Alberta Network

Of
Injured Workers

What's New

May 17, 1999

The Alberta Network of Injured Worker demanded that the Government of Alberta hold a Public Independent Inquiry into the Workers Compensation Board.

May 18, 1999

Public Independent Inquiry tabled in the Alberta Legislature by NDP MLA Dr. Raj Pannu.

MLA Bill Bonner WCB Liberal Critic tables a proposal for Private Workers Compensation Insurance in Alberta.

July 26, 1999

Injured Workers start hunger strike in Edmonton in front of the Workers Compensation Board-Alberta.

August 9, 1999

8 days later one of the Injured Worker protesting is hospitalized, protest is in its 12 day.

August 12, 1999

Workers Compensation Board-Alberta tries manipulation to force Injured Workers away from premises.

August 17, 1999

Protesters & Human Resources & Employment Minister Clint Dunford, will meet at the request of Edmonton Mayor Bill Smith.

August 23, 1999

Injured Workers meet with Human Resources & Employment Minister Clint Dunford.

September 3, 1999

CEO & President Mary Cameron responds to allegation of fraud and corruption.

September 16, 1999

The Alberta Federation of Labour calls for a Public Independent Inquiry Into the WCB-Alberta / Corporation. Comments made by President of the WCB denying that labour is not supporting a call for a review are unfounded. Also see Public Employee Union comments about WCBs need for accountability.

On May 17, 1999 a letter was sent to the Minister of labour Murray Smith, outlining demands for a Public Independent Inquiry into the Workers Compensation Board-Alberta. To date there has been know response from his office. This comes as little surprise to Injured Workers as we have seen in the past this Minister has no power or control over the WCB, for that matter neither does the Government of Alberta, due to the passing of Bill # 16 giving the WCB an arms length relationship (or should we say severed arm) away from the Government. Board of Directors control over the daily operations of the WCB-Alberta. (No Accountability, Carte Blanche)

To further add to Liberal Critic Bill Bonner's five copies of the Proposal done by the PC party for Private Workers Compensation in Alberta, a private members Bill # 211 has gone past second reading on May 18, 1999, which puts the WCB-Alberta out on the open market for competition, the final stage in fully privatizing the WCB-Alberta / Corporation. Question is will it reappear in the fall Legislature.

July 26, 1999, Injured Workers start hunger strike and protest in front of the WCB-Alberta / Corporation. After years of being denied WCB benefits and reduced pensions, the two lone Injured Workers decided to take their anger and frustrations out by protesting against the corporation that has caused them and their families undue hardship. More and more Injured Workers with long term chronic and Repetitive strain injury cases are systematically being denied benefits by the WCB in Alberta.

Facts

1. More Injured Workers in Alberta are being force onto the social system (AISH, CPP, EI, Welfare, Private Insurance, family and friends) which is in direct violation of the Meredith Principal.

2. They are being treated like criminals by their case managers and what is further ludicrous these very same case manager make it sound like the money is coming from their very own pockets.

3. Chronic pain syndromes are transformed into pre-existing degenerative disc disease by case managers as well other documented injuries (multiple) which have been diagnosed by physicians, are just dropped of the files or ignored. A case manager also told a claimant that his brain injury was hereditary. How absurd!!

August 9, 1999, After 8 days on a hunger strike one of the Injured Workers is hospitalized and had to pull out due to his work related Injuries and extreme fatigue. The other Injured Worker is now in his 12 day of protest but is wearing down as his back injuries that he suffers from are causing him extreme pain, but he has stated to the press that he will continue on until the government hears their demands. Public Independent Inquiry!!! The hunger strike at this point is over for them but the protest they state will not stop until something is done with this monster the WCB-Alberta / Corporation.

August 12, 1999, The Injured Workers protesting in front of the WCB in Edmonton Alberta, may have to take down their tents and end the protest, as the WCB has meet with police and city bylaw officers today. They want the Injured Workers to remove their tents as theirs no camping on WCB property or city land, but they were told they could still demonstrate on WCBs lawn. It is now day 17 of the protest and WCB chief executive officer Dieter Brunsch has wrote the city of Edmonton asking them to take action, he says he saw one of the Injured Workers caring a knife around, he states that he is concerned for the safety of the staff, clients (Injured Workers) and the public as well the protesters themselves. Again today the protesters are calling on the government of Alberta to hold a Public Inquiry into the WCB-Alberta / Corporation.

