Mary Cameron took the WCB in the wrong direction, and her resignation is an opportunity for the organization to get back on the right track, says Alberta Federation of Labour President Les Steel. Steel was responding to the announcement of Cameron’s resignation from the WCB. The AFL also challenges the WCB Board to use a new process to ensure the next president reflects the needs of the stakeholders.

"Mary Cameron’s tenure at the WCB was marked with conflict and dissention with the stakeholders," says Steel. "Injured workers always took a back seat to her personal agenda."

"Mary Cameron ran the WCB as if it was a bank, and that was the source of the problem. She forgot that workers compensation is a public institution created to provide fair compensation to injured workers."

"Her priorities were all wrong."

Steel suspects that conflict with both the Minister of Human Resources and regular clashes with both labour and employer stakeholders led to Cameron’s pre-mature resignation.

Steel is asking the WCB to reveal Cameron’s severance package. "When John Cowell left, he walked off with a half a million dollars as severance. How much is Mary Cameron receiving? The public has a right to know this."

The AFL is also calling for a new process for selecting the President. "We need a process that includes the stakeholders in the decision-making. It is the only way to ensure the next president has their priorities straight." Currently the Board of Directors makes the choice of President without consultation with the stakeholders.

"The past few years have been difficult for injured workers. I am hopeful this transition will mark a new era – an era where injured workers get a fair deal," Steel concluded.