Charles Dent

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the long run, what I would hope to see is a new building that would be government owned that would accommodate the classroom space that we need to provide that community and that region with the adequate training space. In the short term, I think we are prepared to consider leasing a premises or whatever. I do agree with the Member that that facility is in dire need of being replaced. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I, too, would like to thank Justice John Vertes, Mr. Eddie Erasmus and Mr. Rod O'Brien for their work on this report. We can see, from reading it, that they travelled across the Northwest Territories to give voters a chance to have their say in the structure of this, the Legislative Assembly, this political institution. I agree that it's necessary for the commission to give the public an opportunity to be heard. I know it's challenging to come up with unanimous recommendations, given the competing positions advanced by members of the public, so I think it's...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to say again that the ruling found that the policies in effect in 2001 were unfair and unconstitutional. They did not say that the policies in 2004 were. The WCB, on application from Mr. Valic, had requested that the Appeals Tribunal reconsider the hearing. At this point, I’m advised that what the WCB intends to do is to present the new policy, make sure that there’s a clear understanding or try and make sure there’s a clear understanding that indicates that compensation is available in chronic pain cases. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the Valic case, Mr. Speaker, the policy or combination of policies that were found to be wanting by Justice Schuler were those that were in effect in 2001. Whether or not the new policy that came into effect in 2004 fails the test, that was not considered by the decision. The Governance Council though, having looked at the decision, were not certain whether or not the new policy would stand the test. They were thinking of going to the courts. They’ve changed their minds and what they had decided to do at their September meeting, they agreed that rather than appealing...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Wednesday, October 25th, 2006, I will move that Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Education Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll talk to the chair of the Governance Council and see how quickly this can be done. With the Governance Council meeting only between four and six times a year, I can't guarantee that the Governance Council will necessarily have it within the next month. They can't always schedule their meetings that quickly. But, Mr. Speaker, I am confident that they will move very quickly to deal with this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The current pain policy that the WCB has in replace recognizes chronic pain as a convincible injury and that compensation may last for as long as the chronic pain lasts, which could be a lifetime for some people if that's the way it was. One of the things the WCB is going to take a look at, though, is specifically whether or not a permanent partial disability should be one of the things that's listed as possible. The current policy, 03.10, does not specifically list permanent partial disability, even though in effect it can be granted to somebody who has that long...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I think that Justice Schuler's decision is quite clear. It says that the appeal shall be heard in a freshly constituted tribunal in advance of the Workers' Compensation Board having a new policy. She recognized that it would take some time to work out a new policy, and provided direction for the standards that should be in place for the rehearing. I understand, Mr. Speaker, there will be a preliminary hearing later this month for Mr. Valic's lawyer, and after some issues there are resolved we expect that the tribunal can be scheduled fairly shortly after that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think while Justice Schuler's decision did comment on the policy in effect as of 2004, the decision and the ruling was based on the policy in place as of 2001. So that was the reason that the WCB was considering having a constitutional look at the 2004 policy, to see if it would fit the test. In fact, I'm advised the WCB has decided that they are going to go out to stakeholders and take a look at redrafting the 2004 policy over the course of the next few months. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Wednesday, October 25th, 2006, I will move that Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Archives Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.