Where has the Canada Pension Money gone?

There has been a lot of talk in the past couple of decades that our Canadian Pension is dwindling , to the point of nothing being available when my generation gets to retirement age (which is not that far away).

In the past few years I have been fighting for my rights which have been taken away by a provincially Legislated Non-Profit Organization, this Organization is responsible for the coverage of those who are injured or become ill from their work place. As many of the permanently disabled/ ill have come to realize the hard way is that the WCB's across Canada will do anything to protect their profits, which they use for international meetings, rewards to safety groups that basically do nothing, wages and most importantly their pensions. So we can see from their side as to why they want the employers of Canada, which includes our Provincial/ Federal Governments, our RCMP, our Military and those who stand guard of the Criminals that are kept in our prisons.
A recent court document that I had the opportunity to view, dealt with a Disabled by Occupation employee that fit into the latter of these categories, one sentence really caught my eye from the court transcript: " Your Honour,  the court of this province (Alberta) has no jurisdiction regarding the WCB " the Judge agreed and the lawsuit against WCB was dismissed.
(Alta WCB Act sec2.1: States " the Board has the same Rights, Powers & Privileges of a Natural Person")

The WCB of Alberta has made it clear that they do not have to follow the laws that are written up for all Canadians, nor do they have too fulfill their Legislated responsibilities to those who they were created for back in 1913,  as the tens possibly hundreds of thousands of Disabled by Occupation will verify and that have been lead to a life of poverty.

There is now a new way of preventing poverty of which the WCB of Alberta hopes all disabled by occupation will follow, they have their spokesmen going around talking to other Disabled by occupation into forgetting about their WCB benefits and to collect the pensions they are entitled too from Canada Pension.

Many have been informed of this "New" prevention of Poverty, only to find out that once they are accepted for pension , whether it is CPP or ASIH, they lose their benefits of WCB, including any monies that may still be owed to the claimant. Upon collecting CPP, depending on your age and contributions, will determine your pension and upon reaching retirement age your pension will then be recalculated for the amount you previously received and "deducted accordingly".
Mean while the Canada Pension decreases, the employers pay their premiums to WCB, who does nothing for the disabled Worker, the disabled worker's life is borderline poverty "until retirement age" and those who go around helping the WCB promote this "New Poverty Prevention" have no idea of what they are promoting, what should be promoted is the fact that the WCB of Alberta and across Canada for that matter should be stripped of their Judicial Immunity, laws that are in place for insurance carriers to be enforced to fullest extent of the law, and to prevent non-profits organizations such as the the WCB from having over a Billion in profits that is handed over to others, when it is meant to keep those Disabled by Occupation out of poverty and to assist them in gaining control of lives, instead of being treated like the poorest people of 3rd world countries.

After All the Majority of Disabled Workers became so from building this Province/Country , not by sitting behind a desk dictating what is best for others, destroying lives of Canadians, basically stealing from our pockets, when their only goal is to Profit themselves and have others succumb to their demands, sounds a lot like Organized Criminals to me .

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.

Does Alberta take pride in promoting Corruption?

As most of this blog is about Alberta WCB, I felt it should be put out into the open as to the Corruption in Alberta and as to why our Government does nothing about it, except take part by allowing for the Criminal acts to go on. Bribery Protection, by those who are to have the protection of Alberta Citizens as a priority, only protection they promote is by the Legislated Acts that protect the Corporate Criminals as well as those in Politics.

As for injured workers we know what kind of life we are forced to live,  it is a life of Do What We Say, Not What You think is Best For You, it has come to the point of those involved being fed up with the policies and manipulations, that have no recourse of action, although they will argue different as in you have the Appeals Commission to fall back on , but those who been there done that, realize how much manipulation of information in involved by these Boards/ Commissions/Agencies; especially when hard evidence of manipulation is brought forth to them they still deny any wrong doing, Law Enforcement has done nothing about the criminal acts, nor do they seem to be interested in doing so.

