Agreed.
Debates of Oct. 2nd, 1992
Topics
Committee Motion 225-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1311
Some Hon. Members
Committee Motion 225-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1311
The Chair John Ningark
Page 15-20, revenues, recoveries, and transfer payments. Agreed?
Committee Motion 225-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1311
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 225-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1311
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. We are on page 15-9, program summary, total O and M $92.518 million. Do we agree?
Committee Motion 225-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1311
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 225-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1311
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Does the committee agree that this program summary is concluded?
Committee Motion 225-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1311
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 225-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1311
The Chair John Ningark
I would like to thank the Minister, and his witnesses. What is the wish of this committee? Mr. Dent.
Committee Motion 225-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1311
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Mr. Chairman, I recommend that we continue with Bill 33, and look at Workers' Compensation Board's budget next.
Committee Motion 225-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1311
The Chair John Ningark
Do we have the concurrence of the committee that we deal with Bill 33?
Committee Motion 225-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1311
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 225-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1312
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Workers' Compensation Board. On page 08-16 we have an information page, Workers' Compensation Board. Mr. Patterson, have you found your seat? Are you ready to make the presentation?
Introductory Remarks, Workers' Compensation Board
Committee Motion 225-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1312
Dennis Patterson Iqaluit
Yes, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I am please to be able to present the budget of the Workers' Compensation Board for 1992-93.
The major concerns of the board and their staff for the current year are presented in the written material which has been previously presented to the House, the annual report, and the Auditor General's Report. Concerns include:
- The development and delivery of workplace safety education programs, to emphasize the importance of a safe workplace for workers and employers;
- The enhancement of rehabilitation services to facilitate the return to work of injured workers, and reduce costs in the long-term; and
- that the appeal process for claimants and employers ensures fair and equitable treatment for all concerned.
Mr. Chairman, the budget represents both administrative and program expenditures. Whereas the administrative budget is very carefully planned and implemented, the expenditures for compensation, medical aid, pension awards, and rehabilitation programs are driven by the number and severity of claims made to the board.
The level of these costs are determined by the benefits defined by policy and legislation.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would be pleased to answer any questions the Members of your committee may have. Thank you.
Committee Motion 225-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1312
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Mr. Dent, do you have any presentations on behalf of the Standing Committee on Finance?
Committee Motion 225-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1312
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Mr. Chairman, as is usually the case our comments are in the form of the resolution. Seeing as we do not have a quorum right now, maybe we could ask the Minister to bring in his witnesses and go to general comments, before proceeding with the S.C.O.F. recommendation.
Committee Motion 225-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1312
The Chair John Ningark
Does the committee agree that the Minister bring in his witnesses?
Committee Motion 225-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1312
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 225-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1312
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Sergeant-at-Arms, will you escort the witnesses, please? Thank you. Mr. Minister, for the record, would you introduce the witnesses to the committee?
Workers' Compensation Board
Committee Motion 225-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1312
Dennis Patterson Iqaluit
Yes, thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have with me Ms. Dorothy Chattel, Manager of Financial Services for the board, and Mr. Brian Roberts, Chairman of Workers' Compensation Board. Thank you.
Committee Motion 225-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1312
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Are we ready to make a presentation? General comments. Do we have general comments from the floor? Mr. Koe.
Committee Motion 225-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1312
Fred Koe Inuvik
Mr. Chairman, with all due respect to Members, we do not have a quorum.
Committee Motion 225-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1312
The Chair John Ningark
The lack of a quorum has been called. Mr. Clerk, would you ring the bell? We now have quorum in the committee. Mr. Dent.
Committee Motion 225-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1312
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. For the Standing Committee on Finance, the review of the Workers' Compensation Board is somewhat of a futile exercise in that we do not really get to review their budget and have much in the way of input, seeing how it is operating at arms length from the government. I think it would be safe to say that the majority of Members on the Standing Committee on Finance support the resolutions that came out of the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards, and Commissions final report on the Workers' Compensation Board.
We did have one resolution to do with measuring output and effect. The Standing Committee on Finance wishes to know what the board will accomplish with the money put into the Workers' Compensation Programs.
Committee Motion 226-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 97
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
October 1st, 1992
Page 1312
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I move that this committee recommends that the Workers' Compensation Board report, as a minimum, the following performance measurements in the 1993-94 main estimates: a trend in assessment rates; backlog statistics; accident statistics; and, worker and employer satisfaction.
Committee Motion 226-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 97
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1312
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion.