Debates of October 18, 2005 (day 12)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the honourable Premier, and it goes back to my Member’s statement from earlier today. I’m just wondering if the Premier knows, or can tell us, what type of consultation took place between the Minister responsible for the Workers’ Compensation Board and the Minister responsible, in terms of this new office building. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 146-15(4): Consultation On Proposed WCB Office Complex

Mr. Speaker, first of all, let me clarify that the Housing Corporation is an entity that is a corporate…Oh, sorry. I’m sorry.

---Laughter

I apologize, Mr. Speaker. The Workers' Compensation Board is a corporate entity that is separate from government. They operate on a basis of collecting premiums and then paying out compensation for workers who are injured from that premium. The Minister responsible is the Minister responsible for the act, and he manages the overall legislative direction to the Workers' Compensation Board. The Workers' Compensation Board would have advised the Minister of this proposed investment.

Mr. Speaker, I want to also say that I congratulate the Workers' Compensation Board for taking some of its investments and considering how it can invest in the North. There was a time when the investments were largely elsewhere, and that was something that was of concern to us as a government. In terms of the detail of this consultation, the Minister has been advised that the Workers' Compensation Board has talked with the Yellowknife and Northwest Territories chambers of commerce; they have talked with the NWT Construction Association, the NWT Chambers of Mines, and the NWT Federation of Labour. I’m not sure who else, but those are the individuals they have talked to, at least, and I’m sure they’ve also spoken with the City. There has been a fair bit of discussion on this proposed investment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess it’s kind of the same as when Regular Members have to deal with injured workers and we feel completely left out of the process. If the Minister responsible for the Workers’ Compensation Board was advised of this type of investment taking place, I’m wondering why he didn’t advise us, and we had to ask him and request from him a meeting to go over the business case for such a move. Does the government or Premier feel that it makes sense to allow the Workers' Compensation Board to build this office complex outside of the downtown business core of the city of Yellowknife; the capital city? Does it make sense to move this office and 100 workers outside of the downtown core? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. I’m going to rule that question out of order. It's asking the Premier for an opinion. Do you want to rephrase your question, Mr. Ramsay, or follow-up supplementary? Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 146-15(4): Consultation On Proposed WCB Office Complex

Yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’ll rephrase my question for the Premier. Does the Premier and the government feel that they should support the downtown capital area of this, Yellowknife, capital city of the Northwest Territories, by maintaining the Workers' Compensation Board and the 100 jobs they represent be in the downtown core? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 146-15(4): Consultation On Proposed WCB Office Complex

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government has been monitoring what is happening. We have not become directly involved. Certainly, the core area of Yellowknife and its future is of concern to all the citizens of Yellowknife, the same as it would be of any residents of any other town or any other city. What’s happening to the core area? What should stay in the core area, and what should possibly be moved out? There are individuals who have talked to me about it and have expressed their concern that this is one more move toward destroying our downtown. So there are certainly people who would prefer to see it here. Mr. Speaker, I intend to speak directly with the mayor about this issue, and I recognize the planning for the city is really within the mayor and council’s jurisdiction directly, not ours as a government, but we certainly have views with regard to the future of any of our urban areas. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 146-15(4): Consultation On Proposed WCB Office Complex

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Premier, I guess for Regular Members, what is our best course of action in trying to communicate to the Workers' Compensation Board that, as a Yellowknife MLA, I feel the 100 jobs should be downtown? I think we should pay attention to the revitalization project that’s taking place downtown, and try to maintain these jobs downtown. I’m wondering if the government should write letters to the Workers' Compensation Board chairman. Should we talk to the mayor? Who is going to take up that fight on the government’s side of things? Is it going to be the Minister responsible, or is it going to be the Premier? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. A couple or three questions there. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 146-15(4): Consultation On Proposed WCB Office Complex

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think any of the Legislative Assembly Members who want to take up this issue should take it up with the chairman and the board for the Workers' Compensation Board, as well as the City. It is my understanding that this land that the Workers' Compensation Board is interested in would have to be rezoned. That’s an issue that the city council will have to deal with, and certainly you have every right and responsibility to speak to the mayor and council on this issue if you wish. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

That’s okay.