We have a person that is the Head Legal Counsel for the Alberta WCB, involved in a Society of Importance , in this case the Alberta Law Society, in specific Mr Clarence Mah of who promotes the criminal acts of the Alberta WCB.
There are more organizations then the Alberta Law Society and the Alberta WCB that he is a  member of lets looks at Mr.Mah's Divine Calling  and his friends, yet he claims to be standing for the benefit of Injured/Disabled Workers of Alberta, which is farthest from the truth.

With the Criminal acts,Canadian Human Rights Violations ,along with United Nations Rights Violations, Crimes against Humanity and forcing Children into Foster Care/ Poverty, all due to a person standing up for their Rights and Freedoms, even then the Provincial and Federal Offices wont allow a person to make a complaint against a Corporation , but if we were an offended Gay/Lesbian, Landed Immigrant, Criminal or an abused animal then we would have some Justice on the abuses we face each day.

How I got to this Point

Over an 18 year period, I went from barely able to walk due to being denied proper medical treatment, where the medical professional was  recommended by others, not by myself, but by many of who have a questionable reputation; too losing almost everything, including my family and sanity.

1992:
2nd yr Electrical apprentice: Alpac Project in Northern Alberta, was working on the “Chipper”, which is a long walk up the steps, 4 other co-workers and I were the first up the stairs, seemed like a nice day out there, cloud cover breaking with the morning sun and warming up, to keep the November air just perfect for work.
Add 2” of snow during the night, the pines are looking beautiful along the horizon, I was first to grab the hand rail and go up, next thing I knew my right leg came up, w/knee hitting my shoulder, left leg does a side-ways 90 degree angle from my upper body to the right side under my right hip and that is how I hit the ground, “Tin Bashers” had left a sheet tin on the ground, right at the base of the stair case of the chipper.

I can remember the pain, along with my 1st instinct, when in pain react to it, I got up w/help from my colleges, was able to stand but not able to climb the stairs, so I was put on the “REEL” to spin off cable for the conveyor belt of the Chipper. Reel was about 75-80 yard’s away it took me 15 minutes to get there when I did I fell on the reel, after about 30 mins I was unable to spin cable off the reel, so I was told to go back to the lunch trailer, about 100 yards away, and wait for the foreman and a nurse, this was about 7:45 -8:00 am.
10am coffee break I was 20 yards from the Lunch trailer, my co-workers saw me and carried me the rest of the way, (they were on top inside the chipper the whole time), no-one else knew I was injured (except the foreman).

It took time for me to feel everything that was wrong with me, even after I seen the Doctor for the first time, which was 4 hours later, during that time I waited for my Foreman and a nurse, all I got was Foreman (w/ aspirin in his hand), General Foreman and Job-site Manager all came an talked to me, told me that I will have to fill out WCB forms so they can contact WCB and make them aware immediately. It was a claims manager from WCB that called me at the job site (they brought the phone to the lunch trailer) asking me questions on my injury, I told him I don’t know as I haven’t seen a doctor yet, he then informed me of my rights under the Act as per medical attention, and he will have a doctor ready for me Lac La Biche, approx 30 miles away, half of it rough bush roads, I was informed to get to my bunk in camp and wait there until the ambulance came to get me.

In the next few hours I was accused of “Malingering”, “looking for a free ride” etc, etc; I used a wall to assist me in walking I fought hard to take each step, most of the pain I felt under my right knee cap, as it was so painful that I barely felt the pain in my hips and lower back, I took it as symptom of the knee, not the opposite, as that is what I was told by the Doctor, who the WCB had lined up for me before I got there, which I ended up driving myself, as they were waiting on Ambulance to bring me in, that in itself brings up more questions then I can get answers.
For three days I went to him, driving back and forth to camp, as the Company wanted to keep it “lost time prevention”, I took 5 separate injections under my knee cap each visit then asked "If my knee felt better", after taking those shots under the kneecap I wasn’t feeling any pain from the meds I was given, but 3 hours later it sure didn’t help, I was right back to the max pain level of a 10+, sitting in camp alone , with other trades men, yelling through the walls to “quit that moaning and suck it up” .

That was the original injury which went undiagnosed, until 2.5 years later due to a re-injury, physio-therapist then put my hip back into place, which was refused to be such by the Alberta WCB, automatically it is a new claim and they used the old injury as a deduction of Medical/Financial/ rehabilitation responsibilities.

