Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to speak about a program called Certificate of Recognition, also known as COR. As some of you may know, COR is a health and safety certificate program for the construction industry in Canada. In the Northwest Territories, this program is delivered by the Northern Construction Safety Association in partnership with the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission. The COR program is designed to equip participants with the resources and skills to develop and maintain accredited in-house safety management systems unique to their workplace. To be certified, participants complete three compulsory courses, one elective course and must conduct a safety audit. The Certificate of Recognition program is available to all members and associate members of the Construction Association, from owner-operators to larger corporations.
The COR certification program is designed to fit the specific requirements of the construction industry needs, whether the company is large or small. As an example, if you are a small employer, there is a COR program for your company with less than 10 employees. The COR program is intended to complement the Safe Advantage Program offered by WSCC, which recognizes the safety performance of large NWT companies by offering them some reduced premiums and improved performance.
Mr. Speaker, the program provides contractors with practical solutions for a safer workplace, offering a simple, straightforward approach to safety. Ultimately, and most importantly, these programs reduce the human and financial losses which are associated with workplace accidents. In many ways, the COR program seems to be the ideal fit for Northerners and industry. It is easy to deliver, simple to understand and implement, available in many of our small communities and various regions at simple request.
The goal of the Northern Construction Association is to increase the participation of NWT construction companies, both small and large, in the COR program, to ensure safe northern workplaces. One of the ways to achieve their goal for safe northern workplaces is to ensure all companies implement health and safety programs such as the COR program in their day-to-day operations. Other jurisdictions in Canada such as the Yukon have implemented legislation or policy requirements that these companies achieve and maintain their COR certification. I believe the Government of the Northwest Territories should consider and move towards implementing a similar program in the Northwest Territories to help companies move towards this type of goal.
Mr. Speaker, later today I will have questions for the Minister of Public Works to see if we can look into this initiative and make sure it is a territorial initiative for all large and small communities and all the large and small businesses. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.
