NEWS LETTER- WCB Annual meeting review
Date: June 19, 2010
This newsletter is posted following the WCB annual meeting I attended on June 17, 2010. Please note that as a participant I attended in the role of stakeholder as I am employer/worker under the WCB Act. I am a business owner, lobbyist registered with the Alberta Government and an active employer/worker representative dealing with WCB matters.
During the short and brief meeting I was not impressed with the apparent agenda by the WCB to be heard but not hear from stakeholders. There was a brief question period of only a few minutes which in my opinion was ended inappropriately by WCB, The question period was closed by WCB with no acknowledgment or invitation from WCB to the audience of stakeholders and public to extend the question period when there were people in the audience attempting to ask questions of WCB .
From Guy Kerr’s ( WCB C.E.O.) statements at the meeting the following was made clear to me:
The overall concern I have is that the WCB is a necessity in Alberta but it is a “fractured system” that the current government and administration within WCB who appear not to be willing to deal with the concerns from Albertan's and stakeholders dealing within Alberta from outside the province. My attempts to meet with the current Minister and WCB officials are not responded to or accepted.Hector Godreau (the former Minister) was open to discussion and willing to listen although nothing I consider as significant changes were made to WCB practices, WCB legislation, WCB policies.
The ability to deal with and improve the fractured system needs government and WCB administration cooperation and I have no confidence that the current people that are in power and have the authority to make positive changes at WCB are open to change or listening to stakeholders and the public.
Gail Cumming
C.E.O. Cumming Consulting Inc.
Mailing address:
Box 83
St. Albert, Alberta T8N 1N2
Phone: 780 470 3999
Fax: 780 470 3996
Email:cumming@cummingconsulting.com
This newsletter is posted following the WCB annual meeting I attended on June 17, 2010. Please note that as a participant I attended in the role of stakeholder as I am employer/worker under the WCB Act. I am a business owner, lobbyist registered with the Alberta Government and an active employer/worker representative dealing with WCB matters.
During the short and brief meeting I was not impressed with the apparent agenda by the WCB to be heard but not hear from stakeholders. There was a brief question period of only a few minutes which in my opinion was ended inappropriately by WCB, The question period was closed by WCB with no acknowledgment or invitation from WCB to the audience of stakeholders and public to extend the question period when there were people in the audience attempting to ask questions of WCB .
From Guy Kerr’s ( WCB C.E.O.) statements at the meeting the following was made clear to me:
- He refused the request to meet with stakeholders asking for round table or personal meetings.
- He refused to respond in writing to concerns of stakeholders.
- He refused to further investigate concerns regarding legislation
- He refused to further investigate customer service complaints.
- He advised me directly in the forum that “you are wrong” when I questioned section 22 of the WCB Act
- Guy Kerr further advised me that he will not respond in writing to address my concerns.
The overall concern I have is that the WCB is a necessity in Alberta but it is a “fractured system” that the current government and administration within WCB who appear not to be willing to deal with the concerns from Albertan's and stakeholders dealing within Alberta from outside the province. My attempts to meet with the current Minister and WCB officials are not responded to or accepted.Hector Godreau (the former Minister) was open to discussion and willing to listen although nothing I consider as significant changes were made to WCB practices, WCB legislation, WCB policies.
The ability to deal with and improve the fractured system needs government and WCB administration cooperation and I have no confidence that the current people that are in power and have the authority to make positive changes at WCB are open to change or listening to stakeholders and the public.
Gail Cumming
C.E.O. Cumming Consulting Inc.
Mailing address:
Box 83
St. Albert, Alberta T8N 1N2
Phone: 780 470 3999
Fax: 780 470 3996
Email:cumming@cummingconsulting.com
