Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi. Can the Minister explain why he has not made the drafting and introduction of such legislation a priority for the Workers' Compensation Board and for this government?

Thank you. Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is a priority. There is a full legislative plate before the House and we are moving as quickly and as expeditiously as possible to make the adjustments. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

There have been a lot of good announcements made by the Minister on the operations of the board, but the Minister knows very well that the Workers' Compensation Board has also received a lot of bad press over the last few years. Many workers don't feel that the board is adequately addressing their needs. Can the Minister explain how he expects to correct this perception, if he is not prepared to move quickly to introduce legislation that will address the needs identified by the standing committees?

Minister responsible for WCB, Mr. Todd.

Madam Speaker, I would like to commend the chairman of the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions and their report that they provided some months ago. We are using that report as a blueprint for change and we are proceeding as quickly as we can with the legislative changes. I am optimistic that these changes, when they go through the Standing Committee on Legislation and public discussion, will be massaged by the different interest groups that are keenly interested in WCB. With respect to our public image, I think we are making significant progress in trying to improve the board's image between employers and, more importantly, between injured workers. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board, Mr. Todd.

We've enacted the recommendation of the Standing Committee on Legislation, that said it should be independent; we've put it into Safety and Public Services. I believe that's where it operates. And it operates as an independent arm of the WCB. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board, Mr. Todd.

We reached an agreement with the Department of Safety and Public Services that the workers' advisor is supervised by the director of policy, thus serving at an arm's-length relationship with the WCB. This was in keeping with the recommendations that were provided by the ordinary Members on the other side of the House, through the Standing Committee on Legislation.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Just before we go further on oral questions, may I remind the Members to try to keep their preambles, particularly on their supplementaries, short, and the replies from Ministers as brief as possible. Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Zoe.

Thank you. Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board, Mr. Todd.

The WCB investment policy, from what I recollect because it is an independent group of people, is one of looking at bluechip investments. I suspect, although it's all I can say because I'm not involved directly, that the majority of their investments are in an area where they know they can predict the kind of return that they require to ensure that the pension fund is fully funded. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Zoe.

Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board, Mr. Todd.

Absolutely not. No way would I infringe upon the fiscal investment policy of the Workers' Compensation Board at this time, Madam Speaker.