Facts

1. The WCB-Alberta treats all Injured Workers just like criminals

2. Why would the WCB-Alberta have to worry so much about their staff if it is as they say "working well" and nothing is wrong.

August 17 1999, Injured Workers in front of the Alberta WCB in Edmonton, are now in their 23^rd day of protest and are now allowed to keep their tents "which have been setup on city land" until Monday. At which time they will meet with Minister Clint Dunford. They will be discussing with the Minister the need for a Public Independent Inquiry into the boards unscrupulous and corrupt practices and the down right negligence of Injured Workers. The Mayor of Edmonton Bill Smith met with the Injured Workers and arranged this meeting with Clint Dunford on August 23, 1999. Nancy Saul-Demers down played the protesters call for a public inquiry stating that "the protesters are a small minority of dissatisfied "customers" that is shrinking ever year." Her one other comment was on the Consultation Process which was setup for interested parties - "claimant," (Injured Workers) workers, employers, labour groups asking them for their ideas on how to make things better.

Facts

1. The Minister of Human Resources and Employment Clint Dunford has already been criticized by AFL President Audrey Cormack as not being suitable for the position.

2. The Minister is only responsible for the WCB Act and has no other powers of control over the WCB-Alberta except that he can call a Public Independent Inquiry. Only in Alberta, all other provinces have a Minister that is responsible for the WCBs.

3. Nancy Saul-Demers is correct in the fact that "dissatisfied customers" are shrinking every year" as the WCB has found a way out of their responsibilities by passing Injured Workers over to AISH, CPP, EI, Welfare, friends and family. Case managers have even suggested to Injured Workers to go on the social programs. Also some industries carry private insurance.

4. The Consultation Process is nothing more than a navel gazing exercise in futility and when attending Injured Workers who have spoke out, their very own case managers were brought in to stifle them. "NO CONFIDENTIALITY HERE"!!!

August 23 1999, Protesting Injured workers at the WCB-Alberta / Corporation meet with Minister Clint Dunford today and handed him a 800 pages of documentation from other Injured Workers. Minister Clint Dunford in all his wisdom, turned the 800 pages over to the CEO & President Mary Cameron. Now that this has happened these Injured Workers have been put in harms way as the WCB-Alberta / Corporation will surely retaliate against these Individuals who have come forward with there stories of fraud and corruption. This has been done in Calgary where news articles were done on Injured Workers back in May of this year, resulting in pensions being reduced or a total lose of benefits, a result of Injured Workers speaking out about the bad treatment at WCB-Alberta / Corporation.

September 3 1999, Mary Cameron CEO & President of the WCB-Alberta / Corporation states "Unsupported allegations of fraud at the WCB do a disservice to Injured Workers." "Our staff do not act fraudulently." "The facts clearly show that although we are not perfect, the current process works well." Ms. Cameron also claims that there is no need for an inquiry as stakeholders -Labour and employers -- have not added their voice. The documents contained doctors notes "specifically dates" changed so that the Injured Worker would have to return to work earlier, other complains were that the doctors were billing the WCB as well as medicare for the same services rendered. Ms. Cameron even went as far to say that a "Court of Queens Bench judge stated that the WCB-Alberta was manipulating medical evidence to deny Injured Workers claims and that this was incorrect." Minister Clint Dunford has not ruled out a Public Inquiry. Liberal Critic Bill Bonner stated that an Inquiry or royal commission is needed so it can restore public confidence in the WCB in Alberta. NDP Leader Pam Barrett accused the WCB of "a political cover-up." She also stated that the "WCB has to return to its mandate, protecting Injured Workers and not to save money.

Facts

1. Mary Cameron President & CEO seems to think that she can speak for Injured Workers in Alberta and should refrain from doing so and stick to WCB affairs.

2. Ms. Cameron states "we are not perfect", so how could she count out fraud if she has not personally taken the time to investigate these "as she states" allegations of fraud.

3. It seems that Mary Cameron CEO & President of the WCB-Alberta / Corporation can't stop telling fibs, "so take note," labour did call for a review of the WCB in September of 1998. (Alberta Federation of Labour) so again she has outright lied to the public.

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