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New WorkSafeBC chair appointed
Richmond, B.C., June 7, 2010 — WorkSafeBC announced today the appointment of George Morfitt as chair of its Board of Directors. Mr. Morfitt will succeed Dr. Roslyn Kunin who served as chair for the last two years.
Mr. Morfitt brings a wealth of experience to his new role — in health, safety, and financial matters. For nearly four years, he has been a WorkSafeBC director representing the public interest, most recently as vice-chair of the Board. He is also an adjunct professor for the University of Victoria, serving as an advisor to the School of Public Administration.
Previously, as Auditor General of British Columbia, Mr. Morfitt led the implementation of ground-breaking governance and accountability initiatives to foster greater transparency — such as new auditing measures for government ministries, Crown corporations, and agencies across the public sector, including WorkSafeBC. To his new role as WorkSafeBC’s Board chair, he also brings a solid understanding of health issues across the nation, having recently served as a councillor for the Health Council of Canada.
“Safety is a priority for my ministry and WorkSafeBC plays an integral role in ensuring the health and safety of British Columbians in the workplace,” said Minister of Labour Murray Coell. “I am confident Mr. Morfitt will carry on this important work, providing strategic leadership to WorkSafeBC, and to B.C.’s workers and employers.”
“I thank Dr. Kunin for her considerable contributions to the province of British Columbia and wish her every success in her future endeavors. She has performed her role consistently well, and has demonstrated exemplary commitment to B.C.’s employers and workers.”
Dr. Kunin, whose term ended in May, was WorkSafeBC’s longest serving Board member. She served on the Board of Directors for seven-plus years, two as chair. She is also a leading economist with an international reputation, and a member of the Order of Canada.
“Dr. Kunin provided leadership to WorkSafeBC during some of our best, and some of our most challenging, years,” said David Anderson, WorkSafeBC’s Chief Executive Officer. “During her tenure, B.C’s injury rate reached the lowest level on record, as did employer premium rates. At the same time, we sustained financial stability while worldwide economies were in a state of flux,” Anderson said. “She has led this organization admirably well, and we thank her for her unwavering dedication and vision. We look forward to welcoming Mr. Morfitt in his new role as WorkSafeBC’s chair.”
The composition of WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors, as laid out in legislation, ensures that priority is given to the public interest and that B.C.’s worker, employer, and health care/rehabilitation communities receive a balance of representation.
WorkSafeBC is an independent provincial statutory agency governed by a Board of Directors that serves about 2.3 million workers and more than 200,000 employers. WorkSafeBC was born from the historic compromise between B.C.’s workers and employers in 1917 where workers gave up the right to sue their employers and fellow workers for injuries on the job in return for a no-fault insurance program fully paid for by employers. WorkSafeBC is committed to safe and healthy workplaces and to providing return-to-work rehabilitation and legislated compensation benefits.
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| Scott McCloy |
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