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Report rom Queen ' s Park By GEORGE ASHE, MPP (PC-DURHAM WEST) 4 Stories we have ail heard make us shudder at even the ythought of ever havlng to deal with the Workmen's Com- pensation Board. An accident at work is something we hope to avoid anyway, and the necessity of approaching a bureaucracy the size of the WCBis certainly intimidating. However, the truth is that this need not be an'experience to dread. The Workmen's Compensation Board employs more than 2,000 people spread over eighteen Divisions, but only two, the Claims Division and the Appeals Division, are highly involved in direct claimant contact. Last year, the Claims, Division received andi processed more than 424,000 dlaims, or 1,700 per working day. 0f the total number of caims received, approximately 60 per cent are for medical aid only (no time lost fromn work), and 40 per cent are claiîns for loat work time. Surveys have in- dicated thaL the first compensation cheques are issued for 95.2 per cent of uncomplicated dlaims within five workinig days. The time is longer for complicated dlaims, where it takes an average of about thirty days for the first cheque to be issued in 67.0 per cent of the cases. Contrary to popular belief, this Division does work very bard to accomnodate the claimants. For instances, to prevent the 1978 postal strike from holding Up benefits payments, the Claims Division prepared over 60,000 pen- sion cheques in advance of' maiing date and forwarded themn to pensioners. In addition, 49 temporary depots were set up throughout the province, where injured workers could pick Up their compensation cheques during the mail stoppage. The locations of these pick-up points were adver- tised widely in the mass media.- 0f the 424,000 dlaims- received in 1978, the initial Board decision on some 4,100 were appealed, which means less than 1 par cent of the claîmants werre dissatisfied with the decisions reached. Since November of, 1977, the WCB bas been working towards streamling the appeals procedure. As a resuit of organizationai changes, a dramaâtic reduction of the scheduling time for appeal hearings. has been achieved. By the end of 1978, the time required to arrange a hearing by an appeals adjdicator in Toronto was re duced from three months to one month. The average time from the end of an lappeals hearing, until the final decision was rendered was reduced by one week, to siightly less than 27 calendar days. Most of the other sixteen Divisions of the WCB are reiated'to the claimants on an indirect basis, and yet tbey play a vital role in the overail service provided to the workers and employers of Ontario. For instance, in 1978 the WCB's decision to make the first compensation award in the world for laryngeal cancer was based on new scientific WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1979, PAGE 21 The worki ngs of theWCB evidence developed by the Medical Services Division. By the end of 1978, a further 17 dlaims had been awarded for this disease. The Vocat ional Rebabiitation Division is meeting the demand for more and better medical expertize (par- ticularly for industrial diseases), to belp workers with job- related, handicaps to find new occupations and positions. Làast year, through the efforts of this Division, a record 2,800 people were successfully returned to employment. Based on the belief that a well-informed staff is the Board's most valuable asset, the Communications Division provides internai news and current information to the more Auxilliary provides socil event of the year. The Ladies Auxilîaryof the Royal Canadian Legion held their social event of the year in the form of a Halloween Party last week. Auxiliarypresident Dorotby Ormistin welcomed fellow members from Bay Ridges, Port Perry, Ajax, Bowmanville, .Oshawa .and Claremont. The mistress of. ceremonies was Dorothy Lonsdale and music was provided by Agnes McGaw at the piano. Costumes were judged by branch. president Henry ýPerry and by Bernie Greening. -> Winners in the contest for best costumes were: Dorothy Richardson of Bowmanvilie; Susie Graham, aiso from Bowmanvilie; and by Thelma Olford of Whitby. The auxiiiary's land, the Saintly Untoubiables per- formed with Joan Richar- dson and Dorothy Lonsdale singing 'My Blue Heaven' and 'Danny Boy'. in honor ,0f tbe Inter- national Year of the Chiid, the talent of chiidren was showcased in the programn. Andrea and Karen Anderson of Pickering 'gave a perfor- mance on the violin and piano and Marg Conneliy's children danced to the en- joyment of ail present. The pipa band under the leadership of Murdock Ferguson also, entertained the crowd. The auxiliary was pieased to see the turnout of four generation 0f one famiiy at the festivities. Present were, Mrs. May Mantle of Oshawa; hler daughter Shirley Hicks of Whitby; ber daughter Sharon Paul of Oshawa and bier daughter Shari. Ontario to -discontinue smailpox vaccination Dimbrell teils hospital meeting than 2,000 employees. The Safety . Education Division provides information and advice to industry on qafety, and distributes safety literature ini cooperation with the nine safety Associations whlch comprise a WCB financially supported Council of Safety Associations. My office works very closely *with the staff of the Board in resolving d1aim problems for the people in Durham West Riding, and botb Judy and June are welI-versed I the workings of the WCB. Sbould you require assistance, please contact one of tbemn at my Constituency office i Ajax, 6W3- 6707l. DENTURE THERAPY CLINIC 111 DUNDAS STREET WEST WHITBY 688-1464 TORONTO, October 30 - Ontario will discontinue smalipox vaccination foliow- ing a Worid Health Organiza- tion declaration that the disease has been eradicated. Health Minister Dennis Timbreil told delegates to the Ontario Hospital Asso- ciation Conference that the last case in the worid was diagnosed two years ago and there has not been a case found in Ontarjo since 1962. "But 1 doubt there is one person in this room who has not been vaccinated for sinalipox and i would wager that many -of you have had some direct contact with smallpox victims," the Min- ister said. Smallpox epidemics.were a major heaith probierni in Canada in the eariy part of the century and particuiarly following the First World War. Although Ontario heaith units will no longer be sup- plied with vaccine, Mr. Tim- breli said supplies are being stockpiled in London, At- lanta and Moscow in case of future outbreaks. The Health Minister said health care personnel in- volved in day-to-day hospital activities, often forget the advances of health science and lie called the eradication of smallpox a milestone in human progress. -> .~.'Durham Regionls $FINEST SELECTION of Fresh and Marine~f~ TROPICAL FISH Also A Gooci Selectior, of / *CANARIES Il*aBUDGIES *COCKATIELS LARGER BIRDSk$ *SMALL ANIMAIS M Whitby Mail 579-8577 Drop ln and visit wîth us Mon taSal m-m NOTICE TOWN 0F WHITBY APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS Ciieswho may be interested In servIng on the following Boards or Commit- tees are Invited to submIt their name along with a brief reaumne 10 the under- signed for consideration by Town Council, on or before November 16,1979:- (a> Ce matary Board - 6 Appolntments - 1 Vear Term <b> Commttea of Adjusiment .2 Appointments - 3 Vear Term (c) Fence Vlewera -.6 Appointments.- 1 Year Term (d) Gamne Preserve Committea -.9 Appointments- 1 Ysear Term (e) Library Board - 1 Appointment - 3 Vear Termn (f) Local Architectural Conservation -.4 Appointments.-3 Year Term Advisory Committee (g) Property Standards Committea-2 Appointments -3 Vear Term (h) Board of Management of Museum - 1 Appointment - 3 Vear Term (1) Central Business District Improvement- 6 Appointments - i Vear Termn Ares Commîttea Wm. H. Wallace, A.M.C.T., C.M.C., ClerkAdmnistrator, The Corporation of the Town of Whitby, 575 Roselend Road East, Whitby, Ontario Li N 2M8 M a a a