The Honourable Elmer MacFadyen, Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs and Minister responsible for the Workers Compensation Act, announced today, appointments to the Workers Compensation Board.
New appointments to the board include George MacDonald as Chair of the board and Margaret Stewart as a Worker Representative. Charlene McInnis will be reappointed to the board. The Hon. Jim Lee, Chair of the Workers Compensation Board since 1997, and Joyce McCardle, vice-chair and worker representative, will both retire from the board.
“It is my pleasure to welcome George MacDonald and Margaret Stewart to the Workers Compensation Board. Each of these individuals and those already serving on the board, have been chosen to fill these roles because of their demonstrated commitment to the health and well being of Islanders, and I wish them the very best in the years ahead,” said Minister MacFadyen.
The minister also expressed his gratitude to Hon. Jim Lee for seven years of dedicated service to the board. “It is through his vision and leadership that the Workers Compensation Board has been able to provide valuable services to Islanders affected by workplace injuries. Many things have been accomplished under his leadership and he is to be commended for his work in improving the health and safety of workplaces across the province. I would also like to thank Joyce McCardle for her years of valuable service to the board. ”
“I leave the Workers Compensation Board with a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment in the way the compensation system and workplace health and safety programs have been strengthened and improved over this time,” said Hon. Jim Lee. “A five-year strategic plan has been established, strong policies and procedures are in place, and workers and employers play a larger role in the overall decision making process than ever before. Through cooperation with our stakeholders, we implemented a plan to reduce the unfunded liability and are on track toward our objective of having a fully funded workers compensation system on Prince Edward Island.”
The new board includes the following members: George MacDonald (Chair), Donna Butler (Vice-chair and Employer Representative), Sandy MacKay (Worker Representative), Charlene McInnis (Worker Representative), Margaret Stewart (Worker Representative), Blake Craig (Employer Representative), and Dan Hughes (Employer Representative).
In April 2002, the Workers Compensation Act was amended to provide for staggering of appointments to ensure a more orderly turnover of board members and a blend of experienced and new board members.