Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions will be directed to the Minister of WSCC. It’s been brought to my attention that the Appeals Tribunal rulings or decisions have not been placed in a public manner like normal court decisions. My question to the Minister of WSCC is: Why aren’t decisions of the Appeals Tribunal publicized?
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister responsible for the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission, Mr. Jackson Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I need to follow up with the Member’s statement. I’ll definitely follow through with my department where things are at within the WSCC about the tribunal. I’ll definitely follow up.
My next question for the Minister of WSCC is: On that particular case, can you explain why if landlord/tenant issues are publicized when they go before the rental office, why family law matters are publicized, why child protection rulings are modified but still publicized and, finally, why human rights cases and law society discipline rulings publicized, why wouldn’t we publicize decisions of the NWT Appeals Tribunal through the WSCC in the context of fairness?
About the publication, again I need to follow up with WSCC. They are arm’s length from our government and they have their own board of governance. There is also a tribunal board that we deal with as well. I need to find out the status of where things are at with the Member’s statement.
Under the context of public confidence, it can only be determined when people understand that justice has fairly been applied, to understand like decisions are applied in a similar manner with like decisions that demonstrates fairness. It also demonstrates scrutiny from the public that they know that the system is working. Is there any particular decision why the Minister would not support publication of these Appeals Tribunal decisions?
As much as it hurts, I have to take this as notice.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
