Workers' Comp. Committee Extends Hearings

Nova Scotia's Select Committee on the Workers' Compensation Act has extended its schedule of public hearings to meet the number of requests from across the province.

The committee has added hearing dates in Sydney, on Tuesday, Sept. 22, and in Amherst on Wednesday, Sept. 23, to accommodate the many Nova Scotians who wish to speak before committee members.

"When we started this process, we urged Nova Scotians to share their views on workers' compensation and give us ideas on how to make the current system better," said committee chair Michael Baker. "The response was enormous and as a result, committee members felt the extra hearings were necessary to ensure every person who wishes to make a presentation is given the opportunity.

"We've heard presentations from injured workers, employers and concerned citizens, and found their testimony extremely informative."

The all-party committee was struck during the spring sitting of the House of Assembly to draft legislation aimed at improving the wording of the Workers' Compensation Act. An area of primary concern involves the backlog of cases currently under appeal.

In the past month, committee members have listened to the views of Nova Scotians in Yarmouth, Wolfville, Bridgewater, Sydney, Port Hawkesbury, Stellarton, Truro and Halifax.

To date, 132 presentations have been made at nine public hearings and 28 so far are scheduled for the remaining hearings. As well, more than 54 submissions have been made by phone, fax, e-mail and regular post.

"Presenters have told us what they feel is wrong with the system and made recommendations on how it can be improved," said Mr. Baker. "The committee has listened to these concerns and plan to reflect the information gathered in our report to the House of Assembly."

Mr. Baker is joined on the all-party committee by MLAs Hyland Fraser, Charles MacDonald, Michel Samson, Frank Corbett, Rosemary Godin, Charlie Parker, Ernie Fage and Jim DeWolfe.

The additional public hearings will be in:

SYDNEY -- Tuesday, Sept. 22, Steelworkers Hall, 369 Prince St. AMHERST -- Wednesday, Sept. 23, Trinity-St. Stephen's United Church (Heartz Hall), Ratchford St.

Hearings are scheduled in Sydney for 2 p.m.-5 p.m. and 7 p.m.-10 p.m., and Amherst for 6 p.m.-10 p.m.

Those wishing to appear before the committee are asked to notify it in advance by e-mailing [email protected] or phoning 1-888-386-6489. However, last-minute submissions likely can be accommodated the evening of a hearing.

The committee is to report to the House of Assembly during the fall session which opens Oct. 15.