David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as we all know, we have revised the payment policy that we have in place in regards to chronic pain which is now part and parcel of that policy. That will hopefully improve and clarify exactly the situation around chronic pain. Again, we are coming forward with legislation to this House which will improve the system that we presently have, which again is an improvement of what we already have. Again, Mr. Speaker, those are some of the efforts that we are working at. Again, we are doing our best to satisfy workers. Again, there have been commitments I...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again, I do commit to the Member to get the information on exactly how many resources have been expended in this area and also has there been an increase. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in regards to the issue the Member talks about, this issue has been voiced loud and clear from this Legislative Assembly and it has been passed on to the staff at the Workers’ Compensation office here in Yellowknife to do everything they can to bring down the number of cases that are outstanding. More importantly, by changing policies and also the legislation that we’re looking at before the House, it will improve the system we have. It’s been some time since that’s happened and I think in order to improve things, we have to change things. I think one...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this time to recognize a Page who travelled here from Fort McPherson, Mr. Dennis Nerysoo. Hopefully Dennis is able to take back what he has learned here and also his experience back to his classmates in Chief Julius School. With that, I would like to thank Dennis for coming down and wish him a safe journey home tomorrow. Thanks again for coming, Dennis.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do commit to the Member to get that information to the House before this House adjourns, to update all the Members on exactly the status of those outstanding cases, how many of them have been resolved and exactly how many of them are still outstanding. So I commit that to the Member and the House here to get it back before the adjournment of this session.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have enacted or revised that chronic pain policy where we have renewed it and it has taken effect April 19th of this year. So we do have a policy. I am doing a letter to all Members and also with a copy of the new policy so they can see it. Again, with those changes, we’re hoping to have a clear, transparent policy that people can see and hopefully it will improve the services that we do have, but also deal with the outstanding claims that have been outstanding for some time, especially in the area of chronic pain. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my sincere condolences to Robert and Firth families in Fort McPherson on the passing of Rosie Firth. Rosie passed away on Saturday morning in the community of Fort McPherson. Rosie was well known and respected for sewing and beading. Rosie’s work can be seen in museums across Canada and one of her many accomplishments you can see here in the Legislative Assembly on our Mace. Rosie Firth of Fort McPherson did the Delta braid beadwork on the shaft of the Mace.

She was a great lady who contributed to not only herself, but had her house...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document Workers’ Compensation Board of the NWT and Nunavut 2007 Corporate Plan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

So with that, I'd like to thank you very much. Enjoy your trip home and I wish you all the best. Thank you.

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Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Weledeh, that Bill 4, Northwest Territories Hydro Corporation Act, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.