Mental Stress 101by WCB of Alberta

( This posting was originally placed May 2011 )

For the past 6 out of 10 years I have had many thoughts pertaining to WCB and their actions, lost many hours sleep due to nightmares or frustration, the mind games that are played by them makes me feel like they are attempting to make me lose control of my thoughts. Why? I think so they can say I am a threat to their safety, as they have done to many other injured workers. I am not allowed to enter their building to pickup cheques, why I don't know? I never threatened them, but they write down what ever they feel at the time. I have found that if I rebuttal any conversation to my claims manager, I am them penalized by slow down of progress of my claim or payments not sent out at scheduled time, but the excuses are constant; waiting on supervisor consent, computer is down on the cheque writer,file is in assistance hands etc; none of this is on paper which is why I no longer communicate via telephone. To many conversations were re-written out of context or not even posted on my file. Managers claiming that their hands are tied yet an assistant is able to accomplish what manager claimed they could not; or stating that they are unable to change another claims managers decision, yet many changes have been made. Mangers refusing professionals or my request's ; 5 years later it is claimed as "offered" though I chose a different path; regardless of what was on file years before; becomes official statement.That pertained to the first academic training, which was I unable to compete in. It was the second academic training, less then a year later, is the reason of my criminal charges.
I attempt to start my own business, only to be told "I know nothing of business", therefore you must go to "Business Administration"! Academically challenged ? need the upgrading in order to compete academically? NO!, pass, fail or dropout we (WCB) are done with you. All that was 5 years ago and I am still dealing with the aftermath. Just now priorities are to catch up with what little I receive, after no financial income for 6 months, which was social assistance. I am again under investigation due to WCB keeping 100% of benefits and informing social assistance that I was in receipt of said benefits: yearly income statement from WCB is less then what we received from assistance monthly. Manipulation of information which caused Zero income for my family, which is under enough hardship due to 2 physically restricted members of the family, one adult , one child.
It is pathetic the way WCB Alberta is allowed to operate, they are like little children allowed to play without parental supervision.

To my Alberta Provincial Political Leader's & Leaders for Alberta Change:

The W.C.B.'s across Canada,are a very strenuous psychological challenge, there are many "Legal" or "Illegal" acts in the name of profit, considering that they are a non-profit organization.


We call them crimes; as the actions of this World Wide Organization, violate the United Nation’s Declaration of Human Rights, in Canada our Charter of Rights is very much violated as well; not to mention the criminal actions of Fraud, Threats, Blackmail, Medical Malpractice, Social Discrimination and countless accusations of questionable acts, that are border line criminal.


It is bad enough with the lies, manipulation and being spied on by this Corporation, that they also send their paid workers too infiltrate groups of person’s that have been disabled while on the job and causing disruptions to the point of total paranoia amongst these emotionally fragile people, that they no longer trust each other and begin to question their own thoughts and actions, due to the frustrations of their attempts for gaining a little self esteem and self worth.




Our employers, of whom we had worked for as a team, in some cases like family, others were just another face: but everyone stood beside/ behind each other through thick or thin,on the job , for their employer's; only to find out later, that they were nothing more then a disposable slave, to do the master's bidding.


Employers attempts & successes, to have us not file a claim, of preventing proper medical treatment, in some cases, where employer reports are "denying", the employee had an accident at work /claiming that is not their responsibility & manipulation of worker financial/ medical/ personal information, just to save them from paying out to the Workers Compensation Boards.




So people in our situation find it very hard to trust anyone, even members of our own families; friends are lost due to arguments, as they never "been there, done that", which makes them unable to realize how much control this "system" has on our lives, while these same people have no-one to control them as our Governments have allowed for free reign w/Judicial protection that prevents them from being held accountable for all that they do.


With Billions of dollars in the accounts of these non-profit corporations across Canada and the Millions of dollar’s being handed over to different committees and organizations from a fund that was originally set in place for the injured and disabled, by the employers of Canada, which includes our respective Governments, federally and provincially; while those for which this was originally created for, live in poverty, medically untreated, abused financially, physically and psychologically.


That when the WCB/WSIB decides to deny your benefits; that includes medical & anything else that effects your injury: a disabled worker cannot take that "injury" for medical care or prescribed medications as it is the Compensations system that is 100% responsible for your injury & proper treatment, many have been left to street drugs for pain control.


Some have been driven to suicide, some to criminal acts, others left to rot in the confines of their minds, while contemplating their next move towards the life, they once had , knowing they need proper medical/vocational/financial assistance, of which they never get.


This alone is no less then Money laundering, taking from the employers that is meant for the employees and using it as if it their right too control and distribute as they seem fit, their wages & pensions, with incomes of hundreds of thousands, the people in charge make their living from robbing the vulnerable and being praised for their actions amongst their peers; of who they share the profits with.




Should we have kept our mouths shut, got treatment through the Public Health Care system, visit Family Services for loss of income;while the employer pays the large premiums for safety organizations that do
nothing other then promote "Safety on the Job".
We as employee's know our limits;safety training should be part of every school curriculum, let the employers premiums go into a publicly controlled fund that covers all that is needed, with 80% year end profits paid into Public Health Care.
Be surprised how much cheaper that would be by wiping out the Middleman: AKA Compensation Board.

Conclusion:

The answer lies in the bottom statement, regulate the system; let the employer premiums go into a Public Fund that distributes the benefits, the organizations are already in place, just need to utilize the efficiency of our public system.

Examples:

Mandatory Safety Training through out the school years, with employment specific safety training in apprenticeships/ University careers etc.

Have all health care through the public system, via workers doctor recommendations; including all surgery/physiotherapy & all other related medicinal needs.

Let the Social assistance program and AISH work together, regarding short term & long term injuries/disabilities, in the supplying of necessary needs to prevent workers from falling into poverty.

Service Alberta to assist with vocational training & job placement that is consistent with the worker's personality and injury, they will be able to assist both the worker & employer in creating a work place that is safe, secure, in the workers interests and to the employers benefit.

With the Billion dollar's that Alberta WCB had accumulated in their "non-profit" account (April 2009 report), that would leave room for the employers to receive a rather substantial deduction in premiums, while maintaining a means of contributions going directly to these services, which in turn is money back into the pockets of Albertan's.

This can be done, with simple planning, Legislative changes, co-operation between all parties would insure its success;

Which I believe that many will agree that taking out the "Middle Man" will insure proper care, while being financially beneficial to the Worker, Employer, Government Services and the tax payers of Alberta.

So what is left?

Since 1992 I have been forced into a situation of various types of abuse and psychological torture, each day I try and forget the wrongs which has been done to others and my family.

I wake up almost every morning more tired then when I went to bed, the nightmares I have of the financial fraud, the embezzlement and the down right arrogance of the people that have created this situation for us.

Imagine a situation where you have to go to your insurance provider and convince them that due to the their handling of your finance's that you are unable to secure a bank loan to payoff a debt that would have been prevented if they had not been playing financial games with you.

They of course agree to granting a loan, providing that it is on their terms, where they approve it at 12% compounded monthly, which in turn works out to 1/3 of the actual loan itself; later during the course of the loan a payment specialist decides that 11 out of 20 payments had not been paid and therefore adds another 12% compounded interest, although the money is removed from benefits before any payments are sent out; which now makes the total payment of the loan at 2/3's of original.

Then there is another situation where you create a portable work station that works with your new disability, you go as far as designing, finding a manufacturer and a national retailer to distribute your new creation, only to be told that you have no business experience by your insurance carrier ( as it is they who now control your life), therefore you must be retrained in a course that will enable you to earn the finances you need to complete the process of your plan for the sale of your creation,  if you do not have the proper education for this course , do not worry; as pass , fail or drop out the insurance provider is done with you and they have refused any additional educational training you may need to succeed.

You are two months into your academic training, you are forced to inform you insurer that you are incapable of being a success unless you receive other training as well or you are then forced to resign your academics, again you are refused the necessary training that is needed and therefore inform them that you are forced to drop out of academics.
In the mean time you have been attempting to get the financial situation straightened out on the loan and find that that there has been more financial manipulation on your file where money that is claimed to be owed by you to your insurer and has been collected by them three times now and this is the first you find out about it.

You begin to dig deeper into the finances of your benefits and find $20,000.00 that has been held back from payment for Four years, you find another $10,000.000 that also has been held back from payment,then you find that your insurer is claiming that you have been over paid by over $14,000.00, while the only way to find this information is by going through the payment records.



In the payment records there are a couple of withdrawals on your account by separate managers, while the accountability is there for any monies that have been paid out eg: cheque numbers and reason for withdrawal, that these particular withdrawals by the managers has no reason, no cheque numbers as the money was taken out as cash and referred back to the you as an overpayment which is then immediately deducted from your benefits.

After further investigation you find, that cheque numbers and amounts do not match the actual cheque stubs, different amounts entered on the cheque as compared to the financial report, you find amounts that were claimed to be paid to you being blacked out so you are unable to know the true amount. So you start asking questions to those in charge and receive an instant " We Do Nothing Wrong, You are the  One that Does not Know how to read a Financial Report as Your Education can Prove" all you have left is to call for an audit on your insurance claim. At that exact time a fraud Investigator makes contact with you and you feel as if " Hey They Are Going to Do Something About This", only to find out that they now are investigating you for not going to the academics that they had set you up with prior for attempting to succeed on your own with minimal assistance from your insurance provider.

