An independent committee has been set up to look into the government's no-fault insurance plan.

A five-member committee will study the Personal Injury Protection Plan (PIPP) administered by Saskatchewan Government Insurance.

PIPP was introduced January 1, 1995, through changes to The Automobile Accident Insurance Act. The legislation called for a review of PIPP within five years of its inception.

"We are keeping our commitment to establish a committee with a mandate to thoroughly review all aspects of the Personal Injury Protection Plan," Crown Investments Corporation Minister John Nilson said.

The committee will be chaired by Thomas Wakeling of Regina, a retired Justice of the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal. The other members are vice-chair Donna Larsen of Saskatoon, a senior management consultant with Deloitte & Touche; Dr. Stewart McMillan of Regina, a family doctor and former chairperson of the Saskatchewan Health Services Utilization and Research Commission; Carol Lafond of Marcelin, a teacher and post-secondary counsellor with the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation; and Gail Graham of Prince Albert, a recreational therapist and manager of the Saskatchewan North Acquired Brain Injury Outreach Team.

"The committee members are well qualified to conduct this review," Nilson said. "Collectively, they have expertise in the legal, medical, and accounting professions, as well as personal experience dealing with people who have been injured in vehicle accidents. We look forward to receiving their analysis and recommendations."

The committee will hold public meetings to hear the views of injured persons, Saskatchewan drivers, and groups and organizations with an interest in PIPP.

The committee will operate independently of government with its own budget and staff. It will determine its own processes for the public consultations and for communications.

The committee's report is expected to be delivered to government by September 1, 2000.

BIOGRAPHIES OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Justice Thomas Wakeling, Chair

Thomas C. Wakeling of Regina is a retired Justice of the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal, serving from 1984 until his retirement in May, 1999.

Judge Wakeling was born and educated in Saskatoon. He served as a flying officer with the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II before returning to the University of Saskatchewan to earn his law degree in 1948. After being admitted to the Bar in 1950, he practiced law with the Regina firms MacPherson, Leslie and Tyerman from 1957 to 1963 and McDougall, Ready, Wakeling from 1963 to 1984. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1971 and Justice of the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal in December, 1984. He also chaired the Saskatchewan Police Commission.

Judge Wakeling served as a bencher with the Law Society of Saskatchewan, and was the organization's president from 1978 to 1979. He was vice-president of the Saskatchewan Branch of the Canadian Bar Association and National Chairman of the Civil Justice Section. His community service includes the presidencies of the Regina Kiwanis Club, Wascana Country Club, Regina YMCA and the Saskatchewan Division of the Canadian Red Cross Society.

Donna Larsen, Vice-chair

Donna Larsen of Saskatoon is a management consultant with 10 years of experience specializing in public sector and health care assignments directed at transitions and improvements in governance, operations, and human resource practices.

Ms. Larsen received a bachelor's degree in English and history from the University of Regina in 1975. From 1975 to 1982 she worked for the Government of Saskatchewan as a research assistant and later as an analyst in the Budget Bureau. She was Assistant to the President at Saskatchewan Government Insurance before taking a position as a commerce officer with the federal Department of Regional Industrial Expansion in 1983. She worked for the Government of Manitoba from 1984 to 1989, first as an analyst in the Department of Industry, Trade, and Technology, and later as Director of the Office of Expenditure Review with the Treasury Board Secretariat.

In 1989 Larsen began her career as a management consultant with Peat Marwick Stevenson & Kellogg. She joined KPMG Management Consulting in 1994, and Deloitte & Touche in 1996.

Dr. Stewart McMillan, Member

Dr. Stewart McMillan of Regina is a family doctor and former Chief Coroner for Saskatchewan who has served on a number of task forces and commissions related to health care issues.

Dr. McMillan was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Glasgow in 1972. He obtained the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada in 1973 and has practiced family medicine in Regina ever since. He has been actively involved in medical professional affairs, serving as president of the Saskatchewan Medical Association, the Council of the College of Physicians of Saskatchewan, and the Medical Council of Canada.

Dr. McMillan was chief Coroner for Saskatchewan from 1978 to 1987. From 1992 to 1998 he served as the first chairperson of the Saskathewan Health Services Utilization and Research Commission. He also chaired provincial task forces looking into surgical waiting lists and the high cost of drugs. He has written numerous articles and been a frequent speaker and lecturer on health care and health management issues.

Carol Lafond, Member

Carol Lafond of Marcelin is a teacher and post-secondary counsellor with the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation.

Ms. Lafond received her bachelor's degree in education from the University of Saskatchewan in 1988, and also has a Library Technician Certificate from SIAST. She worked for two years as a library technician at the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre in Saskatoon before accepting her current position with the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation in 1989. Her duties as a post-secondary education counsellor include: preparing the budget and administering all aspects of the post-secondary education program, providing support for students, helping to develop education policies, teaching Law and Native Studies, and acting as a liaison with post-secondary institutions throughout Canada and the United States.

Ms. Lafond is a director with the Saskatchewan Abilities Council and serves on the Saskatchewan Valley School Division Board and the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation Health Board. She has also served as a member of the Indian & Metis Education Advisory Council, the Saskatchewan Judicial Appointments Review Committee, and the Regional Colleges Review Committee. Community involvement includes associate membership with the Leask Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion and volunteer and executive positions with the Marcelin & District Community Club.

Gail Graham, Member

Gail Graham of Prince Albert is a recreational therapist and manager of the Saskatchewan North Acquired Brain Injury Outreach Team with the Prince Albert Health District.

Ms. Graham was born in Melfort and completed her secondary education in Prince Albert. She received a diploma in recreation technology from SIAST in 1976 and a certificate in health care administration from the University of Saskatchewan in 1994. She also has her Level 1 and Level 2 credentials in Home and Community Based Rehabilitation.

Ms. Graham has held positions with the Department of Social Services, the Saskatchewan Association for Community Living, and the Big Sisters Association. From 1985 to 1995, she was co-ordinator of the Recreation Therapy Department at Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert, before moving to her current position with the Prince Albert Health District. SHe has served as a volunteer with many community and provincial associations including the Saskatchewan Abilities Council, the Prince Albert Brain Injury Support Group, and the Saskatchewan Brain Injury Association.

Mike Shaw
Crown Investments Corporation
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-1504