Debates of March 2, 2005 (day 47)

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board, Mr. Krutko.

Return To Question 524-15(3): Increase In Workers’ Claims Rejections

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member is right; we do have a high number of accidents or incidents in the workplace, but because of the workers’ compensation system, it numbers somewhere about 3,000 individuals a year. We do have an appeals process and I think that because we have seen a change in attitude, we’re starting to see more people coming back with appeals that have been appealed in the past and also allowing the Appeals Tribunal to do their job. I think one thing that we’ve seen in the past is because there was a major backlog of the number of cases, we have put more resources and more people in that office to process these appeals. Right now, as it sits, through the number of accidents that are being reported and the number of people coming forward with applications, almost 90 percent of them are being processed through the Workers’ Compensation Board. That leaves 10 percent that are being appealed. So in the national average, that’s about where things are at.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 524-15(3): Increase In Workers’ Claims Rejections

Mr. Speaker, I might take issue with a couple of the numbers. I’m just looking at the 2003 annual report, which is the latest document before the public. Mr. Speaker, the number of claims appealed bounced up considerably. Let’s look at that five-year picture from 1999 with 36 claims appealed; in 2003, 60 claims were appealed; a 60 percent increase. Is this not also a sign that our claims system needs an overhaul, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 524-15(3): Increase In Workers’ Claims Rejections

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I stated earlier, we do have a 90 percent rate of processing applications. Again, I think because of changes in legislation, we are now dealing with a federal corporate ruling which dealt with a chronic pain disorder, which is now being diagnosed as part of the compensation system and because of the Supreme Court decision, we’re starting to see more people coming forward with those types of complaints where before they were rejected. Now that we have this new decision made by the Supreme Court, people are coming forward again, filing their appeals on the basis of this new ruling.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 524-15(3): Increase In Workers’ Claims Rejections

That would be a very tangible and believable explanation, Mr. Speaker. My understanding is that court ruling came out after the block of statistics that I’m talking about. So I think the Minister is trying to wedge something in here that doesn’t really reflect the difference here. I would also suggest the Minister go back and check his math. The number of claims appealed is about double what he suggests it is, and I would say again we’re looking at 36 claims in 1999 and about 60 in 2002.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday l pressed the Minister on the recommendation for an operational review as posted by the Act Now legislative review, but his answers seemed to link us very closely with our sister territory Nunavut, of course, with which we share this board. I’m looking for answers, Mr. Speaker, for NWT injured workers. My question is do we have to wait for Nunavut’s authorization to go ahead with an operational review before we can begin to look after our own injured workers? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 524-15(3): Increase In Workers’ Claims Rejections

Mr. Speaker, I don’t believe we need an operational review. It is a costly endeavour and the monies that are spent to operate the workers’ compensation come out of the employers' and employees' pockets. I think that we have to realize that, and also realize that they do an audited statement every year, through the Auditor General of Canada. Also, they have concluded a review in 2002 in regard to a special audit that was done on the operation. If the Member would like, I can get him a copy of that audit that has been done on the operations in 2002, to show him exactly how that review was done. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Final supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 524-15(3): Increase In Workers’ Claims Rejections

Mr. Speaker, of course, the audited reviews and reports are available for every one of our agencies and departments. That is not what I am looking at, Mr. Speaker. It is a review of the way in which we treat injured workers, not the numbers. Assessment rates went up for employers in 2003, Mr. Speaker, but acceptance rates for injured workers' claims are going down. Meanwhile our fund remains remarkably strong, at a robust 110 percent, according to 2003 figures.

Shame, shame.

Which is more important, Mr. Speaker, the fund or the injured worker? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 524-15(3): Increase In Workers’ Claims Rejections

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the workers’ compensation system we have in the North is probably one of the best we have in the country. It does meet the requirement of having no-fault insurance, so no one will get sued, but also to ensure that the workers, when they do get injured in the workplace, are taken care of. That is the whole idea of the regime and also having an appeals systems so those members who are rejected, when they put an application forward on whatever grounds, have an opportunity to appeal that decision.

