Statements in Debates
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled Workers’ Compensation Board of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut 2006 Annual Report. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the challenge that we face is because we have such a small customer base by 40,000 people and trying to have the infrastructure and the cost to operate that infrastructure burdened by that 40,000, you have to find new customers. Again, you look at other provinces across the country and Quebec, Manitoba, B.C., who have developed their hydro industry around the export of power. As the North moves forward, we will have to consider that as a means of generating new revenues. We are looking at other revenue sources, such as I mentioned, the diamond mines...
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as we all know, through our business plans, I did commit. We are developing a hydro strategy in light of the change to develop our own hydro corporation. We are working with looking at mini hydro in communities. We are looking at the hydro potential to the pipeline. We are looking at hydro potential in regards to the expansion of Taltson, the diamond mines. In order to conclude that, we have directed the corporation to develop a hydro strategy which we are hoping to have completed and brought forward as a transitional document to the incoming...
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I did make that commitment in this House and I did state to the Member that I would get that information to her before the adjournment of this House. Thank you.
Thank you. I’ll refer the question to Mr. Wright.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In regards to the preamble and the intent of the legislation, I think the Member is correct. I mean when we have the insurance system that we do have and basically it is a no-fault insurance and you try to err on the caution by way of trying to assist workers so we don’t find ourselves in the predicament of having to go to court every time we want to settle a case. I think in regards to the preamble, it has been implemented and the change in regards to the statement is, hopefully, going to be consistent all the way through. I think with the changes that we are...
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The present practice of the board with regard to any revised policy or introducing the new policy, they do err on the side of the workers and other partners in this where they do run it by them before they make a final draft. So they do run it through the different organizations, the workers, employers and vice versa. I think it’s important that we stress that we put on consultation and ensure that we are transparent. That aspect with regard to establishing that policy will be done through that process which is being used today. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I think it’s crucially important that we do develop legislation that’s not only there to enforce the law but, more importantly, it’s got to be workable. I think by the comments of the Members, that also we have to put a human face on the legislation and make sure it does serve the people it’s supposed to serve. Again, more importantly, to assess versus the people that are implementing this legislation and working along with the workers and the employers to improve a system that has been some time in coming, but again, I think we’re there. So with that, I do...
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, to my right is John Doyle, the director of corporate services of the Workers’ Compensation Board. To my left is Mark Aitken, director of legal services, Department of Justice, and to my far left is Adrian Wright, WCB legal counsel.
Mr. Chair, I am pleased to speak to Bill 6, Workers’ Compensation Act, which gives the Northwest Territories progressive workers' compensation legislation and replaces the existing Workers' Compensation Act.
Act Now, a report generated by the Legislative Review Panel, made recommendations to amend outdated provisions of the Workers' Compensation Act. In 2004, the Workers' Compensation Act was amended to address more than 70 percent of the recommendations. The second phase would address those remaining recommendations.
Following the implementation of the phase I amendments, the Workers'...