Bill Braden

While we are on a technicality here, this is a shared Workers’ Compensation Board. Does Nunavut have to go through a similar clunkety-clunk, Mr. Chair?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight reviewed Bill 10, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2006-2007, at a meeting on September 5th, 2006. This concludes the committee's general comments on Bill 10. Mr. Chairman, individual Members may have comments or questions as we proceed. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, considering that there’s been, for those families and employees affected, considerable reduction in the level of service, considerable increase in inconvenience, and to our own government because we’ve got more paperwork to process now, is the premium that we’re paying, the cost that we’re paying for this health care coverage, is that at least being reduced, considering the impact on the level service to us, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's a mystery, I guess, as to why this change in billing procedure is happening. Constituents of mine brought it to my attention, I think it was either very late in July or early in August just as this came into effect. So it came as a surprise. I made enquiries at that time and still haven't got any answers. So I guess the question that I'd like to see if the Minister can help me with is why this change in billing procedure. Why are our employees and their families being inconvenienced this way?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. This morning I would like to speak about health care plans, Mr. Speaker. It’s something that every employer, including this government, counts on very heavily to be a major benefit and a part of recruiting and keeping people and helping them through their lives.

Mr. Speaker, up until this summer, when employees of this government needed doctor-prescribed medical supplies, there are things like materials that help them manage diabetes or perhaps walkers or mobility assists or specialized dressings, they were able to get good service through our life insurance or our medical...

So in other cases, Mr. Chairman, with the Workers’ Compensation Board where forgiveness is the logical thing to do, is the Workers’ Compensation Board actually involved in going through that process and making that decision, or do they punt their bad debts over to us for management? Who looks after bad accounts on the part of the WCB, Mr. Chairman?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I, too, have an inquiry about item 72, North American Tungsten Corporation, a debt to the Workers’ Compensation Board for almost $102,000. The question I guess I have, Mr. Chairman is jurisdiction. Why is this item before this committee? We don’t typically, in fact at all, does this Assembly approve anything to do with the Workers’ Compensation Board, not a penny. They are an independent organization with their own administration and I guess I can’t recall when something like this has come before us. Why is it that we are asked to sign off on something that the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I stand in support of the motion by Mr. Ramsay. The basis of this is very much as I spoke earlier today, Mr. Speaker, to ensure that there is a standard of decorum and respect for those who are closest to us as we undertake our work and that this is a move, as regrettable as it is, that I feel compelled to support, not only as I said earlier, Mr. Speaker, for the people in this Chamber but for everyone who takes on the mantle of public service. Along with that goes the concerns, and the reputations, and the feelings, and the consciences of the people who are closest...

Indeed, Mr. Speaker, I have that call letter in my hand right now and it’s certainly something I am going to give a lot of attention to. We went through this process earlier this year. We came up, I believe, with a good name, one that had my confidence. I wanted to ask the Premier if he got any reason from the Minister of Northern Affairs for the rejection. What are the criteria that the federal Minister wants to put on our nominee, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions this afternoon are for the Premier and this is in relation to the appointment of GNWT representatives to the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board…I’m sorry, the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board, a position that has been vacant now for some 10 months.

Mr. Speaker, the Premier was, I recall, quoted in a recent media interview as saying that while the initial nominee of our government has been rejected by Minister Prentice of the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, that our government should really undertake to give him a few more...