Debates of October 20, 2006 (day 12)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning. Mr. Speaker, later today, I will table the Workers’ Compensation Board of the Northwest Territories' and Nunavut’s 2006 summer issue of the magazine Reflections. This publication is intended to provide both employers and workers with an overview and deeper understanding of the various activities the WCB has undertaken in the last year.

The cover story of this magazine features the inspirational journey of Les Rohac, a man who came from Czechoslovakia to Canada seeking a better life, but who instead found himself faced with the challenge of overcoming a serious work-related back injury. His story chronicles the struggle to understand and overcome his injury and it reveals how sheer determination helped him return to work and fulfill his dream of making a better life for himself and his family in the North.

Mr. Speaker, this issue of Reflections also contains a number of articles outlining the upcoming Go Safe Program for northern businesses, how assessment rates are set, how employers can invest in safety instead of paying the price for accidents, the general process behind an injury claim, how social marketing is being used to

heighten safety awareness in the North, and the importance of getting employees back to work.

This publication is more than a means of publicity, it’s a safety tool. I believe that employers will find a number of useful ideas on how they can better incorporate safety into their day-to-day affairs. As part of the effort to focus on workplace safety, the WCB intends to release Reflections twice a year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.