Workers' Compensation Board Appointments Made

New directors appointed to the Workers' Compensation Board of Nova Scotia will help the board improve and maintain accountability and ensure the system is responsive to the stakeholders it serves.

"There were many excellent candidates for the board positions, nominated by a wide variety of interested groups," Carolyn Bolivar-Getson, acting Minister of Environment and Labour, said today, July 29. "These six new members bring with them diverse knowledge and experience from all across this province. Many have a strong background in prevention and education, which is a key part of the mandate of the Workers' Compensation Board."

The six positions include three employer representatives and three employee representatives. The board consists of 10 positions, including chair and vice-chair.

The new appointments include:

• Carol MacCulloch, Dartmouth, employer representative. Ms. MacCulloch is president of the Construction Association of Nova Scotia. She is a former member and co-chair of the occupational health and safety advisory committee. She also participated in the recently completed review of governance and accountability in the Workplace Safety and Insurance System.
• David Thomson, Dartmouth, employer representative. Mr. Thomson is the director of human resources with Irving Shipbuilding Inc. He also participated in the recent governance and accountability review.
• Archie MacKeigan, Sydney River, employer representative. Mr. MacKeigan is currently a member of the Occupational Health and Safety Advisory Council and is the board chair of the Canadian Association of Community Care in Ottawa.
• Janet Hazelton, Bible Hill, employee representative. Ms. Hazelton is the president of the Nova Scotia Nurses Union, who served on the workers' compensation review committee, also known as the Dorsey Committee.
• Mary Lloyd, Pictou, employee representative. Ms. Lloyd is president of the Pictou County Injured Workers' Association. Her organization is one of the designated associations that receive funding under the Workers' Compensation Act. The Pictou County Injured Workers' Association has more than 700 members. Ms. Lloyd also participated in the recent review of governance and accountability.
• Deborah Ryan, Halifax Regional Municipality, employee representative. Ms. Ryan is formerly with the Nova Scotia Government Employees Union and is a longtime member of the occupational health and safety appeal panel/occupation health and safety advisory committee.

Ms. Bolivar-Getson thanked outgoing board members Gary Dean and Jim Neville for their years of service. "Both members have served on the board for a period of more than 10 years and have overseen many improvements to the system," she said.

The new appointees will join Betty Jean Sutherland, who represents employees, and Jim Melvin, who sits as an employer representative. Louis Comeau will continue to serve as chair of the board, supported by Ramsay Duff, the continuing vice-chair.

A new statement of principles and objectives on governance and accountability outlines how members of the Workers' Compensation board should be nominated and appointed, the obligations of directors, and processes for ongoing consultation with stakeholders. A copy of the statement of principles and objectives on governance and accountability can be found online atwww.wsis.ns.ca/PrinciplesandObjectives.pdf .