Your academic's included two day course on computers, with a pre-course of the main academics to give you a head start, all a couple months ahead of time,of which these were done over a period of weeks scattered over a four month period.

As you go into the appeals process on the audit, the investigator that was hired to investigate you for not completing your academics, tells the Appeals Commission that "If they are to go through with the appeal, they will be subpoenaed into court, as you are attempting to gain forgiveness on the money that you wrongfully collected while supposedly attending the academics". Even with that threat, they vote in favor of your stance of the requested audit, which in turn is not completed correctly and it has to be taken to the Appeals Commission again to force the insurance provider to do the job correctly, after the third time in Appeal you are informed that you can no-longer appeal the audit pertaining to the finances that were duplicated and removed from your benefits, at that time the insurer makes another decision that you are capable of having a minimum wage employment; however at a higher rate which is picked by a manger of the insurer (after all who ever heard of a retail sales clerk making $32,000.00 a year as a starting wage), then each year after that they calculate the amount of wage increase you would make in that position, which in turn works out to a $600.00 per month and they then alter your benefits accordingly; remember you are not working at this position, they are just saying you are capable and deduct that amount from your benefits.

Now you are getting ready for court on the charges their investigator has laid against you and you are able to prove the file information has been manipulated, after all they are stating that the time period you committed this crime against them is more then what was actually scheduled for academics and you did inform them of the situation even before you started academics along with letters from the academic institution that you were attending, stating that you are need of further training in order to be successful , with their recommendation as to which course would suit you best.

You talk to your lawyer for over a year, preparing for this court case, he shares with you that there is enough to show that you were doing everything correctly and that there should be no problem on getting an acquittal of the charges, a family member passes away in another province and you are forced to postpone court for another month, during which time the prosecutor that your lawyer has been working with is dismissed from the case and a new prosecutor is assigned, at which point your lawyer does not tell you until you are at the court room doors that " You do not have enough Evidence to prove the File manipulation, you are best to plead guilty and go for a suspended sentence or plead not guilty and face the maximum of Five years" with a handi-capped child that has had over 25 surgeries in a 5 year period, you cannot bring yourself to take the chance and not be there if anything was to happen.

After the court was completed, the insurer had then tripled the amount they claimed you had wrongfully taken from them, along with adding time that was not even part of the academic training period, you are dealing with an organization that is ABOVE the LAW and Government Legislated, yet your Government does nothing about any of this , in fact they they have refused prior to have this practice by the insurer investigated when other members of the Legislation have brought up accusations of similar activities the same year that this had all started.

So what is left? Take the law into your own hands to deal with the corruption of our Government and its agencies? Suicide due to the control they are Legislated have over you ( in certain situations your lawyer as well)? Are you to perform a Criminal act in an attempt to gain the attention needed for criminal activities these insurers commit ? You are tired of the scam that they portray is a benefit to you, to the point that you have sleepless nights and nightmares of what they have said and what they have done, right down to that egotistical /domineering tones of their voices and the their cynical laughter of being above the Law and there is nothing you can legally do about it.

Workers Compensation Of Alberta : On the Job Training ( new update)

I will say this is a start,but it is to late; but a good gesture as far as I am concerned, I have tried to gain employment in areas of employment that I felt I could do and it was mainly the way WCB Alberta handled the situation with the employers. The employers were scared to hired as it would drive up their premiums if an injured worker was re-injured and all the brunt of the injury would be on that NEW employer. I have brought this up to Alberta WCB a few years ago in the Appeals Process.
http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/2475/
It is also on WCB website with more information, they claim it has been on site since September 22, 2008.
First I heard of it, not one WCB employee mentioned this to me in all the correspondence or conversations of the claims services staff, I also subscribe to the Workers Compensation Board of Alberta's mailing list for updates on programs and policies.

http://www.wcb.ab.ca/pdfs/workers/WFS_Training_on_the_job.pdf

Worker Fact Sheet
Website: www.wcb.ab.ca E-mail: contactcentre@wcb.ab.ca Box 2415, 9912-107 Street Toll-free: 1-866-922-9221 (within AB) 1-800-661-9608 (outside AB) Edmonton, AB T5J 2S5
Edmonton Ph: 780-498-3999 Fax: 780-498-7999
Calgary: Ph: 403-517-6000 Fax: 403-517-6201
Training on the Job (TOJ)
When it is identified that you are medically unable (because of the accepted work place accident) to return to your date of accident occupation, your case manager will consider suitable
re-employment assistance to meet your needs. Your case manager will initially determine, by
talking to your accident employer, if any modified job opportunities exist with them. If your
accident employer is unable to find you suitable employment, other re-employment assistance is
considered. The training-on-the-job program is one of the options available through the re-employment assistance program.
How it works
A TOJ program is an individualized program set up to help you return to work with either your date of accident employer or a new employer, learning new skills. This program is also an
incentive for employers to hire people who do not have the experience necessary to get into that
line of work. WCB - Alberta subsidizes (tops up) your wages while you learn these new skills in a different job*. This working arrangement is a win-win situation for you and your new employer. Your employer gets an opportunity to see if you are appropriate for the job, while you get an opportunity to be trained in a different job and return to the workforce safely.
Your case manager will review and determine your entitlement to a TOJ program based on your individual need.
* Depending on the details of your new position, WCB can reimburse your new employer at a decreasing percentage of the wages (e.g. 1st month – 100%, 2nd month – 75%, etc.).
**WCB does not pay overtime, holiday pay or the employer’s portion of the worker’s Employment Insurance, Canada Pension Plan contributions or WCB premiums.
Finding an employer
When you have identified a potential employer, WCB can approach the potential employer to determine if they are interested in sponsoring you in a TOJ program. Talk to your case manager.
Determining the length of the program
You, your case manager and your new employer will determine the length of your TOJ program
(usually three to six months) by assessing the skill requirements of the new job, your transferable skills and the time required for you to learn new skills to become a fully productive
employee.

They sure make it sound good but you notice that they have already set the time limits and the amount of income for the injured worker, Guess my first comment was damn close to the truth, just more corruption to get rid of the injured worker so they can keep on collecting Millions to set themselves in a nice comfy retirement.
http://www.eluta.ca/top-employer-workers-compensation-board-of-alberta
If this were a court of law I know my lawyer would say this is not a good agreement to many loop holes to trap the injured worker and release the WCB of responsibility.

I have been investigating the connection between Alberta WCB and the Federal Government as I have been told so many times that Federal and Provincial Governments have no say in the day to day workings of the WCB, in fact I have been told by MP's that I have requested involvement from (as provincial Government has done nothing to investigate the WCB) that any business with WCB is to taken up with my Provincial Government.
The only connection to the Alberta WCB and Provincial Government on employers and labour incentives is to join a injury reduction programhttp://employment.alberta.ca/SFW/340.html. Now why would the Alberta WCB and federal Government join forces and not the Provincial Government?
Is this a way stating that offers were in place for the injured worker to gain employment ?

To find their own retraining programs due to WCB is incompetent at retraining?
or is it a way of proving that they had options in place to prevent Mr.Clayton from stating that the WCB had no options available for him and therefore cut him off benefits and to find his own medications without any health care assistance? regardless there has not been anywhere else then the Federal site and the WCB home site that stated this option for the injured worker's of Alberta.

I have a few major reservation's towards this situation:

1) what about after training; the I/W's restrictions would still be there, it would take very little to cause a flare-up in injury , depending on the injury it self.

2) If this is offered in Alberta , why not the rest of Canada ? seems like a new cover story by these actions of the situation of the Hostage taking.

3)Why doesn't the Federal Government, Provincial Government and WCB all work together and continue the subsidies for the employee's life span until retirement and a top off of a percentage to compensate our pensions.

4) What prevents the WCB from making "DEAL's" with the "on-the-job-training-employer" to have the workers employment terminated as soon as training is done, that does not secure any employment in the future, as the WCB could in turn increase the premiums/ stop wage subsidy or anything they want to the employer as he is no longer training.

5) Why is it only open to Employers for training ; what if I want my own business ( like I have tried before) and have always needed WCB's permission ( even via Federal Government Business Grant application), that way I can guarantee "my own" success or failure instead of falling back into the same rut

6) Sorry WCB Alberta but you have proven to many times that you cannot be trusted with the authority over the injured worker, especially now when you are not part of the Provincial Government as you have so contently stated to injured workers over the years, only to crawl into bed with the Federal Government; of whom has been washing their hands of you since the Merideth Report was written up.

This Stinks Big Time of Political Corruption;WCB is still in control of the situation; with that said I am cut off now due to non-compliance?

There is still no protection from the abuse and manipulation of the Workers Compensation Board Alberta.