Between 1992 and 1999, I experienced 4 separate situations like this and each time was off work for over a year, only difference is that in 1999 my Doctor said “enough is enough”, this mans body cant keep taking this punishment of cut him off and return him to work so he can only come back again, . A year long battle broke out on this in appeals, of which time I had no income what so ever and the repercussions my family went through was more then outrageous; it was criminal.

I fought the WCB claims manager & Employer; as together, they created false information pertaining my length of employment, hours and day of lay-off, I thank my union for supplying me with the information I needed to win that appeal, and I do hold them accountable for misrepresentation of a worker in many ways, but that is not what this story is about.

WCB put me through their vocational program, my resumes were mixed with other peoples information, not mine; they gave me questionnaires to determine a new profession, they refused most due to the schooling costs; they then requested I write an entrance exam to an accredited School for Electrical Engineering, was accepted; by that December the school had a letter written up stating that “I do not have the academic back ground for the completion of the Pre-technical course that was required to enter Electrical Engineering.”

So I was then informed of my monthly pension, which I would be collecting, and on that I was not able to support my family as I did prior; unless I can come up with a permanent solution.

I came up with a “Portable Work Station”, many uses, made specifically for people who enjoy D.Y.I projects. I created it due to my hobbies of wood, metal, lapidary and other projects I have enjoyed during my life, it could even be converted easily into small portable office. It was built to hold tools (power /hand), material, 300lb weight capacity, extend-able, height adjustable, everything I needed to work with my injury.

I then made up a few drawings and then took the materials I had and created a semi-prototype of what I wanted, you must remember this was with material I had handy; nothing was bought, as I had no money for that.
I did a test of it in my garage, worked not to bad; I then went through the process of pricing material to build another, did more testing, fixing where I found fault in structure, I needed the proper equipment to do this, so off to find the Financing I need.

I made presentations to various Retailers and Distributors, in hopes of getting a break in Financing; I found a national retailer that wanted to handle my Work Station but would only buy in lots of 1500 and payable within 90 days. In order to reach that amount of product I needed to know manufacturing costs, I had a manufacturer set up that would go over my design, blue print it, minimal cash up front as he knew my situation, to be my sole manufacturer, but not until I sent them the finished, tested proto-type for production. I had other designs drawn up as well, from mobility aids for handi-capped, portable fencing and other designs/plans in various fields, all non-related with P.W.S, which were all included in my business plan to the WCB; of which they took out of my hands and placed it in the hands of the Business Development Bank of Canada.

The B.D.B.C had given the Portable Work Station a 45% chance of success w/out a proper proto-type having been built, it was their startup costs of the venture that I disagreed with.
My calculated cost was just over $70,000.00; $50,000.00 less than business plan that the B.D.B.C had written up for the WCB, it was rejected.

I was informed by Mr. Rob VanDoesburg during this time: “that I know nothing of business and therefore I should enroll into Business Administration”, he did advise me that it was my decision to take this course, then if I still felt that I wanted to pursue this venture, I would have the means to do so, on my own, or to collect $900.00 per month until retirement, as I would not receive any venture capital from the WCB, nor would they grant me an advance on my benefits to do so: this was before the B.D.B.C was done the feasibility study of the Work Station.
I discussed this situation thoroughly with Mr.VanDoesburg , he stated that “if” I showed a solid commitment to this venture, it may be considered, so we bought property, close to rail and hiway, which enabled me to keep overhead down, location to build proto-type and other designs I had planed to create to have manufactured.(of which I penalized after for not having WCB permission to move to that location, they would however have paid for my moving if I had moved to the location they chose for me & my family)
That wasn’t showing enough commitment and I was forced to go to academics even though from the past situation which had the same entrance qualifications, pass, fail or drop out they were done with me. When I was to start classes I would receive my full benefits, until then I was to live off the deemed employment of an Electrical Engineer, which after deductions was about $350.00 per month.

