Charles Dent

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Arts Strategy did talk about a need for us to consider an awards program for the arts. I think that it would make good sense for us to consider something like an awards evening or an event to draw some attention to those awards programs. This was reinforced when, in September, ITI and ECE had a consultation group take another look at the Arts Strategy and give us recommendations. They reiterated that we needed to take a look at doing something like that. I will certainly talk to my colleague with ITI to see whether or not we can move forward with such a program...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Governance Council has agreed that they are going to examine the policy. They are going to change it if it needs to be changed. They are quite prepared to move on looking at that. That commitment has been made. I have made it publicly. The issue is one that they have said they are going to move on. I will talk again to the chair of the Governance Council and make sure that they look at it very quickly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the current policy of the board for chronic pain does specifically mention chronic pain as a pain disorder and it does specifically say that compensation benefits can be provided for the lifetime of the recipient if necessary. So that is, in many ways, probably dealing with the constitutional requirement.

It’s important to point out that the court decision of Justice Schuler states that it was the policy in effect in 2001 that was not in compliance with section 15 of the Charter. I want to point out, too, that the Auditor General, who did a study of the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said, I have been talking with my colleague, the Minister of Public Works, about this issue. We don’t have a solution at this point, but we are aware of the pressing need in the community and we will continue to work to get a facility into the long-term capital plan and look for a short-term solution to the inadequate space. Thank you.

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.