Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that I have appointed the following individuals to the mining safety bill committee: Mr. Terence Vaughan-Thomas, a retired professional mining engineer, who will serve as chairperson; Mr. Norman Pottinger, an underground shift supervisor at Nerco Con Mine, nominated by the Union of Northern Workers to represent organized labour; Mr. Jim Bacon, a millwright at Echo Bay Mines Limited, nominated by that mine's occupational health and safety committee to represent unorganized labour; Mr. Bob Jacko, mine superintendent of Polaris Mine; and Mr. Brian J. Hagan, safety and training superintendent of Royal Oak Mines, nominated by the Chamber of Mines to represent management.
Mr. Speaker, in appointing Mr. Vaughan-Thomas I have chosen an individual with over 43 years' experience in the mining industry, who was involved in the redrafting of British Columbia's new Mines Act. He will be arriving in Yellowknife next week, and I anticipate that he will bring the committee together very quickly to commence its very important work.
Even though the United Steelworkers of America and the Canadian Association of Smelter and Allied Workers have chosen not to participate on this committee, they will have ample opportunity to have input on the proposed new act when it is reviewed by a standing committee of this House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.