Debates of March 10, 2009 (day 26)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister responsible for the Workers’ Compensation Board. As we all know, the term of the present chair of the Workers’ Compensation Board is coming to a close. I’d like to ask the Minister, when are you going to be advertising for the replacement of the existing chairman of the Workers’ Compensation Board?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is very well aware that the chair’s chairmanship is coming up in April. We are putting an ad out in the paper and it should be coming out very shortly seeking nominations for the chair. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, as we all know, this is a joint appointment. I believe the last time it was advertised in the papers here. Would it also be advertised in the Nunavut papers? Also, would interested groups be able to take part by way of aboriginal organizations being notified about this appointment?

Mr. Speaker, we have had discussions with the new Minister, my counterpart in Nunavut, and it was agreed to that we would put an ad out and seek nominations. Anyone interested would just follow the nomination process. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, are there any board appointments coming up here in this short while and are those going to be advertised in the papers?

Mr. Speaker, we have our board, I think the earliest one is going to be a year from now. I would be able to provide the list to the Members so they can see exactly which board appointments are going to be up. The earliest one, I believe, would be about a year from now. Thank you.