6 months later I have no claims manager, no-one to inform directly that I desperately needed the upgrading to enable the completion of the B.A course, I finally got hold of a WCB supervisor Mr. Patrick McDermott and was able to relate the information to him, he advised me once again pass, fail or drop out they are done with me, as that is the reason I no-longer have a claims manager, as soon as school was done so were my benefits, so a C.M was not needed.
That winter I received my T5007 tax form, it claimed I made over $44,000.00 that year, I questioned this and requested the Financial reports on my claim, unknown to them I had kept all my benefit stubs since the beginning of my claim, I then requested an audit due to many irregularities of the financial statements, that is when Ms. Shirley-Anne Garlinski started handling my claim and I had found over $40,000.00 (at that time) wrongfully removed from my benefits; 3 years later I am again forced into a situation ; this time it was to plead guilty to fraud charges (of which they had been doing the defrauding, prior to and after, as over $70,000.00 wrongfully removed now).

As I never stopped working on finding the finances for the Portable Work Station during this, along with getting an Industrial Design registered with the Canadian Patent Office , I had been able to gain my name on the list for the CBC television show “The Dragons Den” which was about a year before I knew I was facing criminal charges and had to withdraw from the program due to the acceptance agreement, I had also gone to various Federal Government programs to gain financing but was informed that I am a WCB recipient and therefore their responsibility, go to them for assistance. With everything else that I have posted on my blog’s this is what was happening behind the scenes as well, I will still get all this going, but again I cannot do anything with the position that I must sit stagnant as I cannot come up with what is needed for success nor will those responsible allow for me to go forward, only under their direction may I succeed into deeper poverty and social stigma.
all of this due to greed and corruption inside the Alberta Government.
From the year 2000 until 2007, my wife and I had spent 3.5 years in the courts fighting two Alberta Government agencies, 2.5 years alone fighting for our children, of which we were proven innocent, all due to just one, the Alberta Workers Compensation Board, during that time not only was all this going on , but with our special needs child going through over 27 major surgeries  in 7 years, dealing with psychologists and many other professionals due to the WCB & family Services working together during the time of my benefits being cut off, stating that we cannot afford the food for our children and placed them in foster homes, which in turn lead to the 2.5 years in court, along with the Fraud charges the WCB laid against me and forcing me into pleading guilty under duress; all this while attempting to concentrate on academics which I was unprepared for and refused the assistance I needed.

Canadian "White Collar Criminals w/ Judicial Powers & Immunity"

“Only in Canada you say ? Pity “ that is what the world wide corporations are saying as they look at the way Canada allows “White Collar Crime” to run rampant and endorsed by the Government. The Government bails out corporations with Millions of dollars and allows them to pocket the finances for the C.E.O’s and top administrative positions of the corporations while those who are owed their pensions and benefits go unpaid. If you are not part of the corrupt system then you are more likely the ones that are being abused and sent into poverty, whether immediately or slowly over time.

Where a corporation is able to have Judicial Powers and Immunity, can doctor the books to their satisfaction and anyone that questions it will be made into a criminal or worse: have their families destroyed by the “tag teaming” of Government agencies to ensure that any person that rebuttals their decisions will not have the credibility to proceed with their fight for Rights, Freedom and Justice.

Our Government selects people to sit on tribunal’s to make judgment of these situations and depending on the person that is sitting at the time depends on a fair hearing or not, for instance a tribunal had ruled in favor of a person, regarding a selected employment position where the person was incapable of fulfilling the position, a few years later the tribunal with different people sitting as Judges, with evidence that was used prior and new evidence that was not allowed to be used by plaintiff, over turned the previous; the main overturn was pertaining to financial auditing where it had been found that the corporation had under paid the person involved by a considerable amount of Money and yet they had turned that information around and wrote up the “new pension” as the beneficiary had to pay them back for the money they actually owed , creating a situation where they had done all they could to keep this person from exposing the truth. This has happened more then once to the same person and has happened to many others in Canada, as this practice is tolerated and seemingly endorsed by our Governments and Judiciary professionals.

