Okay. Mr. Todd, do you have any opening remarks for this committee?

Minister's Introductory Remarks

Very briefly, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to present the proposed 1995-96 capital budget for the Workers' Compensation Board of the NWT. In preparing this

budget, the board continues to act responsibly in using employers' money fairly and with good effect.

This budget totals $91,200. It is the second capital budget presented by the WCB, which greatly reduces capital spending from the previous year.

You may recall that 1993 saw the consolidation of office space that, while reducing ongoing expenses, required extensive renovations. In 1993-94, the board completely revamped its computer systems. As the systems conversion project is expected to be completed by the end of 1994, the capital budget for computer equipment will be much lower in 1995.

The board expects to spend $33,000 on computer equipment and about $12,000 on software, including purchases or upgrades of various programs. Office equipment replacements and acquisitions are estimated to cost $20,000. The board expects to spend $14,500 on office furnishings and another $12,000 on minor renovations to enclose work stations.

I believe the board has carefully considered the spending of each dollar. I commend them for the conscientious actions in preparing this budget. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Todd, for that brief report. The Standing Committee on Finance, Mr. Antoine.

Standing Committee On Finance Comments

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is the Standing Committee on Finance review of the 1995-96 capital estimates on the Workers' Compensation Board.

Following large capital expenditures used to replace their computer system, the Workers' Compensation Board now presents a capital budget which merely provides for replacement of some older equipment and for some minor new acquisitions. The committee looks forward to seeing how the new computer systems purchased in previous year meets the needs of the board, and hopes that substantial replacement or upgrading will not be necessary in the immediate future. That is the report from the Standing Committee on Finance. Thank you.

Mr. Antoine, there are no motions. All Members have been circulated the detail in the capital expenditure plan as an information item. Are there any general comments, statements or questions? Mr. Patterson.

General Comments

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, along with other Members of this House, I'm sure we welcomed the statement earlier in this session that the financial situation of the WCB had turned around, that the WCB was going to be able to hold the line on rates, that the deficit that had been a subject of some concern earlier in the life of this Assembly was under control, and that the Minister, the chair and the board deserve commendations for this turnaround.

I wonder, Mr. Chairman, if I could ask the Minister whether he has any comments on these challenges that have been circulated to MLAs. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Patterson. You're quite happy to respond to these questions from your seat, Mr. Todd? Okay, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First of all, I'm not going to respond to innuendo in the News/North. I'm certainly not going to respond to something...((Microphone turned off).

---Recording difficulties

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Could I respond to Mr. Patterson's...

Your light is on, Mr. Todd. No it's not, mine is on now.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. No, I will not respond to the complaints being registered by former members of the board. What I will say to the honourable Member, as I said in the House the week before last when I was asked the question, the $13.4 million turnaround has been carefully documented; I expressed in the House where it came from; Mr. Gilmour wrote a letter to the News/North showing where the turnaround had come from; and, we should accept that that's just good management, a good board of directors, a good chairman, and I like to think not a bad Minister. Thank you.

Ohh.

Thank you for those kind words, Mr. Todd. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think one of the commendable attributes of the current Minister is that he had the wisdom to build on some of the progress made by previous Ministers responsible for the WCB...

---Applause

...who have been long forgotten.

---Laughter

Do you need a minute to think about that one, Mr. Todd? Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, I need a minute to think about that one, if I may. I would hate to give an inaccurate answer to that, Mr. Chairman, so I will take it as notice.

---Laughter

No, I know it has a public audit every year and whether it comes under the Auditor General, I would have to check with the chairman and report back to the honourable Member. Thank you.

Or, it could be a Minister's statement or something like that. Thank you, Mr. Todd. We are still on the Workers' Compensation Board. Are there any other general comments for the Minister? Mr. Koe is next.

Mahsi, Mr. Chairman. One of the issues over the last several years has been the use of office space for the Workers' Compensation Board. How many floors are they currently occupying in the building they are in now?

Thank you, Mr. Koe. Mr. Todd.

There are four floors and we currently occupy three: floors two, three and four. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Todd. Mr. Koe.

So, what are the plans for the fourth floor, the one that is not occupied?

Mr. Todd.

We have four floors. We sublet the main floor to Sport North and the other three floors are occupied by WCB and staff.