Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board. Mr. Speaker, the Government of the NWT pays a significant amount of dollars to the Workers' Compensation Board on behalf of their workers. Can the Minister of the Workers' Compensation Board indicate to this House how much funding the WCB receives on behalf of GNWT workers?

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I am afraid I do not have that figure at hand, but I can assure the honourable Member that our government is one of the sizeable contributors to the WCB. I will have to take the question as notice, and get back probably tomorrow on that, Mr. Speaker.

The question has been taken as notice. Oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, my question is to the Workers' Compensation Board Minister. Mr. Speaker, the Minister indicated that in order to change policy or to address any type of policy that the board has developed, the only way it appears he can do this is by influencing the board, by talking to them and giving them advice on issues. Whether the board wants to listen or not is another matter, but recognizing that section 8 of the WCB does not allow for ministerial ability to override a policy or even be part of policy development, and recognizing that section 8 allows for exclusive jurisdiction of the board members to operate the Workers' Compensation Board, I would like to know whether the Minister is considering reviewing the act to amend it so that the board does not have exclusive jurisdiction on WCB matters. Can the Minister

indicate that to this House?

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, there have been two fairly extensive reviews of the Workers' Compensation Act, in 1986 and 1988, which did indicate that the act needs substantial rewriting. Mr. Speaker, I believe I should be guided by the advice given to the government and previous Ministers by these rather extensive reviews. Mr. Speaker, off the top of my head, I do not believe that either of those reviews have recommended that the section with regard to exclusive jurisdiction of the board with regard to workers' claims should be revised. Neither do I believe it is the practice anywhere else in the country to have a body other than an arm's length board have this responsibility.

So, Mr. Speaker, with regard to the matter of workers' claims, I have to honestly tell the honourable Member that I am not sure how we could do it differently, and at this moment it is not a priority with me to change that particular section of the act. I may have another opinion on further reviewing legislative amendments, but at the moment I am not convinced there is a better way of doing it. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, at no point in time in my questioning did I talk about claims or whatever. I basically indicated the act now states that the WCB board has exclusive jurisdiction. The Minister, in technicality and legally, does not have any say over the board's development of policies or decisions, and the Minister indicated to this House that he basically can do this by talking to the board or influencing the board. I am asking him whether or not he is going to consider amendments to the act where that board can be run under the direction of a Minister, and not by influencing. Can the Minister advise this House whether he is considering that?

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to make it perfectly clear that according to my understanding of the act, the words "exclusive jurisdiction," which are contained in section 8 of the act, refer to the powers of the board to deal with accidents and claims, and the degree of disability and whether a person should be declared to be eligible for compensation. It was with reference to that section, Mr. Speaker, that I told the honourable Member I am not sure there is a better way of doing it. If the Member is asking about the other broader responsibilities of the board, with regard to workers' compensation; such matters as safety education, for example, then I would agree with the honourable Member that it is important that the Minister has the authority to, if necessary, require co-operation and accountability to this government. I am very open to reviewing sections of the act relating to those broader powers. On the narrow question of workers' claims, Mr. Speaker, section 8, I am not convinced that a Minister should have the power to intervene. Thank you.

Oral questions. Oral questions. Item 6, written questions. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have several written questions, Mr. Speaker. The first written question is to the Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board.

Would the Minister please table in this House:

1) a listing of all positions within the Workers' Compensation Board that have been classified as management occupations;

2) a management occupations who qualify as i) indigenous aboriginal persons, ii) resident women, iii) indigenous non-aboriginal persons, or iv) resident disabled persons;

3) a listing of all positions within the Workers' Compensation Board that have been classified as non-traditional occupations;

4) a summary of the number of board employees in non-traditional occupations who qualify as i) indigenous aboriginal persons, ii) resident women, iii) indigenous non-aboriginal persons, or iv) resident disabled persons; and

5) a summary of the number of board employees in all other positions who qualify as i) indigenous aboriginal persons, ii) indigenous non-aboriginal persons, or iii) resident disabled persons.

Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Finance. Mr. Speaker, before the recent election the government's financial situation was known to be serious, but not as serious as the press has alleged. Normally, it takes several months after the end of the fiscal year before the public accounts are completed and the true financial position of the Government is know, and then the information is some six months old.

I would like to ask the Minister of Finance to provide this Assembly with an interim unaudited financial report to the end of February 1992, with estimates for the balance of the 1991-92 year, showing the spending by departments compared to their approved budgets.