They use the Finances to make you do their bidding, force you into torture with their “ No pain , No Gain” policy for the sick and injured; make you follow  a program that is so painful and over bearing that if you refuse or do not complete the tasks they set out for you then again you are financially abused, most times they remove more then you are entitled to receive, as a person that was receiving $500 a week and missed a day due to a family medical emergency and was deducted $250 for that day. Another favorite tactic is to place a person into a "Deemed" employment, they state the amount a person is to make, at the highest amount they can find and deduct that amount from the benefits of a disabled worker; they then set the amounts of raises that a person would get, can you imagine a retail sales clerk making $32,000.00 per year with a $7,2000.00 raise after the first year of employment?
 You can appeal their decisions, but after a time they will refuse any future appeals on a claim by the wording of the Appeals Commissions Decision , or which has been the case prior, where the appeal letter has sat on the Claims mangers desk for months/ appeals adviser is no longer working there and the claimant does not find out until after the one year time period for appeal has expired, extortion at its finest.
They do as they wish without fear of reprisal, from our Governments or law enforcement, why? Ask our Governments and Law enforcement..  

As time has gone by, Canada’s famous police force refused to investigate, instead they told the beneficiary to hire their own lawyers and forensic auditors as they did not want to get involved, the City police that have the jurisdiction of the where the crimes were committed also would not get involved as they seem to pick and choose who they will investigate, or Ministers of Justice and Solicitor Generals refuse to request an investigation into these criminal acts and violations of many kinds, with the “War on Terrorism” that has gone world wide, makes one wonder who the real terrorists are, after all the main part of all wars is the “propaganda” to convince the people of that particular nation that they are the ones in the right and that the enemy is always the one that goes against our beliefs and principles no matter how untrue those words really are; Remember that disabled workers are terrorist minded as they have no recourse legal action due to the abuses and injustices that are permitted by Governments that believe anyone who stands up against their corrupt ways is considered a “TERRORIST”, in other words the Canadian Government along with its Provincial counterparts.

 Dealing with this situation many of us face, is the problem of Provincial Government agencies will suck the "soul" right out of you, "while your still kicking", and the Federal Government will not get involved even though they made it law for every worker to be covered by WCB/WSIB; Its like they thrive on torturous situations that are just as much a mind game in dealing with them; as it is physical in the forms of rehabilitation / over pushing the injury, causing more damage , is this how they torture/ treat the Taliban?

Dealing with the Workers Compensation Boards all across Canada and Internationally

Dealing with the Workers Compensation Boards all across Canada, is a very strenuous psychological challenge, there many crimes committed 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, Extortion, Embezzlement, Money laundering, Threats against Persons & Property, Blackmail, Medical Malpractice, Social Discrimination and countless accusations of untruths against the injured/disabled worker; yet this organization is given Judicial Immunity/ Protection across Canada.


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 and in some cases our jobs were like family, where everyone stood beside/ behind each other through thick or thin, only to find out later, that we are nothing more then a disposable slave to do their bidding.
From the employers attempts to have us not file a claim on the accident or their attempts of preventing proper medical treatment and in some cases, denying that you the employee even had an accident at work or that the employee is faking the injury, 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 have not walked in our shoes, which makes them unable to realize how much control this corporation has on our lives, while these same people have no-one to control them as our Governments have allowed for free reign with 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.
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 and knowing that they are in need of assistance, of which they will never get, in order of gaining it all back
This alone is no less the 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, from their own wages to their 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.

What has been found to be more of a concern for Canadian Disabled workers; is the influences and guidance by:

Association of Workers Compensation Boards of Canada (A.W.C.B.C) to the independent Provincial Compensation Boards, also known as Work Safe Insurance Boards in selected Provinces; is the influences of International Associations that promote their tactics of financial, medical and individual claim handling techniques.

The American Association of State Insurance Funds  is an association of workers' compensation insurance companies from 27 different states, plus 10 workers' compensation boards in Canada.

International Association of Workers Compensation Boards:
 “an association of government agencies that administer and regulate their jurisdiction’s workers' compensation acts”, who takes pride in their Jurisdictional members who they state are governmental agencies, commissions, boards, councils and courts.