Reply from WCB Supervisor

Hi Ken,

I reviewed the information you have inquired on regarding a training on the job (TOJ). This has been a re-employment assistance option for many years. This is not in conjunction with any government agency. This is not a new option and if you look at our site you will find information regarding training on the job. I have attached the link below with the fact sheet which I encourage you to review:

http://www.wcb.ab.ca/pdfs/workers/WFS_Training_on_the_job.pdf

I cannot comment on what the Government of Canada has chosen to place on their website, as we are not a government agency. I encourage you to contact them directly if you have questions regarding information that they have indicated in their website. Please also note that the reason that Alberta WCB may be indicated but others may not, is likely due to the fact that not all WCB's may have this as a vocational option. Each WCB in Canada is governed by separate legislation and have their own policies.

If you are inquiring on your eligibility for a training on the job you would need to contact us in writing with your request and a Case Manager would reply to your request. Thank you.

Nici Denney
Supervisor
Large Employers
Customer Service and Disability Management
WCB Alberta
Phone (780) 498-4358
Fax (780) 498-4078

A case manager will contact me? So once again I am without a case manager, last time I ended up on criminal charges by WCB, for no case manager available.

You do not have one assigned at this time Ken, as your file is not under active management, but if you would like to send something in writing regarding a request for a training on the job, you are welcome to do so and a Case Manager will be assigned to your claim and contact you in that regard.

Nici Denney

Does Workers Compensation Board of Alberta and its Government Discriminate against Injured workers?

WCB Alberta has over the years, has done surveys on the injured workers.
Many of the injured workers are those that have had minor injuries, by that I mean a broken bone or an illness that would allow the worker back to work after a short period of time; they are surveyed workers that give a good report on WCB as they have not been subject to benefit denial or reduction, are treated with fairness, understanding and are given any assistance that is asked for while collecting their total benefits and those are the reports that most of the population hears about and allows WCB to be praised by their stakeholders and themselves.

Permanent injured workers; who make up the lower percentage of the surveys and lower percentage of injured workers, are those that do not give a good report about the WCB and are the ones that have suffered through denial, benefit reduction, they are/ been subject to verbal, financial, physical, emotional abuse/ harassment, which in all is psychological abuse..
What I have found is that WCB Alberta has all these policies and procedures in place for the injured workers, that are in reality nothing more then a false statement of wording;
eg: Increase the modified work placement for all disabling claims: establish a baseline and improvement target
The truth is that modified work placement is nothing more then the WCB “deeming” a position that they believe the injured worker is capable of doing, regardless if the injured worker has interest or personality conflicts in that area of employment . Once a permanently injured worker is “deemed”, the benefits to that worker are deducted by the amount calculated by the WCB; eg: retail sales clerk, with no experience, is calculated at $34,000.00+ and has a percentage added annually ( representing wage increase) which is subtracted from the original benefit amount until the “deemed” employment matches the original income of the injured worker, than all benefits are cut off; regardless if that injured worker was able to secure employment or not.

The WCB also has in its power to gain medical information about a person with the Freedom of Information act; without the claimants permission or knowledge, whether it is injury related or not, with this information they alone determine if the injury is compensation able or not; eg: an injured worker has a spinal injury and they find a history of arthritis, your benefits could be lowered or they can refuse a claim on the grounds pre-existing condition, which has happened to many.
Not including the claims that have been accepted and then later re-written as pre-existing condition due to development of arthritis or another condition that they feel fit to use as reason.

With the above stated pertaining to the Freedom of Information act, where as the WCB can get all medical information including from a 3rd party, when an injured worker attempts to get information on their claim via the Freedom of Information act, much of the information is withheld, which prevents the injured worker from fully being able to investigate what has been happening on their claim; this is especially true when an injured worker needs this information for appeals purposes.

Many seriously injured workers have been subject to extremes of physical abuse, where they are made to over extend they capabilities of physical rehabilitation; eg: WCB employees telling the injured that they are not trying hard enough to complete the program that had been set out for them and any rebuttal is considered non-compliance and then they are threatened that non-compliance is grounds for denial of benefits and any further assistance from WCB, which this common practice, constitutes psychological, financial and verbal abuse.

It has been proven that the WCB’s actions of physical therapy, has caused more problems then it attempts to correct, survey done by Hospital of Special Surgeries in New York as there has not been any such type of independent survey done in Canada ( least not known to author). Personally I have witnessed injured workers where due to the actions of WCB employees, where a mans screws in his foot were retracting due to the exercise program authorized by Alberta WCB at Mallard Rehabilitation center, another where an elderly lady was forced to haul wheel barrels of fire wood back and forth at Richmond WCB rehabilitation center until she turned blue in the face with chest pains, yet she was told to keep going or be reported for non-compliance; that incident almost caused a physical confrontation against the WCB employee.

The WCB of Alberta has been well known for their use of verbal, emotional, physical and financial abuse, as have the various other WCB/WSIB’s across Canada.

Our Federal Government has been preaching to the world on discrimination and abuse of those that are unable to protect themselves, preaching about Human rights violations around the globe, yet they stand by and allow these criminal acts to go on in their own country, animals have more rights then permanently injured workers in Canada.

Our Provincial Government does nothing but sits back and allows this to happen to it citizens, even though it does legislate the WCB, the answer from the Provincial Government and its Ministries is that they do not have control of the WCB as it is an arm’s length of Government, yet the WCB states that they are Governed by the Province and must follow legislated regulations that enable them to commit crimes against Humanity, defraud the injured and employers, manipulate information and take total control of the injured worker’s life; eg: an injured worker wants to become self employed, then they are required to submit a business plan to the WCB and they will investigate whether it is viable or not; want to do it on your own via Federal Government grants? , you will be told that you are the responsibility of the WCB and that any such grants must be through them.


Along with Judicial powers and total power over the injured worker, the law in Canada has no Jurisdiction over the WCB’s, if they do, nothing has ever been done about the criminal activities that they so often perform, which is contrary to the Canadian Charter of Rights. No Organization has power over Canadians, let alone a world wide criminal organization.
http://abusebyalbertasworkerscompensation.blogspot.com/2009/04/this-is-written-for-province-of-alberta.html

As I write this the WCB’s in the United States are under investigation via the R.I.C.O laws, which are racketeering and other criminal acts performed by the WCB’s and employers.
http://iwocac.ning.com/forum/topics/employers-face-rico-claims-for?commentId=2011525%3AComment%3A10508

What Injured Albertan's say about WCB

Some posted their names others wish to remain anonymous due to fear of repercussions by the Workers Compensation Board of Alberta.Comments of Injured workers and Advocates.These comments were copied from http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/remove-queens-bench-status-from-workers-compensation-boards-court/signatures-page2.html and also from http://www.gopetition.com/online/19942/signatures-page1.html as there are also many other comments from across Canada.However the story is the same all across this nation, corruption and deceit, abuse of power and abuse of the injured just to make the lives of those that work for the Workers Compensation Boards all that mush more pleasurable while the injured of who this organization was created for are forced into poverty,loss of property, loss of families and in some cases loss of life.

Calgary Alberta; Inefficient, too much lies and currupted.

Maria Farmer Drumheller,Alberta; WCB needs to be accountable

John Emmons Drumheller,Alberta ; The injured are not treated fairly.

Brent McGillis Edmonton,Alberta ; Citizens in Canada who are above the Law. How come there is not a Class Action Lawyer in Toronto that can sue these guys under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms? It says explicitly in the charter that we as a group of disabled persons may not be discriminated against. The gov't has stripped an entire class of citizens of there human rights, because we are gimps? Are there any lawyers listening?

Robert Weiss Wetaskiwin,Alberta ; The WCB should not be allowed to treat people like garbage. The WCB takes away our human rights, dignity and self-respect among other things to the point we have nothing left. It has cost some people their lives. The WCB is allowed to hide behind the flawed policies that allows them to do what they want when they want and how they want, even if it costs the injured worker their life. Time the government that represents the tax paying citizens that built this country do something about it.

Ken Balacko Calgary,Alberta ;I was forced to work, under threats of being dismissed, to sit near toxic gases (coal methane gas and brake fluid toxic solvents) and hospitalized after but in spite of emergency doctors requests for WCB to have an investigation and poison control and Occupational Health and Safety to investigate, WCB refused to admit the incident took place. Ten of my co-workers wittnessed this act but the companies involved can't be sued and are protected by the WCB Act.

Elizabeth Church Wetaskiwin,Alberta ; I have had nothing but trouble with wcb since june of 2000. I have a spinal injury and had 2 surgergies.

Kathlyn Worsley Cochrane,AB ; WCB seems to be able to answer to no one

Daniel Hunter Edmonton,Alberta ; The creation of a court to police the actions of the business it is a part of is ridiculous. Even worse is to staff it with political appointees selected to favor the business itself. WCB Alberta tribunals are a farce and nothing more than a kangaroo court.
When their decisions are appealed to a real court with a real judge all he can do is refer it back to them.
A standard catch 22.It has to be changed.

