Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister responsible for the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission. They’re related to the workplace safety regulations that are currently being drafted and developed by the commission.
The original release of those drafts was earlier in the fall, last year, and at that time there were some concerns raised by industry, businesses, the construction industry, about the regulations. They’re very concerned with what was written in them. I know some work has been done to alleviate some of those concerns but I am wondering what the Minister can do to ensure public confidence in the final product. What is being done to restore some of the confidence that some people out there may not have as these regulations, these draft regulations move forward to their final product? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Minister responsible for the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission, Mr. Robert McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We had the original date of October as the cut-off date. We heard concerns from across the Northwest Territories, industry, and a lot of other folks involved. They had some concerns with the length of time they were given to look over the draft regulations. We extended it, as the Member said in his Member’s statement, twice. The date we have now is March 31st for them to get their input in on the regulations. I can assure the Member that ultimately the final decision will rest with my office and I can assure them that we will make sure that there is a quality product before we even release it out to the NWT. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I would like thank the Minister for that, in particular the assurance that it is not going to go past his desk until everything has been considered. I am wondering, though, as far as the next steps are concerned. What is the Minister going to do to ensure that the people who have had input get feedback so that they know that they have, in fact, been heard and that what they said has been incorporated where appropriate? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, one of the concerns we did hear was about the representation on the Safety Advisory Committee that was drafted in the regulations, and we appointed another member recommended by the NWT Construction Association to that committee. I can assure the Member and all those out there that all inquiries that we have had, I have responded to a lot of the inquiries and a lot of the technical questions that they had. The Safety Advisory Committee will be responding to them. They will be taking their concerns and advice when they draft the final regulations and the final product before it reaches my office. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, once again, thanks to the Minister for that. I am wondering if the Minister could outline for us what the next steps are. I know that the deadline for input is March 31st, but where are we going from there? What are the deadlines for the drafting, the consolidating the information, going through it, making sure they capture everything? For the public, what is the follow-through? What is the process and how long until the regulations reach the Minister’s desk? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, after the March 31st deadline, the Advisory Committee will review all the input that is received from across the Northwest Territories. They will then come up with a set of regulations. As far as the time frame, I am not even sure the exact date when I would be getting it in my office, but I do know shortly after the March 31st deadline the Safety Advisory Committee will be meeting to review all the input that they have had from across the Northwest Territories and putting together their final product and then it will reach my office. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will there be any more opportunities for input on the final draft or will this be the one that ends up... I guess what I am asking is, is there another opportunity for feedback on the final product? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, once the committee has reviewed all the input that they receive, then it will come to my desk and I will be sure that I won’t release a product that is not one that is beneficial to employers of the Northwest Territories and employees. As far as more input, I suppose it is something that we would have to take into consideration once we reach the final product. If maybe there is another opportunity for some input before a final decision is made, I can assure the Member and I can assure all Members that I have made it a priority to not release a product that is not beneficial to employees and employers in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.
