Child, Youth and Family Services
July 14, 2015
Strengthening the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Process
Provincial Government Appoints Full-time Review Commissioner to the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Review Division
In an effort to advance the caseload of the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Review Division, Christopher Pike has been appointed as a full-time review commissioner effective immediately. The new role will help further address the backlog of cases and complements the appointment of a full-time Chief Review Commissioner in 2013.
“The appointment of a full-time Chief Review Commissioner in 2013 resulted in considerable gains towards timely service delivery and significantly strengthened the appeal process. As a result, we recognized the value of adding a full-time commissioner to further address the number of cases and enable the review division to maintain continuity and quality of services for workers and employers. I wish to congratulate Mr. Pike on his new role.”
- The Honourable Sandy Collins, Minister Responsible for the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Review Division
A full-time commissioner will allow the review division to expand the current monthly hearing schedule, resulting in the finalization of more appeals for workers and employers. With a commissioner panel consisting of full and part-time commissioners, the division anticipates eliminating the existing caseload backlog by the end of the fiscal year. As the division receives approximately 25 applications monthly, the panel will then be well positioned to service incoming cases on a current basis.
The Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Review Division is a quasi-judicial body established under Section 21 of the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Act that considers appeals arising from decisions of the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission. The appeals deal with matters such as compensation benefits, rehabilitation, return-to-work services and benefits, and the workplace obligations of employers and workers.
Quick Facts
- Christopher Pike has been appointed as a full-time review commissioner with the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Review Division, effective immediately.
- A full-time commissioner will allow the review division to expand the current monthly hearing schedule which will result in the finalization of more appeals for workers and employers.
- It is anticipated the review division will eliminate the existing caseload backlog by the end of the fiscal year.
- The Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Review Division is a quasi-judicial body established under Section 21 of the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Act that considers appeals arising from decisions of the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission.
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Media contact:
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Melony O’Neill Director of Communications Department of Child, Youth and Family Services 709-729-5148, 689-0928 moneill@gov.nl.ca |
BACKGROUNDER
Biographical Information
Christopher D.G. Pike
Christopher Pike has held the position of Manager of Legislation with the Department of Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs since June 2014. Prior to this position, he was employed as a Barrister, Solicitor and Notary with Benson Buffett PLC Inc. for 25 years.
Mr. Pike has extensive experience in legislation development and interpretation, as well as the resolution of personal injury claims and insurance coverage disputes. He is a graduate of the Faculty of Law at the University of New Brunswick and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Mr. Pike was also awarded the City of St. John’s Building Healthy Communities Award in 2013 and received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal that same year. He was named the St. John’s Insurance Law Lawyer of the Year for 2013 and the St. John’s Personal Injury Litigator of the Year for 2011 by the Best Lawyers in Canada. In 2012, the Canadian Bar Association (Newfoundland and Labrador Branch) presented him with the Distinguished Public Service Award.
2015 07 14 12:50 p.m.