Independent Committee appointed to review Workers’ Compensation system
The province has launched an independent statutory review of the workers’ compensation system in Newfoundland and Labrador and has appointed an independent review committee to lead and oversee the process. As required under the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Act, 2022, an independent statutory review must be conducted every five years to ensure the system continues to meet the needs of workers and employers.
The membership of the review committee reflects a balanced representation of employer and worker interests:
- Darren Roberts, chairperson
- Doug Youden, vice-chair and employer representative
- Heather Stamp, employer representative
- Bernadette Coffey Sobol, worker representative
- Bob Fiander, worker representative
Members were nominated by the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour, Trades NL, the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce, and the Board of Trade.
The committee will examine system governance and operations, focusing on the following themes: Safety – Safe and Healthy Workplaces; Support – Fair and Sustainable Support for Workers and their Families; and Simplicity – A Streamlined, Efficient and Accessible Compensation System. Public input will be gathered by the committee through in-person, written and online consultations province-wide. Details on the consultations will be shared publicly by the committee once confirmed.
The review is funded through WorkplaceNL’s Injury Fund, with a final report and recommendations due to the Provincial Government by March 31, 2027.
The workers’ compensation system provides support to injured or ill workers through health care, wage-loss benefits, impairment payments, and retirement benefits. The work of the independent statutory review committee will help ensure the workers’ compensation system remains responsive, sustainable and effective in supporting workers and employers across the province.
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