This is page numbers 863 - 902 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 6th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was chairman.

Topics

Further Return To Question 385-12(6): Effect Of Maca Reorganization On Municipalities
Question 385-12(6): Effect Of Maca Reorganization On Municipalities
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes.

Further Return To Question 385-12(6): Effect Of Maca Reorganization On Municipalities
Question 385-12(6): Effect Of Maca Reorganization On Municipalities
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Whitford.

Question 386-12(6): Reason For WCB Protestors
Item 6: Oral Questions

November 8th, 1994

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Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, earlier this session, following the tabling of the WCB annual report, I asked the Minister several questions concerning the improvements that were supposed to be in this document. The last improvement to WCB would see the end of protestors on the Legislative Assembly steps. Well, Madam Speaker, today we all noticed that there is a group of people

out there concerned about some things. I would like to ask the Minister whether or not he knows why these people are there?

The Speaker

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

Return To Question 386-12(6): Reason For Wcb Protestors
Question 386-12(6): Reason For WCB Protestors
Item 6: Oral Questions

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John Todd Keewatin Central

Madam Speaker, I appreciate the honourable Member's concern and he has, on a number of occasions, tried to address the issue of injured workers who feel they are being neglected by the WCB. Contrary to what they might think, I have a great deal of empathy for this group and I understand they are organized as the injured and disabled workers group. The concerns raised by these groups are important, but I think it is important to understand, for everyone's benefit -- for the House's benefit anyway -- that I met with these injured workers several months ago.

Once and for all, I would like to say to this House, and assure this House and the honourable Member, that every effort is being made by the board, by the chairman and by myself to have this group specifically spell out their concerns to the board. To date, they have refused to do it. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Return To Question 386-12(6): Reason For Wcb Protestors
Question 386-12(6): Reason For WCB Protestors
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Whitford.

Supplementary To Question 386-12(6): Reason For Wcb Protestors
Question 386-12(6): Reason For WCB Protestors
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I thank the Minister for his reply. The Minister has assured this House a number of times that the board is ready to meet with these people who have concerns, and somewhere along the way, the message is not getting through. I would like to ask the Minister again, can he assure this House that the board will meet with the people who want to meet with it about their concerns? Will the board meet with them?

Supplementary To Question 386-12(6): Reason For Wcb Protestors
Question 386-12(6): Reason For WCB Protestors
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

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

Further Return To Question 386-12(6): Reason For Wcb Protestors
Question 386-12(6): Reason For WCB Protestors
Item 6: Oral Questions

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John Todd Keewatin Central

Let me say, hopefully for the last time -- and I do appreciate the honourable Member's concern -- that the board, the chairman and this Minister have said to this group of people on a consistent basis to please meet with the board, spell out your specific concerns and we will try to address them. But, I think it is important also to say that 3,600 claims went through the WCB last year and there are bound to be people who are less satisfied than others. Every effort is being made to address their concerns, but some responsibility lies with the injured workers, besides protesting outside -- which is a legitimate right -- but they have to take some initiative to move forward and discuss it with the board.

So, in summary, Madam Speaker, we're ready. Are they ready? Thank you.

Further Return To Question 386-12(6): Reason For Wcb Protestors
Question 386-12(6): Reason For WCB Protestors
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik, Mr. Koe.

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Madam Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. During the current reorganization of the department, I understand that a number of directors' positions were eliminated. Naturally, that meant that a number of these people, ex-directors, would be competing for a reduced number of directors' positions. My question is, can the Minister tell this House how this reduced number of directors' positions were filled; specifically what competition process took place?

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Ms. Mike.

Return To Question 387-12(6): Competition Process For Positions In Maca
Question 387-12(6): Competition Process For Positions In Maca
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Madam Speaker. As the Member knows already, the effected workers, as a result of the reorganization, underwent internal competition so as to avoid lay-offs and surpluses. Thank you.

Return To Question 387-12(6): Competition Process For Positions In Maca
Question 387-12(6): Competition Process For Positions In Maca
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Supplementary To Question 387-12(6): Competition Process For Positions In Maca
Question 387-12(6): Competition Process For Positions In Maca
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. To clarify a statement made by the Minister, I don't know what the situation is, or I wouldn't be asking the question. My supplementary to the Minister is, can the Minister tell this House how many staff members have left the department since the reorganization began?

Supplementary To Question 387-12(6): Competition Process For Positions In Maca
Question 387-12(6): Competition Process For Positions In Maca
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Ms. Mike.

Further Return To Question 387-12(6): Competition Process For Positions In Maca
Question 387-12(6): Competition Process For Positions In Maca
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Madam Speaker, to my understanding, approximately three have taken up jobs elsewhere. One went to NTI and another went to the Nunavut Caucus. I'm sorry, two. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 387-12(6): Competition Process For Positions In Maca
Question 387-12(6): Competition Process For Positions In Maca
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Supplementary To Question 387-12(6): Competition Process For Positions In Maca
Question 387-12(6): Competition Process For Positions In Maca
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi. I also understand that one former director was not given an opportunity to compete for a new director's

position, despite this individual having 14 years of senior management experience. This former director has since left the department. Can the Minister explain why this former employee was not given the opportunity to compete, as the Minister said, through the internal competition process?

Supplementary To Question 387-12(6): Competition Process For Positions In Maca
Question 387-12(6): Competition Process For Positions In Maca
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Ms. Mike.

Supplementary To Question 387-12(6): Competition Process For Positions In Maca
Question 387-12(6): Competition Process For Positions In Maca
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Madam Speaker. As everyone is aware, when a department is undergoing reorganization, it usually means the reduction of positions. I don't have any knowledge about who this director is and whether or not he was able to compete through internal competitions. Since I do not know the answer at hand, I will take his question as notice and get back to the Member. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 387-12(6): Competition Process For Positions In Maca
Question 387-12(6): Competition Process For Positions In Maca
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Amittuq, Mr. Allooloo.

Titus Allooloo Amittuq

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Economic Development. The government has always emphasized the importance of the renewable resource sector of the economy. As most of us said before, the north is capable, with the right facilities, of producing significant quantities of wild meat for sale in the NWT and outside markets. An important part of this is determining what facilities are needed and what locations to have the most efficient production. Is it part of the Development Corporation's mandate to support communities in looking at these options? Thank you.

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Todd.

Return To Question 388-12(6): Mandate Of Development Corporation Re Renewable Resource Markets
Question 388-12(6): Mandate Of Development Corporation Re Renewable Resource Markets
Item 6: Oral Questions

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John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Madam Speaker. No, the responsibility for looking at these options lies clearly with the Department of Economic Development and Tourism. The responsibility, once these issues have been identified in conjunction with Renewable Resources, is then to do the value-added, packaging, et cetera. But the responsibility for identifying the species and a business plan to develop the enhancement of renewable resources lies with the department. Thank you.