Bob Bromley

I appreciate that information. I guess my last question here in this line is: have other jurisdictions started actions under similar legislation? Is it underway now or are they contemplating it, and does this legislation position us to join them hopefully to enjoy the benefits of associating with a much larger jurisdiction and the capacity they bring?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to make a note that I am not a member of the Standing Committee on Government Operations, but I did participate in some of the review and I appreciate that opportunity. I had occasion to make a number of comments and have the committee consider those. I particularly appreciate the chair’s willingness to consider a couple of suggestions for motions.

One of the things we’ve heard a lot from the public on various bills, but I would say particularly this one and another one before the House, is a desire to have some input to the regulations and this is not right...

Thanks to the Minister. I noted in the Minister’s comments that NWT residents have a higher rate of addictions to nicotine than most jurisdictions and I think we’re all aware of that. I’m wondering what the consequences are of this to any future considerations of actions under this legislation. Are there consequences to being a much higher rate of addictions than in the provinces, for example?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to reply to the opening address with comments regarding progress towards creation of an Anti-Poverty Strategy.

Inside the Government of the NWT, progress had been very disappointing. Members are well aware of the call for an Anti-Poverty Strategy from 29 organizations including the City of Yellowknife and a who’s who of the NWT’s social justice advocacy groups. It’s perhaps unprecedented to see so many major groups come together with one voice on one issue calling so loudly for action by the territorial government. This is grassroots action at its finest.

Regular...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is obviously a fundamental clause. It provides some guidance on how the fund will be managed. I just want to note that the public spoke very clearly and fairly consistently on this aspect and thought that there should be arm’s length administration of the fund and that it should not be under the trusteeship of the Financial Management Board. An arm’s length agency could indeed report to the Legislative Assembly and could be subject to verification by an independent auditor. This would allow for and promote public involvement in the administration and guiding...

I appreciate the Minister’s willingness to look at this. I think he brought forward some good points. I think a suite of energy sources is probably the way to go. We need to transition to a greater and greater proportion of renewable or at least low-carbon sources. I think the Minister is well aware of that. I’d like to note that in those communities there’s already been feasibility projects going, for example, for a pellet manufacturing plant out of Simpson, geothermal, hydro projects and so on that the Minister himself has been involved in. Given his comments again and this recognition of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, August 24, 2011, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Frame Lake, that the Government of the Northwest Territories begin research to examine options and potential benefits for introduction of a mental health court diversion program as an adjunct to the new court system;

And further, that this government make note of this initiative as a recommendation included in the transition advice being offered to the 17th Legislative Assembly. Mahsi.

I appreciate the response. It sounds pretty confusing still to me, so I’m going to study up a little bit on this. I appreciate those comments.

For some reason the WSCC has stopped publishing the accident frequency rates that tell us how different types of workplaces compare in terms of accidents, lost time, et cetera. Can the Minister of Human Resources tell me how the GNWT workplace accident and safety statistics compare to other major employers? Are we the best? The worst? What are the facts here?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following up on my statement earlier today, I’d like to ask questions of the Minister of Human Resources. I’d like to start by noting that the GNWT is one of the territory’s biggest employers. The human, financial, and even governance costs of poor health and safety practices can be very significant.

The Minister’s response to my written inquiry said that GNWT is taking steps to create the health and safety committee structures required by law by the end of this fiscal year. Can the Minister tell me why these committees are not already in place three years after the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m alarmed to hear about the apparently huge issue of health and safety performance in the GNWT workplace. Information received from the Minister of Human Resources describes GNWT performance under the Safe Advantage program created by the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission in 2007. It says that employers with proven safety and return-to-work practices receive a refund and employers with poor safety and return-to-work practices pay a penalty.

Since the program was created in 2007, the GNWT has never received a good performance refund. In fact, over the past...