Sabina Cincer Calgary,AB ; For almost 10 years I have had ailments, which have stemmed from a fall that occurred on my employer’s premises. I received WCB compensation until Sep.99. An “independent WCB doctor had declared me as healthy.
My symptoms, back pain and leg giving out, hadn’t changed. In 2000 I had a complicated elbow fracture. On year later WCB reopened my file. At some point WCB forced me to give up Physio and despite my surgeon’s order to start a program at their Rehab Centre where I have caught RSD.

Monique Ceresney Delburne,AB ; The WCB is not performing as it was set up to do. It is neccessary to re-evaluate how the decision-making is performed, whether it REALLY protects workers and ensures thier safety and most importantly whether it helps injured workers in a non-adversarial way. Workers should have more options if they feel the board's decisions are not balanced and fair.

Joan Standish Red Deer,Alberta ; WCB needs a complete overhaul. This organization is extremely corrupt. The injured workers of Alberta need to be dealt with fairly, honestly and quickly, with out the interference of the stakeholders(employers). The stakeholders and the case managers are worried about the dollar they may be assessed or the money they won't receive in bonuses for getting injured workers off the benefits they are legally entitled to.

Norman Standish Sr. Red Deer,Alberta ; We have been representing injured workers since 1992 and a complete overhaul of this system is definitely required. We need to stop the corruption that exists. Many injured workers are left with no recourse after they are denied their rightful benefits. More weight and evidence is given to the employers (shareholders) and the WCB own paid doctors than the family physicians, and specialists that the family doctors send the injured workers to.

Benjamin Smeenk Delburne,Ab ; The accountability of insurance companies needs to be maximized while minimizing their corrupt attitudes!

Marc Castonguay Delburne,Alberta ; The WCB dose not take care of injured workers in fact many workers recieve new injuries while in thier care.

Nancy Ror Delburne,Alberta ; I have also been fighting with the WCB for 4 years . Thier actions are despicable. WCB no longer serves the injured worker only the employer/ shareholder . The workers compensation board should be abolished. Alberta Health care already foots the bill for our medical even though WCB has collected premiums on our behalf for years.

Christy Petersen Medicine Hat,Alberta ;WCB.....lies to keep money that belongs to injured workers forcing the injured to deal with a life that no one in a free country should have to live. Criminals have more rights then we do.
It is so sick and perverted. I dont know how the workers of this company can live with the choices they make daily to ruin other peoples lives. children are affected by there actions.

David Kachorowski Edmonton,Alberta ; As a injuried worker, I know and understand the dirty tricks and games played by the WCB Alberta to deny worker benefits, that by law, they are eligible for.

Further, Their use of psuedo professionals to write fictional options to support WCB policies is a clear case of malpractice. This should not be tolerate is a society of law. If a government created agency openly advocates malpractice, It is an in tolerable situation. You can't fight the government and win.......

Brenda Hatt Edmonton, Alberta ;I am one of the many injured employees of the Government of Alberta. I have been fighting WCB for help for almost three years. After reading many of the worker's comments on this site, I am that much more disheartened and depressed in the thinking, I am NEVER going to get the assistance I require in getting back to workable condition. I am working right now, but I am injured and cannot get the help I need. They just keep closing my file.

Donald McMillan Calgary,Alberta ; Had to declare Bankruptcy due to my injury and WCB not accepting my claim

Barry Duxbury Calgary Ab ; I have inoperable back pain due to two work related injuries. WCB accepted responsbility at the beginning but as soon as it became apperant that the two sugeries I had only increased the problem, WCB dropped my claim like a hot potato. I have been fighting them for over 20 years with no results. I have lost everything-my home, my savings,my self respect because I am unable to work. My wife has supported myself and my children until she has succombed to a life threatening disease and cannot work.

Edmonton,Alberta ; I have occipital neuralgia from a slip and fall injury and W.C.B. decided to cut off my benefits and medications which I need and cannot afford. I am appalled at their systematic abuse they give to injured workers and this MUST STOP!!!!!

Sherry Milne Calgary,Alberta ; My husband has suffered for 14 years with no help but pain from WCB! It is about time that the gov't that we elected stand up and do what they said they would do and investigate and get WCB on the right track to truly helping the people they were meant to help. Where is this money going as it is not going to my husband NOR any other injured workers?? Companies should also be asking this question along with every person that will or does collect CPP! Enough is enough!!

Travis Short Calgary,Alberta ; I fell 22 meters from a drilling rig derrick in the winter of 2001, suffering severe multiple injuries, including a brain injury, which WCB claims has "resolved it self" and is therefore no longer a valid part of claim, my left knee needs to be replaced,, but since I am only 40, I have to wait until I am 55 to get it replaced, in the meantime I get by on 150 40 mg tablets of oxycontin a month. I was also forced to return to work, further aggravating my injuries and pain threshold. Suicide?

James Wonnacott Calgary Alberta ; My brother has been suffering from an injury for over 2 years now from using faulty equipment while working for the company Tesla. His arm is now immobilized. WCB hasn't helped him one bit but rather has given him great grief. WCB is full of crooked liars, people with large wallets but little concern for human decency. It's time to end the madness.

Antonieta Broda Edmonton,AB ; For some many years I worked under the belief that the entities that were supposed to protect us are the ones that serve to discard us as damaged human beings.

Connie Dewey Stony Plain,AB ; Workers compensation has no right to make workers except less than what is justly due to them. Everyone who is injured at work should have the right to continue to live in the same manner prior to the accident, not in poverty. That is what this insurance is supposed to be for.

Gene Ostrowski Seven Persons,Alberta ; I am one of the cases that cannot work as per various Doctor's reports and Worker's Compensation pays me 800 Dollars a month when I was making over 5000 Dollars a month when I was injured in 2003 and they expect me to live on this. What a big cutback on wages and they feel this is fair. How is it the Doctors reports are ignored and case workers with no medical training can deem me fit enough to work in order to cut back on paying us what is due to us.

Suzanne Metz Medicine Hat,Alberta ; So often injured workers are expected to return to work when they should not be working. This is totally unacceptable!

Medicine Hat,Alberta ; The WCB and all connected to its administration are extremely corrupt . All should be aware of the bloated and highly
overpaid salaries being awarded to these individuals who basically do not have any respect or concern for WCB claimants.They are only in the organization to financially line their own pockets,WCB is a total disgrace , in need of a complete overhaul and dismissal of the people who run it.

Charles Boyce Stony Plain,AB ; I can't beleive this is allowed to happen in a western democracy

Deanna Pilon Fort Kent,Alberta ; My hubby still cant work and WCB didn't care...he did their cookie cutter routines that worked on other parts of his body but not the injured knee...if fact it did worse for the knee than good and they said because he finished the rehab he was better...HE STILL CANNOT WORK!!

Larry Hansen Medicine Hat,Alberta ; WCB totally disregarded my case of chemical poisoning in the workplace rejecting my claim while I had already been diagnosed and was receiving treatment====

Nora Yaghi Edmonton,AB ; I was injured at age 23 and now for the rest of my life I have to live with an injury that restricts me everyday even thought it's not as visible as others injuries. The WCB says my lifetime compensation amount is a percentage of $70,000 depending on how they measure it. Keep in mind they can't measure chronic pain and severe depression.

Earl Forrest Edmonton,Alberta ; I have been treated unjustly by WCB on two different claims an injury claim and a progressive injury claim. Both times I was denied they came up with a reason that made no sense. It is a very stressful thing to go through, and we all as workers should have an organization to trust in if we are injured at work. WCB needs to change and start doing what there name says. Compensating!!!!!!

Monica Weiss Red Deer,AB ; My husband is currently a victim of the WCB's shenanigans... he is facing a condition caused by his injury that may render him unable to work permanently. The WCB has received numerous orders that he is to attend specialized treatments in Edmonton or Camrose, and not to continue with their treatment schedule. Our family unit has suffered due to the stress that the WCB has placed on Ron as it aggravates his condition of RSD. They threaten to stop his pay if he doesn't attend THEIR schedule.

Rob Willis Calgary,Ab ; The soul-less members of the WCB, DRB, and Appeals Commission have obscured, ignored or neglected all pertinent evidence regarding my claim.....it's criminal and immoral.
The entire system should be scrapped.
The members should be prosecuted and incarcerated for crimes against humanity!

" It cannot be said that the Board is independent insofar as the worker is concerned. It is a Board set up to protect the employers. The Board is funded by the employers, and the Board has a duty and probably a primary duty to protect the employer. In relation to the worker, the Board has an overwhelming wealth of knowledge and experience. It has the financial ability to fund sophisticated investigations involving highly qualified experts and have the material presented to them, guided, orchestrated and propounded by its in-house counsel responsible to the Board and paid for by the Board. The application of any standards under the rules of natural justice would identify such circumstances as being unequal in negotiating ability and unfair. This is not a level playing field, it is not fair, and it offends the basic principles of natural justice."
- Justice Maclean - Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta
Wilson v. Medicine Hat (City) [1999] A. J. No. 269 (February 3, 1999)

These are just some of the comments as this blog would be endless, but I hope there is enough here to make people aware of the abuse, manipulation and the deceit of the Workers Compensation Board of Alberta, along with criminal activities as fraud, manipulation of personal and medical information, intimidation and threats, physical, emotional and mental abuse just to name a few. Something must be done, our Government allows this to happen , WHY? cause they are there for the Corporations not for the people and when dealing like that, the Corporations become more corrupt and so does our Government.