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

WCB Hostage taking could have been Prevented

October 21st ,2009 was not a great day in Edmonton Alberta, the hostage taking at Alberta’s Worker’s Compensation Board was a very depressing situation for the employees of WCB and for the injured worker and his family. In all reality "ALL" were the victims of WCB abuse, with their policies and practices to "Profit" (as they are a nonprofit organization) any way they can, which unfortunately leads the injured worker into poverty and loss of family, loss of home and sometimes suicide.
The man that did the hostage taking Patrick Clayton, was a man at the end of his rope, I would imagine he attempted every avenue of appeal within the WCB, as many of Alberta’s injured workers have done. After the appeals the only recourse of help is going to your MLA, to the Ombudsman, Premier, lawyers, media and protesting, as many injured workers have found out, each and every one of these last options are dead ends.

From my personal experiences with the WCB and the fight that I have been forced into, it has come to my realization that no matter what direction a person attempts to go, whether it is though the appeals process or just trying to get a claims manager to accept your Doctor’s report, it is a hassle. WCB staff and employers will and have attempted to close down an injury claim before it starts, to those that wish to ignore the actions of the WCB, like MLA Doug Griffiths and his P.C political party, we do have the proof.

I attempted to make Mr. Griffiths aware that all of the hostage taking could have been prevented, however each time I made a statement as to the abuse of the WCB he would twist my words into me claiming that the hostage taking was justified and continued to state that I have a twisted, terrorist mind an should seek physiological help, all for speaking out against the WCB and his political party that were the roots of the situation.

He kept asking for proof so I would direct him to websites with the information, his reply was give me something that he could verify, while the proof is in my possession; this went over and over repeatedly as if he and I were on the legislative floor wasting time continually repeating the words, as they so often do. By the end of the night which shortly after 12 am, I challenged Mr. Griffiths to prove me wrong, have an investigation into all that I stated about WCB or to prove me right by doing nothing as the Alberta legislature has done pertaining to the WCB for many years, decades in fact. Nearing the end of our conversation he informed me that he does not have the power to request an investigation, but he does have the power to present it on the floor of the legislative, which he refused to comment on and ended our conversation with an accusation that I need help, which he cannot give and mentioned that he wanted to know my name so he could find me the help I needed, and for me to go to bed as I need sleep more so then he did.

What I learned from this conversation is that anyone that speaks out against the WCB in this matter is considered a terrorist and after informing him that if the Alberta Legislative
had done their job properly years ago, that this situation would most likely not have happened, I was then again accused of being a twisted individual with a terrorist mind.

I had spent the day on the internet informing people that the WCB is not the victim here, they are the cause, with judicial powers and immunity to any court action, it is allowed free reign to do what ever they wish, I have talked with many about this organization from injured workers, advocates and lawyers and it is the same about the unfairness to the injured and one sidedness to the employer.
Justice MacLean: Alberta Court of Queens Bench has commented on the unfairness of the WCB, “This is not a level playing field, it is not fair, and it offends the basic principles of natural justice."

Yet this Alberta government allows this to keep going on, is it because they promote corruption or that the injured workers are a waste of their time and let fall into cracks of time and be forgotten?
The WCB has tactics of their own as well, from manipulating files, whether medical, financial or personal, they do it to justify their end goal of profit and savings for the employer, yet WCB is a non-profit organization with over a Billion in its account as of April 2009. There are many different tactics that they use as well, mainly the use of word manipulation, where if an injured worker questions an action of the WCB they are declared non-compliant and then all benefits are cut off until that person makes it to the appeals commission which can take up a year and some have gone a lot longer.
From deeming of employment to denial of doctors reports, they will do anything to the injured they wish, it is kiss their feet as (in their minds) they are holier then thou and if you don’t agree with that then you can no-longer come into our building as they will and have, written people up as a threat when no threatening actions have ever been made.

If all that isn’t enough to deter you from fighting for your rights, they will contact another arm’s length agency to also start harassing the injured worker. People should question how many injured workers have been forced to Social Assistance when it is the WCB’s responsibility to care for the injured worker, if nothing is done about this criminal organization the there most likely will be more situations like October 21st ,2009.

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.

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