This is page numbers 369 - 399 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 7th 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.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 372

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to introduce Jerry Sherman. Jerry Sherman is from the Christian Embassy of Canada and visits our Legislative Assembly, at least a representative does, annually to assist Members if they need it. Mr. Sherman.

---Applause

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Patterson.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, since he sits directly in front of me every day and looks intently at me every day and reminds me of all the workers in my constituency, I would like to recognize Mr. Ben MacDonald of the Union of Northern Workers.

---Applause

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 372

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Ballantyne.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 372

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have here today visiting us from the Kaw Tay Whee School in Dettah, Bob Chaiko and the grades five and six students.

---Applause

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Welcome to the Assembly. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Pudlat.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

February 28th, 1995

Page 372

Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize one of the former students in Lake Harbour who is now one of the interpreters, Ooleepika Ikkidluak.

---Applause

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 372

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Koe.

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of the Workers' Compensation Board. I had a call from a person in Inuvik who is very concerned about the rates that a certain industry pays for workers' compensation. The rate is for taxi drivers and dispatchers. The rate is $4.40 per $100 of payroll for dispatchers. This is a straightforward calculation based on salary. For taxi drivers it's different because we know taxi drivers don't usually work on a salary basis. The Workers' Compensation Board treats them as self-employed and they choose to apply for personal operational coverage which is now approximately $2,000 a year, as compared to $365 before.

The concern of this individual was only on the dispatchers who pay a high rate. She said what is going to happen to a dispatcher? He or she can bang their elbow on a table or hit the phone or fall off their dispatch chairs, but they pay the same rate as drivers. So my question to the Minister is why do administrative staff in the taxi industry pay the same rate as drivers?

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Workers' Compensation Board, Mr. Todd.

Return To Question 194-12(7): Wcb Rates For Taxi Drivers And Staff
Question 194-12(7): WCB Rates For Taxi Drivers And Staff
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 373

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The board of directors of the WCB decided that effective January 1, 1995, taxi companies would be assessed $4.40 per $100 for all hourly or commissioned staff. That includes the operators of the taxis and operators of the telephones. That was the decision made by the board of directors at that time.

Return To Question 194-12(7): Wcb Rates For Taxi Drivers And Staff
Question 194-12(7): WCB Rates For Taxi Drivers And Staff
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 373

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Supplementary To Question 194-12(7): Wcb Rates For Taxi Drivers And Staff
Question 194-12(7): WCB Rates For Taxi Drivers And Staff
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 373

Fred Koe Inuvik

I have that information, but my question is why because the risks are quite different. The risk of sitting in an office answering telephones and directing traffic is quite different than a driver in a cab doing the legwork, generating revenues for both governments through their fuel usage. Why are the administrative staff paying the same rates as drivers? Shouldn't there be some leeway or some reductions in the rates that they're charged?

Supplementary To Question 194-12(7): Wcb Rates For Taxi Drivers And Staff
Question 194-12(7): WCB Rates For Taxi Drivers And Staff
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 373

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Todd.

Further Return To Question 194-12(7): Wcb Rates For Taxi Drivers And Staff
Question 194-12(7): WCB Rates For Taxi Drivers And Staff
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 373

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Of course, the responsibility for rate assessment lies with the board of directors, so I would have to check with the board of directors for the reason they've put the operators in the same category as those who drive taxi. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 194-12(7): Wcb Rates For Taxi Drivers And Staff
Question 194-12(7): WCB Rates For Taxi Drivers And Staff
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 373

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Koe, Supplementary.

Supplementary To Question 194-12(7): Wcb Rates For Taxi Drivers And Staff
Question 194-12(7): WCB Rates For Taxi Drivers And Staff
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 373

Fred Koe Inuvik

Is the Minister making a commitment to review this and get back to us, or is he just going to do it on his own? I would like to know what course of action the Minister is going to take on reviewing this issue.

Supplementary To Question 194-12(7): Wcb Rates For Taxi Drivers And Staff
Question 194-12(7): WCB Rates For Taxi Drivers And Staff
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 373

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Todd.

Further Return To Question 194-12(7): Wcb Rates For Taxi Drivers And Staff
Question 194-12(7): WCB Rates For Taxi Drivers And Staff
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 373

John Todd Keewatin Central

(Microphone turned off)...responsibility for assessing the rates is determined by the board of directors of the WCB. I will check with the board of directors as to the reasoning behind this decision to include all taxi operations under the one rate and report back to the honourable Member. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 194-12(7): Wcb Rates For Taxi Drivers And Staff
Question 194-12(7): WCB Rates For Taxi Drivers And Staff
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 373

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Supplementary To Question 194-12(7): Wcb Rates For Taxi Drivers And Staff
Question 194-12(7): WCB Rates For Taxi Drivers And Staff
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 373

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi. As I mentioned, the personal optional coverage for taxi drivers who are considered self-employed is now being increased to $2,000 a year from $365 a year. Would the Minister also ask the people who set the rates why the phenomenal increase to this rate?

Supplementary To Question 194-12(7): Wcb Rates For Taxi Drivers And Staff
Question 194-12(7): WCB Rates For Taxi Drivers And Staff
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 373

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Todd.

Further Return To Question 194-12(7): Wcb Rates For Taxi Drivers And Staff
Question 194-12(7): WCB Rates For Taxi Drivers And Staff
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 373

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's an easy one to answer. The taxi industry revenue between 1990 and 1993 was $69,184. The claims paid out during that period was $435,954. That's how, from my experience, that WCB determines rates. It's based upon the expenses and expenditures that have occurred and the ability to recover. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 194-12(7): Wcb Rates For Taxi Drivers And Staff
Question 194-12(7): WCB Rates For Taxi Drivers And Staff
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 373

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Ballantyne.

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation. Mr. Speaker, in the federal budget that came down on Monday, there was some mention of possible reductions to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. As we know, the last time we had mention in a budget about cuts to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, before we knew it we had lost over $40 million. Is there any danger that the federal government will now look at the operations and maintenance side of the Housing Corporation and try to cut that part of the operation?