I believe the motion is prefaced "I move that this committee recommends," with that change the motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? Opposed, if any? The motion is carried.

--- Carried

Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to move that we extend sitting hours until we have completed the document under consideration.

The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? Opposed, if any? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Of course the most effective and efficient way to ensure that the Workers' Compensation Board is held accountable for its actions is to establish a process through which appropriate levels of consultation occur before strategic planning and policy formulation take place. The standing committee noted however that during the public hearings submissions from several industry associations and labour organizations suggested that general involvement in the consultation process should be limited. A representative of the Northern Employers Council on Workers' Compensation even went so far as to suggest that the overriding principle should be, "If you pay, you play."

The committee is of the opinion that the Minister should not limit his consultive network and was quite concerned by his comment during the May 13th public hearing that: "I feel that primary contacts would be the NWT Chamber of Commerce, the Construction Association, the Chamber of Mines and, as well, organized labour. I feel that as long as it is made clear that I am simply considering representations, there is no reason why I should not keep my doors as open as possible."

With respect to the Minister, the committee is of the opinion that his lists of "primary contacts" for consulting on Workers' Compensation Board issues should be considerably broader. At the public hearings the submission received from the NWT Chamber of Mines emphasized the fact that: "it is strange that a majority of the business workers, mining workers, construction workers and transportation workers, in essence the majority of workers that create the wealth in the NWT are not part of organized labour and therefore are not represented on the Workers' Compensation Board."

The committee also found it relevant that the government's own Strength at Two Levels report, when dealing with the matter of government-created boards and agencies, comments that: "Northern government in the 1990s should strengthen the role of the elected representatives at the territorial and community levels. In order for elected and accountable officials to assume greater control over the real 'bread and butter' programs, the elected government structures must not be undermined."

While the standing committee on agencies, boards and commissions has made several recommendations which do not parallel all of the Strength at Two Levels philosophy, this is the one area in which there is agreement. There should be a role for Members of the Legislative Assembly to play when the Minister is consulting on matters related to the Workers' Compensation Board or other agencies created by territorial legislation. The Members of the Legislative Assembly should be listed among its primary contacts on workers' compensation issues.

Motion To Accept Recommendation 12, Carried

I move that the Minister develop and table a process for receiving input from employee and employer groups, as well as the Legislative Assembly, unorganized labour and injured workers with respect to board appointments, policy considerations and legislative initiatives.

Thank you. The motion is in order.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Finally, the standing committee on agencies, boards and commissions took note of the fact that several submissions received during the public hearings highlighted a need for a mandatory process of legislative review. Indeed, the standing committee was concerned to see that the current legislation has remained, to a large part, unchanged since the old ordinance was enacted in February 1977.

Since that time there have been nine amendments to the Workers' Compensation Act. Six of these have been simple increases to the years maximum insurance remuneration, amended in 1980, 1981, 1983, 1986 and 1988. The amendments in 1986 also adjusted the figure for average monthly remuneration. The remaining amendments have included: the inclusion of provisions for coverage of traditional hunters' and trappers' claims in 1987; a change in the size of the board, reducing the membership from 11 members to five members, and establishing the Minister, rather than the Commissioner, as the authority for making board appointments, in 1989; and the establishment of an appeals tribunal, in 1990.

The interim report tabled by the standing committee on agencies, boards and commissions refers to the fact that significant changes have taken place since 1977. These include new concepts of occupational injury and disease, new principles surrounding work place health and safety, and an evolving form of ministerial government within our political system. It is perhaps astonishing that, over several successive governments, no priority has been placed on a comprehensive revision of the act to ensure that it has kept pace with these developments.

The standing committee on agencies, boards and commissions is of the opinion that the regular review and amendment of this act is essential to ensure that the compensation of workers is in step with current factors in the northern workplace and new principles emerging in other jurisdictions.

Motion To Accept Recommendation 13, Carried

Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I move that this committee recommends that the legislation action paper include a review of options for statutory requirements which would establish a regular process of periodic review.

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

--- Carried

Mr. Dent.

The Appeals Process

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Dent.

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Dent.