Now I know why the Police will not investigate

After I read this article http://www.thestar.com/printArticle/702444 I now know why I never received any assistance from my local police or Government officials.I am not the only person that has witness this type of corruption as SuperNewf has also made public http://injuredworker.ca/v1/node/34.

With evidence of outright fraud by WCB for monies wrongfully collected, monies re-claimed as owing ( already collected) and payment file information altered on claim, I took the information to the R.C.M.P with a formal complaint, the R.C.M.P will not investigate, instead they advised I retain a lawyer and forensic auditor, each at a minimum of $250.00 per hour, yet when the WCB requests their help they jump on the person with great enthusiasm,I also took this information to the auditor generals office and received a similar answer, that they do not do privet audits to assist in fighting WCB, the office only audits WCB's yearly finances (that are juggled to suit the company), our government allows WCB to do what they wish , when I requested an audit on my claim due to wrongful monies taken from me more then 3 times for the same so called overpayment,after 4 different audits by WCB ( each one was different). Later I was informed by the appeals commission that WCB is not legislated to provide audits to the claimants. Where is our protection from WCB, if it is not our Government or R.C.M.P then who is it? Who is there to protect the public from companies like WCB? If the WCB's of North America all work this this way , then who runs our countries? Who police's them? Why are they not accountable for their crimes? I demand an answer from our so called heads of government why this is allowed to happen.

Mental Stress by WCB of Alberta

For the past 6 out of 10 years I have had many thoughts pertaining to WCB and their actions, lost many hours sleep due to nightmares or frustration, the mind games that are played by them makes me feel like they are attempting to make me lose control of my thoughts. Why? I think so they can say I am a threat to their safety, as they have done to many other injured workers. I am not allowed to enter their building to pickup cheques, why I don't know? I never threatened them, but they write down what ever they feel at the time. I have found that if I rebuttal any conversation to my claims manager, I am them penalized by slow down of progress of my claim or payments not sent out at scheduled time, but the excuses are constant; waiting on supervisor consent, computer is down on the cheque writer,file is in assistance hands etc; none of this is on paper which is why I no longer communicate via telephone. To many conversations were re-written out of context or not even posted on my file. Managers claiming that their hands are tied yet an assistant is able to accomplish what manager claimed they could not; or stating that they are unable to change another claims managers decision, yet many changes have been made. Mangers refusing professionals or my request's ; 5 years later it is claimed as "offered" though I chose a different path; regardless of what was on file years before; becomes official statement.That pertained to the first academic training, which was I unable to compete in. It was the second academic training, less then a year later, is the reason of my criminal charges.
I attempt to start my own business, only to be told "I know nothing of business", therefore you must go to "Business Administration"! Academically challenged ? need the upgrading in order to compete academically? NO!, pass, fail or dropout we (WCB) are done with you. All that was 5 years ago and I am still dealing with the aftermath. Just now priorities are to catch up with what little I receive, after no financial income for 6 months, which was social assistance. I am again under investigation due to WCB keeping 100% of benefits and informing social assistance that I was in receipt of said benefits: yearly income statement from WCB is less then what we received from assistance monthly. Manipulation of information which caused Zero income for my family, which is under enough hardship due to 2 physically disabled members of the family, one adult , one child.
It is pathetic the way WCB Alberta is allowed to operate, they are like little children allowed to play without parental supervision.
In all this time the WCB Alberta talks with me as if they are doing me a favor instead of their job, if they truly did their job then I would no longer be dependent on them, I would have been properly trained and succeeding into a new life and career.

An Apology and advice to the Alberta Government

Before I go to much into this I want to say that all that has been written in my blog I still standby it.The comments on Government, Provincially and Federally are still responsible for the WCB's across Canada, with that said it has come to my attention (via freedom of information)that the Alberta Government has done somewhat of an inquiry into my situation. The information I supplied to the GoA,in all honesty,pertained to the actions of manipulation of financial and personal information (now it has included medical). The GoA had received responses from the WCB of Alberta and those replies are not answers, as per your questions about my claim;information was withheld by the WCB and only part of the situation was answered. WCB admitted that they did not give all the financial information and passed the blame to the department of Social Services. My main complaint was the double dipping into the finances that was claimed I owed to their department and that when I originally made these accusations, it was due to T-5 tax statements made by the WCB of Alberta for the years of 2003 and 2008, both to the extremes, 2003 claimed I made approximately $24,000.00 more then my benefits; 2008 stated I only made $943.11 when they also claimed that I was paying back $818.00 per month towards overpayments, which they withheld 100% and forced my family to Social Services.
Now how can I make $818.00 per month and yet only receive $943.11 for the whole year; especially when I am being investigated for not reporting the $818.00 per month, of which I did inform the Department of at the beginning of assistance, but a year later am told that I had to report it each month.During that time WCB had been ordered by the Appeals Commission to supply me with regular updates on my claim pertaining to financial interactions, which had obviously not been done. WCB also stated in their communications to the GoA that I did not comply with the Appeals Commission's request to hand over all WCB benefit cheque stubs, therefore I was non-compliant and they did not have to proceed any further. The WCB of Alberta has put the blame on Social Assistance and myself for their mishandling of my claim, but that does not excuse them from everything else that happened,(example; information handed to the Appeals Commission after the hearing that purposely defends the claims manager in the manner of financial mistakes made by "her" not by the payment specialist's). That then creates another matter for investigation,this particular claim needs to addressed directly and not by WCB staff like it has been for the past few years all that does is allow the WCB to keep re-writing information that will reflect accuracy of their financial statements that they have used to remove monies for the same overpayment numerous times. The GoA has been told lies and half truths by the WCB of Alberta pertaining to my situation, as well as the F.O.I.P office has taken a very long time to go through my information before handing it me (as of July 8,2009 I have only received half of it and was ordered in March 2009),with a large amount of information being withheld from disclosure.
I am apologizing to the Government of Alberta for many of things I have said towards your lack of intervention, mainly due to the information that the WCB has supplied back to the Premier and Minister's that did inquire into my claim, was inaccurate, half truths and dealt with the present finances; not directly with the complaints that were originally made to your office .
I would like to offer some advice to the GoA pertaining to the WCB and the claimants that contact your offices on a daily basis, listen to the injured workers and be more thorough on information received from the WCB, when WCB sends back letters advising that they made a mistake on a financial amount and inform you of the "real" amount and it is twice that original amount; then you should question the actions of the WCB and have things investigated immediately. As it says in the F.I.O.P documents that I have received so far; the replying agent for WCB,sends requests for permission and answers from another department before answering your inquiries.
One last piece of advise I would like to add Mr.Premier is that please let the complainants such as myself, be more informed of Government intervention and actions, that will cease any doubts of non-compliance by this Government. A investigation is needed into this organization,WCB is under R.I.C.O investigation in the States http://www.riskandinsurance.com/story.jsp?storyId=185931550&topic=Main ;the main difference here in Canada is that the WCB has judicial protection; the Justice Minister has been claiming to do "GET HARD ON ORGANIZED CRIME" well remember that CORPORATE CRIME is also ORGANIZED CRIME.

Manipulation of Information will go on forever more

This Government in Alberta with their forcefulness, uncaring for human rights and a passion for corruption in big business, will not intervene into this matter nor will they even stand-up for the people that they are supposed to represent. As long as they are in power no Albertan will be safe from the illegal acts that are permitted to be inflicted upon the public as long as their agencies and big business friends can make money off the innocent Alberta families that stand-up for themselves against this cruel and inhumane political province.

Since I started investigating my claim file , I have come across many instances where wording had been changed on my claim; from work restrictions to financial information. The financial information has been protected forever by the Appeals Commission by requesting that I hand over all my WCB pay stubs or forfeit any appeals pertaining to over payments in the future, as if they didn't have their own; I can only guess that with all the other situations that the WCB has been part of, that they only want my stubs so they can destroy any evidence I may have against them. The other information that has been manipulated shows how they are working towards a position that enables them to close my claim as soon as they are able to without my ability to start an appeal. This last manipulation lowered my injury from both hips and damaged vertebrae to degenerative disc disease, which is a condition that they have stated in other documents as non-work related, but with the other claims on my back since I originally injured it in 1992 WCB continually forced me back to work even though I was unable to have proper physical mobility.
With all the financial manipulation on my file there has been over $70,000.00 defrauded from my claim, yet they manipulate the files and charge me for the same crime, even then they would not agree on a fixed amount of money I had so called defrauded them of. It has recently come to my attention that they have taken certain over payments from me more then 3 times for one stated over payment which was for approximately $5,000.00 and I have found another that has been removed from me twice now for over $10,000.00, there is probably more but I am tired of rereading my file as it is three banker boxes full.
But manipulation of information is common within this Government and its agencies, whether it is a survey created by themselves or information that they refuse to show publicly; to saying one thing today and tomorrow it is a different reaction depending on who is asking the question or who told who to answer the question in the way that they want it answered (remember the free vote at the Alta legislature)
If I were a dog or a cat, I would have more rights, then I do as an injured worker trying to fight for what is right.

