - 2:40 p.m.
