Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba

Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba
Board overview
Formed1917
Headquarters333 Broadway, Winnipeg, MB R3C 4W3
Employees500[1]
Minister responsible
Board executives
  • Colin Robertson, Board Chair
  • Cathy Skinner, President & CEO (acting)
Key document
Websitewcb.mb.ca/

The Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba (WCB) is an agency of the Government of Manitoba that provides a system for workplace injury and disability insurance for workers and employers of Manitoba, paid for by employers.[2]

Established in 1917 in accordance with The Workers Compensation Act,[3] which was passed the previous year, WCB's creation was the result of a compromise: injured workers gave up the right to sue employers in exchange for no-fault insurance in the case of work-related injuries or illness, while employers agreed to pay for the system providing they would be protected from lawsuits. One of the problems that workers' compensation was created to solve, namely, the problem of employers becoming insolvent as a result of high damage awards. The system of collective liability was created to prevent that, and thus to ensure security of compensation to the workers. Individual immunity is the necessary corollary to collective liability.[4]

WCB is run by a board of directors that consists of 10 members appointed by the Manitoba government from nominations submitted by labour, employers and the public. The chief executive officer (CEO) is a non-voting member of the board of directors. As of 2021, the current chairperson of the board of directors is Michael D. Werier, and the current president and CEO is Richard Deacon.[5][6] As of 2019, the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba has reported to Manitoba's Minister of Finance.[7]

WCB's organizational ombudsman is the Fair Practices Office.[8] SAFE Work Manitoba, a division of the Workers Compensation Board, is a public agency focused on the prevention of workplace injury and illness.[9]

  1. ^ "Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba". Retrieved 2023-09-22.
  2. ^ "About Us | Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba". www.wcb.mb.ca. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  3. ^ The Workers Compensation Act, C.C.S.M. c. W200 – via Manitoba Laws.
  4. ^ "Overview | Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba". www.wcb.mb.ca. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  5. ^ "Board and Executive | Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba". www.wcb.mb.ca. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  6. ^ "Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  7. ^ "Annual Report 2019 | Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba".
  8. ^ "Our Role & Mandate". Fair Practices Advocate. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  9. ^ "About Us". www.safemanitoba.com. Retrieved 2021-06-09.