History of Workers Compensation in Canada

The need for a fair and equitable system of workers' compensation evolved out of the industrial revolution. As economic and industrial activities flourished, the number of work injuries also grew. The increasing use of machinery, new concepts of producing goods, and the pressure of increased demand for products resulted in more injury problems without solutions for employers and employees. For the most part, workers who were injured on the job had no recourse other than to sue their employers at common law, an expensive and time-consuming process. The court system was crowded, causing long delays. Compensation for injuries was usually insufficient and uncertain. The employee sometimes was forced to bear the expense of injury himself or had to throw himself on the mercy of welfare.
http://02cd9d2.netsolhost.com/public/1.0_overview.htm
http://02cd9d2.netsolhost.com/public/1.1.1_history.htm

Between 1884 and 1886, Germany's Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck introduced a mandatory state-run accident compensation system. Workers and employers financed this initial system.

Canadian workers' compensation began in Ontario, and laws developed along timelines similar to those in Great Britain. In 1910, Mr. Justice William Meredith was appointed to a Royal Commission to study workers' compensation. His final report, known as the Meredith Report, was produced in 1913.
There are five Meredith Principles:
• No-fault compensation: Workplace injuries are compensated regardless of fault. The worker and employer waive the right to sue. There is no argument over responsibility or liability for an injury. Fault becomes irrelevant, and providing compensation becomes the focus.
• Collective liability: The total cost of the compensation system is shared by all employers. All employers contribute to a common fund. Financial liability becomes their collective responsibility.
• Security of payment: A fund is established to guarantee that compensation monies will be available. Injured workers are assured of prompt compensation and future benefits.
• Exclusive jurisdiction: All compensation claims are directed solely to the compensation board. The Board is the decision-maker and final authority for all claims. Nor is the Board bound by legal precedent; it has the power and authority to judge each case on its individual merits.
• Independent board: The governing board is both autonomous and non-political. The Board is financially independent of government or any special interest group. The administration of the system is focused on the needs of its employer and labour clients, providing service with efficiency and impartiality.
http://www.awcbc.org/en/index.asp http://www.awcbc.org/en/historyofworkerscompensation.asp

QUOTE MERIDTH REPORT wsbc:
In a note to section 22 it is stated that "it is submitted that it would not be wise to entirely shut out appeals and place in the hands of the Board the sole right to interpret the act .... and the right to define its own jurisdiction." What danger is to be apprehended from conferring these rights I do not understand, nor do I see what questions as to the construction of the act are likely to arise other than those enumerated in section 22.
In my judgment the furthest the Legislature should go in allowing the intervention of the courts should be to provide that the Lieutenant-Governor in Council may state a case for the opinion of a Divisional Court of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Ontario, if any question of law of general importance arises and he deems it expedient it should be settled by a decision of a Divisional Court. Although I say this my judgment is against the introduction of any such provision, as it is probable that if any form of appeal to an appellate court is allowed, a defeated litigant will have the right to take his case to the Judicial Committee of His Majesty's Privy Council.
The draft bill of the Association has but one schedule of industries to all of which the act applies, and it makes no provision for abrogating or modifying the rules of the common law as to employers who are not within the scope of the act. How my draft bill differs from this will be apparent from what I have said in dealing with the general plan upon which it has been drafted.
By my draft bill (sec. 60) the Board is given exclusive jurisdiction as to all matters and questions arising under Part I, and subject to its power to rescind, alter or amend any of its decisions or orders, its action or decision is final and is not subject to appeal.
It is difficult to understand from the Association's draft bill what the jurisdiction of the Board is intended to be. Section 21 provides that the Board shall have jurisdiction to enquire into, hear and determine all matters and questions of fact and law necessary to be determined in connection with compensation payments and the administration thereof and the collection and management of the funds thereof.
This language would confer on the Board a rather limited jurisdiction and probably, judging from the provisions of section 22, less than the draftsman intended it should have. The decisions and findings of the Board upon questions of fact are made final and conclusive, but on questions of law an appeal is allowed.
http://www.awcbc.org/common/assets/english%20pdf/meredith_report.pdf


" It cannot be said that the Board is independent insofar as the worker is concerned. It is a Board set up to protect the employers. The Board is funded by the employers, and the Board has a duty and probably a primary duty to protect the employer. In relation to the worker, the Board has an overwhelming wealth of knowledge and experience. It has the financial ability to fund sophisticated investigations involving highly qualified experts and have the material presented to them, guided, orchestrated and propounded by its in-house counsel responsible to the Board and paid for by the Board. The application of any standards under the rules of natural justice would identify such circumstances as being unequal in negotiating ability and unfair. This is not a level playing field, it is not fair, and it offends the basic principles of natural justice."- Justice Maclean - Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta
Wilson v. Medicine Hat (City) [1999] A. J. No. 269 (February 3, 1999)
http://iwocac.ning.com/

This organization has come a long way from its roots, with Millions of Dollars going into rebates not going to just one, but to the many Safety Associations and big employers; even those employers that have deaths reported.
Injured workers and small business employers are being defrauded by WCB, medical professionals being financially reprimanded for not writing out the medical report for the way the WCB has requested; yet the blame goes onto the injured and in some cases the small business employers and medical professionals as the defrauders and liar’s. All this you can find in the above link.


My personal suggested changes needed: Removal of the Meredith Principals of Exclusive jurisdiction and Total Authority of a truly Non-Independent board.




• all medical needs covered by GOV, WCB’s removal of hiring private medical or rehabilitation staff for injured workers diagnoses or treatment But may be employed to ensure safe and appropriate rehabilitation.
• Emergency /closest physicians or workers personal physician: shall be deciders of degree or cause’s of injury and all treatment.
• Gov having direct responsibility for care the injured worker; federally as a whole; provincially as a residence, municipally as a casual basis for assist in injured workers needs.
• Board shall provide all necessary needs and insuring all needs to assist/allow the worker to progress to a new life with any assistance needed due to injury.
• Proceeds and payments by the employers to the employers fund for injured workers to be handled by the provincial auditor or separate authority, not by the WCB’s or their affiliates.
• WCB to only concentrate on retraining necessities, appropriate rehabilitation and any needs/ aids for the injured worker including personal mobility or daily aids, safe transportation for injured workers, meal and expenses for any injury related appointment or meeting.

History of Workers Compensation in Canada

The need for a fair and equitable system of workers' compensation evolved out of the industrial revolution. As economic and industrial activities flourished, the number of work injuries also grew. The increasing use of machinery, new concepts of producing goods, and the pressure of increased demand for products resulted in more injury problems without solutions for employers and employees. For the most part, workers who were injured on the job had no recourse other than to sue their employers at common law, an expensive and time-consuming process. The court system was crowded, causing long delays. Compensation for injuries was usually insufficient and uncertain. The employee sometimes was forced to bear the expense of injury himself or had to throw himself on the mercy of welfare.
(seems like it has gone full circle; present has gone back to the beginning)
http://02cd9d2.netsolhost.com/public/1.0_overview.htm
http://02cd9d2.netsolhost.com/public/1.1.1_history.htm

Workers Compensation was first used by the Egyptians while building the pyramids, so far that is all I know by archeologists on documentaries.
(injured were well taken care of also)

Between 1884 and 1886, Germany's Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck introduced a mandatory state-run accident compensation system. Workers and employers financed this initial system.(same location where the International Symposiums are held)

Canadian workers' compensation began in Ontario, and laws developed along time lines similar to those in Great Britain. In 1910, Mr. Justice William Meredith was appointed to a Royal Commission to study workers' compensation. His final report, known as the Meredith Report, was produced in 1913.
There are five Meredith Principles:

• No-fault compensation: Workplace injuries are compensated regardless of fault. The worker and employer waive the right to sue. There is no argument over responsibility or liability for an injury. Fault becomes irrelevant, and providing compensation becomes the focus.

• Collective liability: The total cost of the compensation system is shared by all employers. All employers contribute to a common fund. Financial liability becomes their collective responsibility.

• Security of payment: A fund is established to guarantee that compensation monies will be available. Injured workers are assured of prompt compensation and future benefits.

• Exclusive jurisdiction: All compensation claims are directed solely to the compensation board. The Board is the decision-maker and final authority for all claims. Nor is the Board bound by legal precedent; it has the power and authority to judge each case on its individual merits.

• Independent board: The governing board is both autonomous and non-political. The Board is financially independent of government or any special interest group. The administration of the system is focused on the needs of its employer and labour clients, providing service with efficiency and impartiality.

