Sandy Lee

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don’t disagree that there have been good responses and a number of people being involved. My specific point is that often, or sometimes, people that participate in this process are left out right at the end. People may tell the interviewer what they feel are problems at workplaces or what could be improved, whether it be communication or otherwise, but when the solutions come about, they don’t have as much say on what the solutions are and how they should be implemented. I am asking the Minister to give us an assurance that those 345 people and more...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to that, I understand there will be other processes involved in allowing the staff to have an input into the process in the findings as well as hopefully in the plan of action. Mr. Speaker, I believe very strongly that there will be some issues that need to be worked out, and the best way to do it is to have as much input as possible from the stakeholders, especially the staff. So I'd like to ask the Minister what is the plan for the Minister and the hospital to invite that input. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Even if there is a port, we will still need to supply the mines by road. The only way to do that in the most efficient way is by extending the winter road. The way to do that is to build some infrastructure in the entry point where there are soft spots and really shortens the winter road season. There are other parts throughout the ice road that needs enforcement that this government can do to extend the ice road and to be able to withstand some of the warming trends. So, Mr. Speaker, I would like to say, for the record, that I support the joint committee’s...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to welcome everybody here also, but I’d like to recognize a Page from my riding. His name is Jake Olson. He agreed to step in and he’s having a lot of fun. So I’d just like to recognize him. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do appreciate the Minister’s answers but, as I had stated in my Member’s statement, I know that none of the files that I have been associated with have seen any movement whatsoever since April. So I have to assume that that may be the case, or most likely the case, that is what’s going on with other files, but I am willing to be persuaded otherwise. So I’d like to ask the Minister, because I know the WCB has been collecting cases, would the Minister report to us and tell us before the end of this Assembly what progress has been made, what number of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister responsible for WCB and it’s in regards to the Member’s statement I made earlier. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask the Minister to just give us a status report on what he has been able to accomplish in terms of clearing up some of the long outstanding files in light of the new chronic pain policy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak today about WCB. Mr. Speaker, let me start by saying that a lot of good progress has been made between the Members of this House, the Minister, the chair of the Governance Council and the new CEO over the last number of months. We have gotten some really good work done. I am particularly impressed, Mr. Speaker, with the changes in approach and willingness shown by the senior staff in working with us to make the new WCB Act under review as good and as responsive as it can be for the stakeholders.

Before I get too carried away with...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In doing that and further to that, could the Minister advise as to whether or not there have been any extra resources put into place to close these files? Each file could take a long time. So unless you put some bodies in there to speed up the process, it may not happen. So I’d like to ask the Minister to have that information as well, specifics on additional resources. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My colleague from Hay River South said that a strategy without money is a slogan and I say that a policy without resources to back it up. Would this be a statement on paper? I don’t know. Mr. Speaker, as I indicated in my Member’s statement, I think a policy change is a start, but nothing will be affected in terms of making a difference on these files and the workers that have been waiting for years and years to have their cases resolved, expending a lot of energy and money and time and their mental health, in many cases, and physical health, not to mention. None...

Thank you. To clarify further on that, it’s possible for someone who went to school for their entire grade school, 1 to 12, and they get their grant and remissible loan to do a university degree and then they decide they want to do further graduate studies or professional degrees, they can start tapping into this money up to $47,000?