Mr. Speaker, I should apologize to the Member. In reading the act, I do see that the present act only allows for the appointment of no more than seven members, so the nine member board recommended by the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions would require a legislative change. I stand corrected on that, Mr. Speaker, but I would say that as long as we are dealing with a seven member board it would still be possible to constitute the board proportionately having regard to regional representation and the other factors mentioned by the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions in the next round of appointments.

Mr. Speaker, to answer the Member's second question, yes, I will be pleased to table those terms of reference. Thank you.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also have a question for the Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board. During the public hearings held on the Workers' Compensation Board by the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions, an organization calling itself "northern employers council on workers compensation" argued that the drive to make board appointments based on political considerations of ethnicity, regionalism, or gender can result in a board lacking the skills and understanding to adequately perform its duties. The standing committee rejected this position completely and in its June 26 report pointed out the advantages of having a board which adequately reflects diverse regional and aboriginal perspectives.

Will the Minister also reject this position and confirm that he has established a principle that appointments to the board should in fact be made in a way that ensures the perspective of all regions and cultures are represented?

---Applause

Mr. Patterson.

I guess I know how to answer that question, Mr. Speaker.

---Laughter

I think it is possible to meet the recommendations of the standing committee at the same time as having competent, qualified people. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Supplementary, Mr. Speaker. In order to make it clear that appointments will be made according to the principle of fair and equal representation for all regions, will the Minister communicate to the so-called "employers council" that he disagrees with their position that a regional based board with aboriginal and women representatives lacks adequate skills. Thank you.

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I guess I would be a bit concerned about having to make comments about every submission made to the A.B.C. committee including the submission of that particular group. With the help and support of M.L.A.s I am confident that the new round of W.C.B. appointments, on which I will welcome assistance and advice from M.L.A.s, will in fact be of a calibre and a representative, culturally sensitive, gender conscious, nature that those appointments will speak for themselves, Mr. Speaker. I do not feel the need to respond to specific submissions. I think the appointments will show that group and the public what criteria this Legislature and this government will pursue in making appointments. They will speak for themselves. Thank you.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Supplementary, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Mr. Speaker, recognizing that the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions recommended that the Workers' Compensation Board membership should reflect regional and aboriginal representation, and recognizing that terms of the current board members are due to expire in January, 1993, can the Minister explain why he has been so reluctant to write to municipal governments, H.T.A.s, and band councils to recommend nominees to the board? Thank you.

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I sent out over 60 letters to various interested parties in the Northwest Territories who I thought should be appropriately consulted on W.C.B. appointments, regional councils and Members of this Legislature included. Mr. Speaker, I believe -- and the Member for Baffin Central has spoken eloquently about this earlier today -- that the regional councils are an appropriate way of reflecting the views and voices of the regions in consulting with the regions. I thought it was adequate to direct my request to those regional councils and that is what has been done rather than writing individual municipalities. Thank you.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Ms. Mike.

Mr. Patterson.

None, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Ms. Mike.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends) ...for wanting to avoid having a board with a balanced representation from both genders?

Mr. Patterson.

No I cannot, Mr. Speaker.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Supplementary, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My supplementary to the same Minister, the Minister must know that when the primary wage earner is injured and cannot work, it creates significant hardships for the spouse and family. The Workers' Compensation Board policies have not taken this into account. Support for the spouses and families of injured workers, either through additional compensation or rehabilitative services, has been sorely lacking. Why has the Minister not considered making appointments which reflect the needs of these stakeholders rather than trying only to cater to the wishes of the industry association and organized labour?

---Applause

Mr. Patterson.