Friday August 14, 2020 | VICTORIA, BC
~ Mary Brooke, editor | West Shore Voice News
A new chair has been appointed to the board of directors of WorkSafeBC.
Jeff Parr, a former deputy minister in multiple provincial governments, assumes his new role effective today Friday August 14, 2020, following a competitive, merit-based hiring process. He comes on board during a quintessential moment for businesses and labour challenges, given the ongoing gouge that the COVID-19 pandemic is making into the functionality of British Columbia’s economy.
The Ministry of Labour issued a statement today, saying Parr’s career has shown the executive to be “an accomplished leader at the highest levels of public service and has worked to promote safe workplaces for both employers and workers”. Parr has over 25 years experience in government administration, policy and legislation development.
The new chair’s career background:
As Alberta’s deputy minister of Labour from 2016-19, he led a reform of the labour legislation that encompassed essential services, labour relations, employment standards, occupational health and safety and workers’ compensation legislation. He is an expert at understanding both workers’ and employers’ needs, in relation to workplace health and safety and workers’ compensation.
This experience will allow him to successfully chair the board of directors for WorkSafeBC. WorkSafeBC is a large organization with a mandate that touches upon all workers and employers in British Columbia.
Parr replaces former WorkSafeBC board chair Ralph McGinn, who passed away suddenly in May. Board member Lee Loftus agreed to act as board chair in the interim.
Board details:
Parr’s appointment is for a two-year term to December 1, 2022.
The WorkSafeBC board of directors serves as stewards of WorkSafeBC and the workers’ compensation system, including implementation of and compliance with the Workers Compensation Act. Legislation provides that the board include professionals from a range of relevant fields, including occupational health and safety, law enforcement and an actuary. The board’s makeup also includes representation of workers, employers and the public interest.
WorkSafeBC during COVID-19:
WorkSafeBC says it is actively monitoring and adjusting to the COVID-19 situation to determine how they can best support workers, providers, and employers around the province, while ensuring the health and safety needs of our own employees. We continue to follow guidance from public health officials and provide health and safety protocols and information to industries as the province moves through the phases of BC’s Restart Planwhich is presently in Phase 3.
===== Links:
WorkSafeBC’s board of directors: https://www.worksafebc.com/en/about-us/who-we-are/leadership/board-directors