QUOTE MERIDTH REPORT wsbc:
In a note to section 22 it is stated that "it is submitted that it would not be wise to entirely shut out appeals and place in the hands of the Board the sole right to interpret the act .... and the right to define its own jurisdiction." What danger is to be apprehended from conferring these rights I do not understand, nor do I see what questions as to the construction of the act are likely to arise other than those enumerated in section 22.
In my judgment the furthest the Legislature should go in allowing the intervention of the courts should be to provide that the Lieutenant-Governor in Council may state a case for the opinion of a Divisional Court of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Ontario, if any question of law of general importance arises and he deems it expedient it should be settled by a decision of a Divisional Court. Although I say this my judgment is against the introduction of any such provision, as it is probable that if any form of appeal to an appellate court is allowed, a defeated litigant will have the right to take his case to the Judicial Committee of His Majesty's Privy Council.
The draft bill of the Association has but one schedule of industries to all of which the act applies, and it makes no provision for abrogating or modifying the rules of the common law as to employers who are not within the scope of the act. How my draft bill differs from this will be apparent from what I have said in dealing with the general plan upon which it has been drafted.
By my draft bill (sec. 60) the Board is given exclusive jurisdiction as to all matters and questions arising under Part I, and subject to its power to rescind, alter or amend any of its decisions or orders, its action or decision is final and is not subject to appeal.
It is difficult to understand from the Association's draft bill what the jurisdiction of the Board is intended to be. Section 21 provides that the Board shall have jurisdiction to enquire into, hear and determine all matters and questions of fact and law necessary to be determined in connection with compensation payments and the administration thereof and the collection and management of the funds thereof.
This language would confer on the Board a rather limited jurisdiction and probably, judging from the provisions of section 22, less than the draftsman intended it should have. The decisions and findings of the Board upon questions of fact are made final and conclusive, but on questions of law an appeal is allowed.
http://www.awcbc.org/common/assets/english%20pdf/meredith_report.pdf


" It cannot be said that the Board is independent insofar as the worker is concerned. It is a Board set up to protect the employers. The Board is funded by the employers, and the Board has a duty and probably a primary duty to protect the employer. In relation to the worker, the Board has an overwhelming wealth of knowledge and experience. It has the financial ability to fund sophisticated investigations involving highly qualified experts and have the material presented to them, guided, orchestrated and propounded by its in-house counsel responsible to the Board and paid for by the Board. The application of any standards under the rules of natural justice would identify such circumstances as being unequal in negotiating ability and unfair. This is not a level playing field, it is not fair, and it offends the basic principles of natural justice."- Justice Maclean - Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta
Wilson v. Medicine Hat (City) [1999] A. J. No. 269 (February 3, 1999)
http://iwocac.ning.com/

This organization has come a long way from its roots, with Millions of Dollars going into rebates not going to just one, but to the many Safety Associations and big employers; even those employers that have deaths reported.
Injured workers and small business employers are being defrauded by WCB, medical professionals being financially reprimanded for not writing out the medical report for the way the WCB has requested; yet the blame goes onto the injured and in some cases the small business employers and medical professionals as the defrauders and liar’s. All this you can find in the above link.

Where has it gone to now ? It is national, part of a North American and International organizations that advise and share information to work towards the success of the Workers Compensations Boards .
http://www.awcbc.org/en/index.asp
http://02cd9d2.netsolhost.com/public/1.0_overview.htm
http://www.awcbc.org/en/historyofworkerscompensation.asp

My personal suggested changes needed: Removal of the Meredith Principals of Exclusive jurisdiction and Total Authority of a truly Non-Independent board.

• all medical needs covered by Healthcare, WCB’s removal of hiring private medical or rehabilitation staff for injured workers diagnoses or treatment, claimants physician to do all diagnostics and treatment, But WCB may employed those to follow prescribed procedures for appropriate rehabilitation.

• Emergency /closest physicians or workers personal physician: shall be deciders of degree or cause’s of injury and all treatment.

• -Federal Government having direct responsibility for care the injured worker; federally as a whole;All injured workers across Canada, to insure equal treatment to all.
- Provincially as they are presently, enforcing all laws in place,

-Municipally as an employer to assist the injured in gaining the employment that is suitable to the worker and within their work restrictions ,.

• Board shall provide all necessary needs and insuring all needs to assist/allow the worker to progress to a new life with any assistance needed due to injury.

• Proceeds and payments by the employers to the employers fund for injured workers to be handled by the provincial Labour Board and Health board or a combination of the two, not by the WCB’s or their affiliates.

• WCB to only concentrate on retraining necessities, finding the appropriate rehabilitation and any needs/ aids for the injured worker including personal mobility or daily aids, safe transportation for injured workers, meal and expenses for any injury related appointment or meeting.

In other words WCB to only handle the paper work, no Authoritative Powers

Abuse and Coverup by Quasi-judicial system in Alberta

All information has been collected directly from Claim ######## November 9th 2007


 Tthe financial workings of the Workers Compensation Board of Alberta, it does not include all previous evidence that called for with Appeals Commission Audit.

On January 26th, 2006, I had a hearing in front of the Appeals Commission, pertaining to an audit on my claim. When the audit was about to be put in front of the Appeals Commission ,a letter from Murry McIntosh dated January 12th, 2006 warning the appeals commission not to proceed with the portion of the audit pertaining to the charges he set against me in October of 2005 as he insinuates that I am appealing for forgiveness on the alleged fraud (June 2004 requested an audit on my claim) or they would be subpoenaed into court (we agreed between us that the appeal was prior to said situation, although all audits pertained after the fact).

The hearing chair had voted in favor of myself, with the chair asking for an internal audit, the audits that were done by order of the chair were neither proper or accurate; here are the reasons as why I feel it has not been done correctly, even though I have been informed by WCB that it is correct and true, letter from case manager March 22, 2007

I. WCB claims that all cheques issued to in my name are considered income on the T5 taxation for the year 2003 states that I made over $44,000.00, which included computer, reimbursements, travel & meal allowance, loan/advance, school tuition and supplies, according to Revenue Canada only paid benefits were to be on T5, : repercussion of as of June 2004, caused my family to lose our GST rebate and lowered our child tax credits,: In May 2004, my WCB benefits were originally cut off , by end of May reinstated, which time my benefits were set at a deemed position as if I had passed my schooling and working in that profession.

II. Pre-accident earnings for 1999 listed at different amounts

• letter from Shirlyann Garlinski dated May 19th, 2005, states $58,280,93 gross pay

• Rate and earning detail dated April 8th, 2004 states $48,225.89 gross and $29,515.63 net

III. July 10th, 2003 and August 06th, 2003 payments were questioned by the appeals advisor as too why these payments were issued and then deleted creating an over payment? It was explained as duplicate payments, but would not produce canceled cheques as requested:

• Note on file by Romaine Nadue payment specialist May 17th, 2004 states that “ As for the reason these payments were issued and then deleted I do not know”

IV. Same overpayments removed numerous times:



• December 20th 2001 letter on file States ‘overpayments from claims 35801 & 40801 were withheld from retro payment.

• February 18th 2003 Rob VanDoesburg case manager letter claims 35801 & 40801 were removed once again by claims manager, explanation was “ it was talked about ,but never recovered”;

• February 17th, 2006 Lorinda Thome payment specialist memo audit states that overpayment from claim # 358 01 was recovered from TPD owed to the claimant of $15,249.31. (No date as to when this was done) leaving $10,810.33 for adjustment. Remainder went to non attendance overpayment, (3 years apart?)


• Lorinda Thome payment specialist March 20th, 2006 memo audit states $4,439.08 is still outstanding from claim 358-01

• letter dated June 14th, 2006 from claims manager page 9 paragraph 2 states that $4,439.08 is still outstanding from claim 358-01

V. Claim payment list dated February 25th, 2004 states that cheque # 367069* was requested on December 19th , 2001 for the period of 1/1/00 to 9/23/01 and issued on February 19th 2003 (over a year later and listed as an overpayment) with various amounts listed to the cheque:

• With the request amount and the payment amount the first request amount is ######## (exactly as list is written in financial information; true amount unknown) payment amount $13,597.68.
• request amount $1,564.64 payment $1,564.64,
• request amount $8,754.64 payment amount $8,754.64 ,
• request amount $37.17 payment amount $37.17 ,
• request amount $1,117.62 payment amount $1,117.62 .

* Yet cheque # 367069 was issued at the amount of $5,503.66 (with overpayments from previous claim and this claim taken off) which translates into $19,568.09 paid to overpayments which did not exist.
On the payment list there is a cheque #367068 which was written the same day for the amount of $1,261.36, although it is on the list with the amount of $1,207.14 along with overpayment deduction.


IV. April 2003 I requested an advance/ loan, which was granted to me with a 12% interest charge and listed as income, which has since been called an overpayment by WCB; with a 5 year with a payment plan that was to be ongoing to March 2008 @ $223.00 monthly payments: (The loan  paid off prior to this letter being written).

• Letter dated March 29th 2004 over payment details from Marg Sapkos payment specialist states that total of loan is $13,022.10 , with $11,015.10 remaining on loan as there were only 9 payments made out of 20 , interest calculated needs to be revised and additional interest added ( all payments are deducted prior to cheques released)

• June 29th, 2004, $3,022.10 calculated as interest which was manually added to the overpayment/ loan (double interest?)

• Lorinda Thome payment specialist November 2nd, 2005 memo states that as of 30/9/05 loan balance is $6,555.10


• Lorinda Thome March 20th, 2006 memo audit states the $8,369.21 remains outstanding on advance.


