October 31, 2008 - Key stakeholders have been invited to attend a Workplace Safety and Insurance System (WSIS) stakeholder consultation session and the first annual WCB Program Policy Summit on:

Topics of discussion during the WSIS portion of the day will be:

• Strategic planning for the WCB and OHS Division of the Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Workforce Development 
• Strategic issues from the Offices of the Employer Advisor and Worker Counsellor 
• An update from the Occupational Health and Safety Advisory Council

All participants have been provided a mid-year report on the Workplace Safety and Insurance System in advance of this meeting.

In the afternoon, participants are asked to participate in the WCB’s first annual Program Policy Summit. This is a new component of the WCB policy consultation process based on stakeholder feedback on how to enhance consultation on WCB policies. The Policy Summit offers stakeholders a forum where they can come together to share ideas and discuss various points of view related to the policy topics included on the WCB’s 2009 Program Policy Agenda. The following documents provide information on the topics to be discussed.

• The 2009 WCB Program Policy Agenda, including the supporting rationale. 
• Issue papers for the three topics included on the 2009 Program Policy Agenda.
  These include:
  
  1. General Entitlement – Arising Out of and In the Course of Employment;
  2. General Entitlement – Occupational Disease; and
  3. General Principles – Medical Aid

In addition to the key stakeholders who will participate in the session, we encourage all stakeholders to share their views on the three program policy topics in writing by December 8, 2008. This ensures a full and accurate understanding of your issues by the WCB. Please provide written submissions to:

Marcy Dalton
Manager Policy, Procedure & Research
Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia
PO Box 1150
Halifax NS B3J 2Y2
Marcy.dalton@wcb.gov.ns.ca