In order to allow for that independence, they do a rigorous job of having hearings; basically doing investigations. All through that, the decision is made by the final Appeals Tribunal, which is forwarded back to the board to say yes or no. I think that we do have a process that is the best in the country and I think it is working great.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Justice today. Mr. Speaker, the Premier shared with us a process whereby money gets approved in our system and had indicated that you can’t just add money back into budgets or spend money at will. It needs to go through a process to be voted on and to be debated and consulted on and so on. I would like to ask Minister Dent a question today, because I find it curious that cost overruns in one area results in, what I think to be, cuts in another area. I would like to ask Mr. Dent what process he went through whereby he secured the $1.5 million for the overruns for the operations for the North Slave Correctional Centre. Where did he get the money? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 525-15(3): Cost Overruns At The North Slave Correctional Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I haven’t ever said that we had cost overruns at the North Slave Correctional Centre. The department didn’t seek supplementary funding for the operations. There will have been some money that would have been allocated from one resource to another, whether it was permanent employees to overtime, or permanent employees to casual, it would have been handled through the normal process. The overrun that has been referred to isn’t something that we have characterized as an overrun. We haven’t come to this House and sought supplementary appropriation for it. The department will be very close to its budget, the allotment that was provided by this House last year. At this point, I think there is a good likelihood that we will be within budget, although, as I said, it will be very close. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 525-15(3): Cost Overruns At The North Slave Correctional Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, then I am led to believe -- and I hope the Minister can understand why I am a little sensitive about this subject of where we spend money, because of where we are needing to cut money, Mr. Speaker -- that the independent review on the North Slave Correctional Centre, that the Corrections Canada intervention at the North Slave Correctional Centre, the wrongful dismissal suits, the overtime, the paid leave, all these things were manageable within the existing budget of the North Slave Correctional Centre. That is amazing, considering that we have gutted the budgets for other facilities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 525-15(3): Cost Overruns At The North Slave Correctional Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Corrections Canada paid the entire cost for their staff to come up and work with our staff in the facility here. They feel that it is a good training opportunity for their staff to see how another operation works, as well. We sought the assistance from an experienced person in B.C. on the human resources side, and the corrections department in B.C. only asked that we pay 25 percent of his salary for his work with us, as well as his transportation costs.

We have gone out to find economic ways to accomplish things. There was always an expectation that in the move to the new facility, there would be a requirement for increased overtime and casual use, because you have to train people and you can’t train people without having extra staff on at times to make sure that the coverage is always there. Some of the overtime had been expected and, yes, we have been struggling to live within budget. Some of the cost-saving measures that I have outlined to the Member already included the reduced use of casuals in the North Slave facility, through moving all of the young offenders to Hay River for a period of time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 525-15(3): Cost Overruns At The North Slave Correctional Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, those are some fine contributions that we received from other jurisdictions and other governments, I guess. Although the Minister didn’t take the opportunity to respond to the assumption that the costs were in the $1.5 million range, could the Minister please commit to provide to this House if those extraordinary costs were due to the problems with efficiently running the North Slave Correctional Centre? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 525-15(3): Cost Overruns At The North Slave Correctional Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can reveal what is available. I know that, for instance, the FMBS has told us that we can’t reveal all of the numbers because, in many cases, they might indicate a specific person. I will take a look at what can be provided. I don’t think it should be difficult to get that information for the Member, because I believe that we have already provided a good part of this information, or as much as we can, to other Members in this House. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 525-15(3): Cost Overruns At The North Slave Correctional Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just one final question. For the benefit of those people who work in the facilities in my community, could the Minister please confirm for us that the remand unit, the South Mackenzie Correctional Centre and the Dena K'onia facilities were run efficiently, effectively and in fact came in with their operations under budget? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 525-15(3): Cost Overruns At The North Slave Correctional Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the best of my knowledge the operations in Hay River were all run effectively and very close to on budget, if not under budget. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask some questions today to the Minister of Justice. I am sure the Minister of Justice is aware of an article that appeared in the Edmonton Journal on Sunday, February 27th, and the fact that it painted a very negative picture of Yellowknife. The title of the article is, “Big City Drugs Plague Northern Capital,” and actually made reference to 50th Street here in Yellowknife as a little Hastings. I am wondering if the Minister of Justice is aware that we only have three, that is three, full-time drug squad members in Yellowknife. I would like to ask the Minister what his department plans to do to address the drugs that are on our streets and the impact that these drugs are having on our families and our youth. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 526-15(3): Addressing The Northern Drug Trade

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I attended the session earlier this week with Crack Busters and the article that the Member refers to was passed around there so, yes, I am aware of the article and I am aware of the issue in Yellowknife. It was quite a dramatic presentation that we received from Crack Busters.