• Letter dated June 14th, 2006 from claims manager page 9 paragraph 2 states that $8369.21 remains outstanding on loan as per memo of March 20th, 2006. updated amount was requested

• Letter of September 18th , 2007 states that only $239.18 remains owing on loan

V. Although each audit that has been done the main reference to monies owed is from those charges, with each audit is a different amount calculated as to the monies owing for the same time period:

• Inquiry dated May10th, 2004 stating that there is an overpayment of $14,659.67 left on claim # 01.

• Marg Sapkos payment specialist memo October 26th 2004 further summary to March 29, audit claims $26,230.81 overpayment from nonattendance

• Mr. McIntosh fraud investigator October 2005 claims $22,872.73

• March 20th, 2006 by payment specialist Lorinda Thome states that $22,776.50 is left owing due to non-attendance at school.

• Shirlyann Garlinski , letter of July 14th, 2006, Quoting from memo audit of March 20th, 2006, that $18,337.42 overpayment was due to my non attendance.

• WCB lawyer claims just over $13,000.00, July 16th, 2007 court proceedings

• Shirleyann Garlinski claims manager letter of September 18th, 2007, quotes $19,308.23is remaining amount of over payment from not attending school, and $239.18 remaining on loan.

• Janet Welch case supervisor e-mail November 5th, 2007 states that amount owing now $14, 648.65. ELP benefits now listed $816.46 which is automatically going into over payments, has been since July 1st, 2007.


Court was concluded on July 30th, 2007; therefore I was already forcibly paying back on overpayment before a fixed amount was determined, the amount owed or paid is unknown to me as well as on the advance/loan.



I have no idea as to how much is owed or owing as all the calculations are mixed up, along with unmatching check numbers/monies not accounted for when compared to audit and other financial information along with monies proven to be removed more then once. It is unknown as to how many times the same monies have been removed and claimed that it has not been collected. January 26th, 2006, Appeals Commission informed WCB to list all deductions. To this date WCB has yet to co-operate.

From all that I can see from going though my file is that any cheques issued to me that state on them “user changes” comes back as an over payment, when I questioned this to my claims manager in 2003, I was informed that it was due to my changing of the payment schedule when I requested to have my benefit cheque picked up on a Friday instead of a Monday as it was already written up and ready to mail; however this was not the case in December 2001. There are many such cheques stating user changes when I was receiving benefits.

Along with the unknown amounts mentioned above; also unknown as to the amount of time frame that WCB has decided the monies are owed for:

• In letter from September 5th, 2007 WCB claims non attendance from April 7th, 2003 – April 30th, 2004

• November 2nd, 2004 letter states non-attendance from September 2003 onward.

• WCB submitted a claim on court documents for non-attendance to school from February 1st, 2003 to July 28th, 2004, (more then scheduled school).

• Court agreement between lawyers states that it was from October 13th, 2003 – April 30th, 2004

As of July 1st 2007, though my claim is still open I no longer receive benefits as 100% goes towards over-payments, I do not receive any information as to amounts paid and to my knowledge that when all collected , although claims manager stated that I would receive updates.

Although I had an appeal on February 4th, 2007, I was informed that the appeals commission will not deal with the over payments, just the audit that was requested by the appeals commission on January 26th, 2006, will be considered. Any appeal to the Dispute Resolution and Decision Review Body pertaining to overpayments will not be addressed again “as it was to be addressed by the Appeals Commission” letter of September 19th, 2007 from claims manager.


Thank You Sincerely

(Revised February 5th, 2008)

(Added April 8th, 2008)
As of receiving the appeal commission’s decision Dated February 15th, 2008, even with this information above shared with the commission, they found the audit to be correct and true. They therefore ordered I hand over all cancelled cheque stubs to WCB within 60 days of dated letter, to compare to their payment list or I am to forfeit any future claims towards audits. Appeals commission stated that a letter from claims manager June 14th, 2006 pertaining to monies owed from previous claim was written in error and had been recovered in 2001, but this does not explain the other letters from previous claims manager/ payment specialists audit or the deductions that have been removed for the said overpayments. The Appeals commission also makes reference to the information above,” as that they did not receive this information from WCB in the file package”.

UPDATE:
As of July /07, my family was forced to Social Services, September 2008 WCB informs Social Services that I am making $816.00 per month, I am then again under FRAUD INVESTIGATION, all assistance cut off. T-5 for the fiscal year from WCB $911.43. Hows that for Fraud and manipulation.

Appeals Commision of Alberta Who do they work for

To the Appeals Commission Hearing Chair

I would also like to make request of reconsideration of appeal #2008-161 due to the interest that has been charged on the $10,000.00 loan that I received in April 2003, last scheduled payment March 2008, interest was included in the payment schedule, then added again on March 29th, 2004, including early payout of loan(September2007) the interest is way above the agreed amount of 12%.
The monies that were withheld from me in December 2001 with the minimum known amount of $19,568.09 from 2001 that were used (according to the Appeals Commission) towards the over payments from non-attendance (years apart) also the amount of $10,810.33, (unknown issue date) that was withheld to the same non-attendance overpayment, not to mention the amount of $4,439.08 the was removed least three times from claim 000002 and claimed that it has still not been recovered by Ms. Shirleyann Garlinski, though it has been stated by the appeals commission that that was a mistake (Ms. Garlinski has informed me that WCB does not make mistakes), yet non of these were addressed clearly in the audit
Also I would to add that in the 2006 appeals decision that certain examples were used to assist the WCB in completing a proper audit, that’s just what they were “EXAMPLES” just cause they had been included in the audit does not mean it was a proper audit, nor has proper dates and amounts been included in the audit pertaining to information that I had brought forth to the appeals commission , let alone the amount of benefits that are to have been received and explanation of the various over payments that are claimed to be owed. In that Appeals decision the audit was called upon due to correct all financial matters owing and owed, removed and withheld.
Last but least, pertaining to canceled cheque stubs, WCB has their own copies which to compare too, unless there is a more viable reason that I should be aware of?

Thank you
Sincerely
Ken

So who do they work for ? The board wants my WCB benefit stubs to check against their records? Don't they have their own? My thought on this is with all the manipulation I have seen by this criminal organization, all they want to do is destroy my evidence of manipulation. I was also informed by my claims supervisor the outcome of this appeal 3 months before the appeal happened, this along with Mr.Murry Macintosh of who had gone to the appeals commission with threats of Court against the Commission if they were to go ahead with first Audit appeal; Lorinda Thome payment specialist stating that over payment had been collected and a month later state's in file that it still has to be collected. Are these the actions of a legit business? More on the criminal side as I and others see it. To have them vote in favor of a situation that was not even remotely done correctly, as well as refusing to view any evidence I presented as it being already known to the Commission, what about a letter they received "after" the Appeal was heard in defense of the claims manager of which I have yet to see? CORRUPTION AT ITS FINEST

Wife of an injured worker voices out

I am the wife of an injured worker and I am writing on behalf of the "Family", how injury and WCB affects all the family as a unit.The injury is bad enough,but the insult by WCB ( and my husbands union) is far worse.
First, my husband has a lower back injury, although at times he looks and acts perfectly average, it is short lived. Things most people take for granted, cause him great pain, to play catch, helping the kids ride a bike, even change a diaper ( we are past that stage now), all cause irritation to his back. We also have an 8 yr old son, who is handicapped, he is a little person diagnosed with Achondroplasia with complications. As of July 2008, he has had 19 surgeries, most of his needs are are done by myself because my husband cannot physically maneuver for these low needs ( toilet, bath,lifting , carrying,etc) so I am responsible for all of our sons needs, as well as the house hold, yard work,snow shoveling, etc.
As a wife and mother, I am busy, as most of us are, but as a mother to a child with a disability, sometimes regular things take a back seat; between medical appointments, hospitalization and special needs, there is not a lot of time (or energy) for paid employment. But WCB has has forced me out there, so far my employer has been understanding to our son's needs.
As for my husbands union, what a disgrace! To claim their "brother"was not insured 3 weeks prior, or 3 weeks post injury ( 6 week period), but was insured at other times is probably one of the biggest insults of all. Unions are supposed to stand up and defend their "brothers and sisters", not kick them while they are down.
Then there is WCB, those 3 letters should be struck from the alphabet! WCB claims to be there for the injured workers, but I have yet to see this. I have seen mistreatment of the injured in the past, but now I live with it.
My husband and I , along with our children, we all suffer because of the WCB, mentally, emotionally,physically and financially; humiliation, frustration, poverty, anger all caused by WCB. My husband, like many others, is consumed by WCB - it is always there. I dread correspondence from WCB via mail, it is like receiving a letter bomb; you wait for the explosion, because you know something is about to blow!
My husbands latest injury occurred in August 99, and we are farther behind today, RRSP's and RESP's are long gone, I try to work 2 jobs to make ends meet and I pray everyday that WCB will soon be out of our lives. Unfortunatly, WCB prefers that the injured workers would just give up on their claim or drop dead, before they ( WCB ) have to part with any cash.
But we will still keep on kicking.