Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to address a topic that is fundamental to the well-being of all workers across the Northwest Territories; the critical importance of improving workplace safety. Ensuring that our workplaces are safe is essential for the health, productivity, and prosperity of our communities.
When workplaces are safe, everybody benefits. Safe workplaces result in fewer injuries and improved productivity. Most importantly, making the safety of workers a top priority helps to preserve lives and protect families, while also ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Workers' Protection Fund. As Members know, the Worker's Protection Fund, ensures coverage of current and future claims costs and stable assessment rates for employers.
As part of efforts to improve safety outcomes across the territory, I am pleased to announce the upcoming release of a new Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission's Safety Planning Guide for employers, which will be launched this May during Safety and Heath Week. While each workplace has unique needs and challenges when it comes to safety planning; there is no one size fits all approach; there are key elements that every workplace safety program must include by law. This guide will provide clear, practical tools and resources to assist employers to create or improve their safety programs, ensuring they meet the required standards for:
Documenting inspections and incident investigations;
Establishing safe work procedures that protect workers from job-specific risks; and,
Conducting hazard assessments to evaluate and mitigate potential dangers in the workplace.
Additionally, I am pleased to announce that this summer, the occupational health and safety funding program will open for applications. Through this new program, the WSCC will provide funding opportunities for providers of occupational health and safety services whose work aims to improve access to safety education and supports employers in complying with occupational health and safety legislation.
As part of supporting WSCC's commitment to improving workplace safety through strengthening regulations, I recently appointed 14 members to the Safety Advisory Committee and the Mine Occupational Health and Safety Legislative Committee. These committees provide industry expertise about the frontline impacts and applications of the Safety Act and Mine Health and Safety Act. I look forward in 2025 and 2026 to seeing the recommendations of these committees to ensure the Northwest Territories is a safer place for workers, and ensure our legislation aligns with good practices and standards of safety across Canada. This will help address emerging risks and break down barriers for industries across provincial and territorial borders.
Mr. Speaker, improving workplace safety is a shared responsibility. As we approach the National Day of Mourning on April 28, let us all reflect on our collective responsibility to protect the lives of those who work in the communities and renew our resolve to prevent further workplace tragedies and ensure that all workers return home safely at the end of each day. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister responsible for WSCC. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Housing NWT.