Mr. Speaker, the enforcement of high level national or international drug targets is the responsibility of the federal policing, whereas street and mid-level targets fall to the province or territory for enforcement. So we work with our partners in the RCMP to provide them with the funding to go after the street level or mid-level targets.

I have no doubt that there are probably in the range of a number of members of the RCMP working in Yellowknife, probably around three. I am assured that the RCMP are working on a plan to address trafficking in the Northwest Territories and all drug activity. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 526-15(3): Addressing The Northern Drug Trade

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would suggest that there is very little evidence that the RCMP have the resources and the manpower to try to tackle the problem that is hitting our youth, hitting our families and destroying people here in the Northwest Territories. I would like to ask the Minister of Justice if he has had discussion with the RCMP with regard to the drug problem that faces the Northwest Territories. What have those discussions been? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 526-15(3): Addressing The Northern Drug Trade

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, I have spoken to Chief Superintendent Summerfield about the issue of drugs in the Northwest Territories. Much of our discussion in the past year has been about working with the federal government to make sure that all of the federal positions are filled in the Northwest Territories. The Government of the Northwest Territories is responding to the resourcing request that has been put in by the RCMP and some of that is in this year’s budget. I am hoping to follow through and complete the numbers that they have requested in next year’s budget. I have talked to the Standing Committee on Social Programs about how that will be coming forward in the business plans.

Mr. Speaker, all three of the highway traffic resources that are included in this year’s budget proposal will be, I have been assured, cross-trained by a program called Pipeline, which the RCMP says makes them as effective or more effective in dealing with drugs, particularly since they will be working on the highway that brings most of the drugs into the southern part of the NWT.

We have also worked with the RCMP to make sure that in this year’s resource allocation, there is funding for a dog. The dog will be cross-trained and will also be used for drugs and will be used in different areas. As I said, there are other plans that are afoot that I have been assured by the RCMP, but they have not shared the details with me because they don’t want them to become public. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 526-15(3): Addressing The Northern Drug Trade

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess the bottom line is that people out in the communities or small communities have an indication of who the drug dealers are, where they are selling the drugs, where they live, and they don’t see anything done about it. That’s the problem that is facing people here. Where is the action? I know the Minister stood up in the House last week and said the two new traffic positions were going to Hay River, but according to the RCMP they aren’t going to Hay River. Again, and I asked this question last week and I will ask it again today, is Hay River getting two new RCMP officers? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 526-15(3): Addressing The Northern Drug Trade

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To speak to the Member’s first allegation that people know that there are people who are dealing drugs and there is no action taking place, the RCMP can’t do it alone. They need to have witnesses, they need to have people tell them they are prepared to go to court and say this person is dealing drugs. I would encourage anyone who knows that sort of information and has it, to report to the RCMP that that will happen.

In terms of the allocation of traffic positions, the RCMP had started a pilot project in Hay River that put two positions into places that would have gone at the end of the pilot project. What we are doing with that allocation in this budget is turning those into permanent positions. There was a pilot project to see whether or not there was an effective allocation of personnel that was funded through different resources within the RCMP and the positions won’t remain there if this allocation isn’t approved in this year’s budget. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Time for oral questions has expired. Item 7, written questions. The honourable Member for Deh Cho Mr. McLeod.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to return to item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to recognize somebody from my hometown, Richard Lafferty, from Flashpoint Facilitators is here. I would like to welcome him. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to Floyd Roland, Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board.

Can the Minister provide all GNWT positions and their locations related to the diamond, oil and gas industries?

Thank you.