Mr. Speaker, I am also requesting that this Assembly be provided with an explanation of any overexpenditures by departments in this current fiscal year.

Mr. Speaker, this question is to the Minister of Finance: A recent article in News North suggests that the Government's deficit could be more than $300 million within the next two to three years. Can the Minister of Finance and the Government Leader inform this Assembly what concrete plans the Government is proposing to bring the deficit under control?

My final question, Mr. Speaker, is to the Minister of Health. Can the Minister of Health inform the Assembly how much of the money billed to DIAND for Indian and Inuit health care will not be recovered? How much is the government planning to write off, and when will this be done? When will this Assembly be provided with full details for a debate on the issue? Thank you.

Written questions. Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a written question to the Minister of Personnel. Would the Minister of Personnel provide the following information:

1) What is the number and percentage of aboriginal people presently employed by the Government of the Northwest Territories?

2) How many aboriginal people has this government recruited since the affirmative action policy was implemented?

Would the Minister provide this information in the following formats: a) by department; b) by regions, headquarters, and communities; c) the percentage of present public service and total number increase since 1987?

3) How many aboriginal people has this government recruited into the public service since the present government assumed their responsibility?

4) Would the Minister provide this information since 1987 for the following positions: deputy ministers, assistant deputy ministers, regional directors, assistant regional directors, and any other senior management positions?

Would the Minister indicate by department, region, and community, this particular information?

Written questions. Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Education:

1) What is the present status of the community employment officers?

2) Has the government determined that these positions will no longer be funded?

3) Has the government consulted the communities about the role or need for these employment officers to their communities?

4) Has the Minister consulted with this House about the need or value of those employment officers? Thank you.

Written questions. Written questions. Item 7, returns to written questions. Returns to written questions. Mr. Clerk.

Mr. Speaker, a return to Question W11-12(2), asked by Mr. Pudluk to the Government Leader, concerning a meeting of Canadian Coast Guard officials.

Hon. Nellie Cournoyea's return to Question W11-12(2), asked by Mr. Pudluk on February 27, 1992: The annual pre-season shipping meeting between Nanisivik Mines Ltd., Canarctic Shipping Company Limited and interested community groups from Arctic Bay is scheduled for Tuesday, March 17, 1992 in Nanisivik. The Arctic Bay Hunters' and Trappers' Association as well as the Arctic Bay lost equipment committee have been invited to attend the proceedings.

These meetings between the mining company, the ore carrier and the community groups have been held every year now for the past several years. The parties discuss the details of the upcoming shipping season and resolve matters of mutual interest. The proceedings do not involve either the Canadian Coast Guard or the Government of the Northwest Territories.

I am given to understand that if either the Arctic Bay Hunters' and Trappers' Association or the Arctic Bay lost equipment committee wishes to extend an invitation to the shipper and the carrier to meet together in Arctic Bay, there is no reason to believe the invitation would not be well received.

Invitations could be extended to: Mr. Bill McNeil, Mine Manager, Nanisivik Mines Ltd., Nanisivik, NWT, phone (819) 436-7531; Mr. Robert Gorman, Manager, Arctic Operations, Canarctic Shipping Co. Ltd., Ottawa, Ontario, phone (613) 234-8414.

Returns to written questions.

Item 8, replies to Opening Address.

Item 9, petitions. Petitions. Item 10, reports of standing and special committees.

Speaker's Ruling On Point Of Order Raised By Hon. Nellie Cournoyea, On Friday, March 6th

The Hon. Government Leader raised a point of order on Friday, March 6th, after the chairman of the standing committee on finance had presented his committee's report on their "Creative Planning Session."

The Government Leader indicated that the chairman of the standing committee had read words that were different from that contained in the written report presented to the House. I have reviewed the matter and find that there were two words that were different from those contained in the report.

The chairman read, and I quote from page 1134 of the unedited Hansard: "Government spending and financial management must first respond to the fundamental needs of Northerners." The wording contained in the report is, and I quote: "Government spending and financial management must respond first to fundamental human needs."

Members will see that there is no difference between the meaning of what was spoken by the chairman and what is contained in the report. By the authority given me by the rules, I have by this ruling instructed that the edited Hansard will reflect the wording as contained in the report. I am sure that with this point of order, all Members will see that every Member reads and listens to everything that is presented.

Item 11, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 12, tabling of documents. Mr. Kakfwi.