Michael Miltenberger

Mr. Speaker, in the information I have, in 2004-2005, there were 168 clients; in 2005-2006, 156; and in 2006-2007, 162.

Mr. Speaker, as far as I know, under the rules of SFA, as long as a student is on SFA and is training and is eligible for SFA and is down south in post-secondary institutions upgrading their education, they continue to be considered a Territory resident, they’re covered with their health care, they continue to get SFA, and they’re considered to be N.W.T. residents for the purposes of all those areas, including voting. So we’re very clear that if you’re there for two years, four years, working on your Masters, you’re a Northerner, and we want you to come home. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, on my way I saw a constituent, Mr. Archie Smith, who I’m very pleased and honoured to recognize, and as well Mr. Rodgers, the chair of the WCB from Inuvik. I had breakfast with him this morning.

Mr. Speaker, the Housing Corporation is always interested in trying to be as efficient and effective and fair as possible. We’d be happy to discuss this issue with committees, to look at the numbers to make sure this is the best way possible. Are there other options? Right now it’s based on 11 commodities Territory-wide. If there’s a regional application base developed that is competitive, I’d certainly be prepared to look at that. I’d be more than happy to sit down with the appropriate committee to look at this.

Mr. Speaker, the rationale for the Housing Corporation was based on trying to obtain efficiencies, economies of scale, logistical and quality control, returns to maximize transportation corridors. Mainly, in their view, it was better support of Northern suppliers. But the key one was economies of scale.

Mr. Speaker, what I will commit to, as a first step, is to share the rationale and the math, in terms of economies of scale, that allowed the Housing Corporation to come to the decision to adopt this particular policy. I’ll share that with committee, and we’ll see what those numbers add up to in terms of how a regional application compares Territory-wide, based on commodities. Together we can see what that information tells us and discuss the best way to move forward.

Mr. Speaker, I don’t think this is a reflection so much of the inability of regional suppliers, but on the attempt of the Housing Corporation to try to maximize the dollars they do have via the Affordable Housing Initiative. At this time, they are trying to do the repairs and improvements on the units they do have. So it was an issue of economies of scale, as opposed to a lack of capable Northern suppliers, when they were looking at supplying within their region.

Under the new Workers’ Compensation Acts that comes into force on April 1, the Workers’ Compensation Board name will change to the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC). This reflects the shift in philosophy to emphasize safety and prevention in addition to fair compensation for injured workers. Later today I will table the Workers’ Compensation Board’s “2008 Corporate Plan,” a document encapsulating the WCB’s enhanced direction.

The “2008 Corporate Plan” is proactive and sets the strategic direction for the coming year. It guides the organization to achieve its mission to promote...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document, entitled Workers’ Compensation Board 2008 Corporate Plan.

Document 13-16(2), Workers’ Compensation Board 2008 Corporate Plan, tabled.

I wish to table the following two documents entitled Beverage Container Program Annual Report 2006-2007, and Help Decide What New Waste Products to Recycle Across the N.W.T: A G.N.W.T. Discussion Paper, December 2007.

Document 11-16(2) Beverage Container Program Annual Report 2006-2007, tabled.

Document 12-16(2) Help Decide What New Waste Products to Recycle Across the N.W.T.: A G.N.W.T. Discussion Paper, tabled.