Find out what a WCB Committee of Review is, who is represented on the committee and read updates regarding the committee’s reports.
The Saskatchewan government establishes a WCB Committee of Review every five years. Our principal customers – workers and employers – are represented on each committee. The committee may inquire into any and all aspects of the WCB’s operations. The committee can recommend amendments to legislation, or changes to the WCB’s policies or practices.
Information and updates regarding Committee of Review reports are included in our annual report each year.
The Workers’ Compensation Act Committee of Review (Committee of Review) was appointed on Aug. 5, 2021 to review:
You are invited to share your views and suggestions with the Committee through a written submission. Registration and submissions may be made between Nov. 1, 2021 and Dec. 15, 2021 at Committee of Review - Workers' Compensation Act.
Public hearings will be held by the Committee of Review in early 2022. If you wish to make a presentation, please indicate your intention during the registration process. Note, that in order to make a presentation, you will be required to submit a written document outlining your concerns before the Dec. 15, 2021 deadline.
Interested individuals may register to attend the public hearing as an observer.
Locations, dates, times and format of the public hearings will be confirmed following the registration deadline, once the Committee has reviewed the applications from interested parties. Information on the hearings will be posted to the WCA Committee of Review webpage, and applicants will receive a follow-up email confirming their attendance.
Submissions will also be accepted by mail at:
Workers’ Compensation Act Committee of Review
300 – 1870 Albert St.
Regina, SK S4P 4W1
The Committee of Review is interested in reaching as broad an audience as possible. You are encouraged to share information on the review with members of your organization and other interested parties, including on your websites and through bulletins and social media platforms.
If you have any questions, please contact the Committee of Review at wca-cor@gov.sk.ca or call 1.866.919.1920 (toll-free across Canada).
The previous Committee of Review report was released in 2016.
The 2015 Committee of Review received more than 70 written submissions and hosted public consultations in Saskatoon, North Battleford, Prince Albert, Yorkton and Regina. The Workers’ Compensation Act Committee of Review 2016 Report is based on those public consultations.
The 2016 committee report made these 11 recommendations:
Status: The WCB’s culture and customer service excellence is being addressed as part of the WCB’s continuous process improvement effort and through the strategy deployment system, which is aligning efforts to our vision and mission.
Status: In December 2018, the Minister proposed an increase in the number of members of the Workers’ Compensation Board. Once appointed, the WCB will consist of up to seven board members:
The change to our board is in response to a recommendation from the Workers’ Compensation Act Committee of Review made in 2016. Further public consultations in 2017 identified a general consensus that stakeholders would support an expansion of the board.
Status: The appeals process is being reviewed as part of the WCB’s continuous process improvement effort. Since 2015, Board Appeal Tribunal appeal wait times have decreased by 56 per cent. The WCB is reviewing processes to improve the days to appeal decision and to improve appellant communications throughout the process.
Status: Psychological injury claims were addressed in 2016 with an amendment to The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013 (the Act) to establish a rebuttable presumption for workers experiencing psychological injuries caused by workplace trauma. In 2019, the WCB developed a specialized unit focused on adjudicating and managing psychological injury claims.
Status: The WCB’s extended services department was established in 2016. Three staff currently manage fatality, cancer-related and catastrophic injury claims.
Status: This recommendation has been reviewed and may require legislative change.
Status: Sections 173 and 174 were not repealed. FOIP was amended instead. The provision in section 173 of our Act stating that the worker can only use their file for the purposes of an appeal was removed from this section.
Status: An Employer Resource Centre working group convened in mid-2018 to investigate the gaps in supports for employers navigating the workers’ compensation system. The Employer Resource Centre was established in September 2019. Contact the Employer Resource Centre here.
Status: This recommendation is being addressed as part of the WCB’s continuous process improvement effort.
Status: Planning will begin for the next Experience Rate Review Stakeholder Committee, which meets every three to five years to recommend changes to the Experience Rating Program.
Status: This recommendation will be addressed through the development of a WCB communication process.