Resource Summary

The ministry budget will be reduced by $6.825 million and nine full-time equivalent (FTEs) positions in 2004/05.

Effective January 5, 2004, the Labour Relations Board began to charge fees for applications made under the Labour Relations Code and for the mediation services it provides. The Board uses these fees to offset a portion of the costs of providing its services.

The capital budget for the ministry is $3.5 million and will remain constant for the next three years. Most of the capital budget is for information system projects, some of which are already underway, and others that are scheduled for subsequent years. The Employment Standards Branch is developing a new case management system, which will help streamline service delivery and provide better data for performance reporting. As well, the Workers' Compensation Appeal Tribunal is reviewing options for improving or replacing its case management system.

The ministry's budget will remain level until 2006/07. At that time, the ministry's net budget will not change; however, the gross budget for the Workers' Compensation Appeal Tribunal will be reduced by $3.5 million and 18 FTEs. This reduction is based on the expectation that the backlog created under the former appeal structure will have been eliminated.