WorkSafeBC appoints Jeff Parr as new chair to board of directors

VANCOUVER — WorkSafeBC has appointed a new chair to its board of directors.

Jeff Parr assumed the new role on Aug. 14 “following a competitive, merit-based process,” a WorkSafeBC release stated.

Parr was Alberta’s deputy minister of labour from 2016 to 2019 and led a reform of labour legislation encompassing essential services, labour relations, employment standards, occupational health and safety and Workers’ Compensation legislation.

“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,” the release stated.

Parr replaces former WorkSafeBC board chair Ralph McGinn who passed away in May. Board member Lee Loftus acted as board chair in the interim. Parr’s appointment is a two-year term to Dec. 1, 2022.

The board’s key priorities are to eliminate serious injury and death in the workplace, improve return-to-work outcomes and prevent avoidable disability, maintain an effectively operating business, maintain a compensation system with long-term sustainability that contributes to society and respond effectively to changing social and economic realities.