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Establishment of a Structure to Oversee Research
99/07/12-01
THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION BOARD OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
RESOLUTION OF THE PANEL OF ADMINISTRATORS
Re: Establishment of a Structure to Oversee Research
WHEREAS:
Pursuant to Section 82 of the Workers Compensation Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 492 and amendments thereto (the "Act"), the Panel of Administrators (the "Panel") must approve and superintend the policies and direction of the Workers’ Compensation Board (the "Board") and must:
82(a)(ii) review and approve operating policies of the Board,
82(a)(iii) approve operating and capital budgets of the Board,
82(a)(v) approve major programs and expenditures;
AND WHEREAS:
Pursuant to Section 71(4) the Board has the authority to engage and carry out education programs and fund research relating to its responsibilities under this Act;
AND WHEREAS:
The former Board of Governors passed the Grants and Awards Policy (8WCR 747) in 1992;
AND WHEREAS:
In 1996 the Panel approved a Strategic Plan that included a strategy relating to the centralized coordination of research;
AND WHEREAS:
A proposal has been made to the Panel to establish a Research Foundation to ensure accountable, continued scientific study as well as dissemination and application of ways to reduce injury, disease, impairment or disability arising from employment, in support of the Strategic Plan;
AND WHEREAS:
In 1998 the Panel approved the appropriation of a $30 million reserve such that the income stream from this reserve could be used for research;
AND WHEREAS:
The Panel requested the Policy and Regulation Development Bureau (the "Bureau") to conduct further consultation on an appropriate structure for the research fund;
AND WHEREAS:
The Bureau has consulted with stakeholders as well as with research organizations across Canada and abroad.
AND WHEREAS:
The Panel approved, in principle, the establishment of a Research Secretariat at its June 15, 1999 meeting.
THE PANEL OF ADMINISTRATORS RESOLVES THAT:
- The structure of the Research Secretariat shall be as set out in Appendix A.
- The position description for the Chair of the Research Advisory Committee and the Executive Director/Director of the Research Secretariat will be decided by the Chair of the Panel in conjunction with the President and CEO and the Human Resources Division and circulated to the Panel for comment prior to finalization. Both positions will be hired by and report directly to the Panel.
- Decisions regarding staffing and budget for the Secretariat will be reported to the Panel by the Panel Chair.
Dated at Richmond, British Columbia, July 19, 1999
| By the Workers' Compensation Board |
|
| DON COTT, CHAIR, PANEL OF ADMINISTRATORS |
APPENDIX A
Research Secretariat Reporting to Panel
- A Research Secretariat will be established that reports to the Panel of Administrators through the Panel Chair. The Secretariat will comprise an Executive Director/Director and a small complement of existing WCB staff. The role of the Secretariat will be to review proposals, support the work of a Research Advisory Committee, and ensure strong links with the research community and other organizations at the local, national and international levels.
- A Research Advisory Committee will be established that comprises an equal number of worker and employer representatives and an independent chair. The Executive Director/Director of the Secretariat will sit as an ex officio member of the Committee. The Chair of the Research Advisory Committee will be responsible for presenting the recommendations of the Committee to a Research Priorities Committee.
- The Research Priorities Committee will make decisions based on recommendations from the Advisory Committee. It have same composition as current and Board Governance (Panel ChairPanel memberPresidentDirector General) with addition of Executive Director/Director Secretariat sit an ex officio
- The Panel will approve the annual research plan and will make decisions on issues/projects where the Research Priorities Committee contemplates not following the recommendation of the Research Advisory Committee.
- The Executive Director/Director will work with the Chair of the Research Advisory Committee to ensure strong links with the research community and to foster a closer relationship with the research community within BC and with other national and international bodies. The research community will not participate as decision-makers in the process; however, they will be invited to sit as non-voting participants of the Research Advisory Committee.
- The following principles will be included in the terms of reference
for the Secretariat:
- The research function will be insulated from administrative/ financial/political changes.
- The priorities of the research fund will reflect the needs of workplaces as identified by stakeholders through the Research Advisory Committee as well as through the Board’s Strategic Plan.
- Administrative efficiencies will be maximized.
- Research outcomes will be tracked and a needs and benefits analysis applied prior to continuation of funding.
- The Research Secretariat will collaborate with other jurisdictions to avoid duplication of effort and to pursue joint projects/funding.