Yes, Mr. Chairman, I do. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It's my pleasure to provide the 1995 operating budget for the programs and administration of the Workers' Compensation Board of the Northwest Territories.

The board's operating budget for 1995 will be just over $33 million. For this insurance, a no-fault, collective liability scheme is provided to protect both workers and employers. This includes all medical costs resulting from an accident. It should be noted that the territorial health insurance scheme does not pay any of these costs. In addition, the WCB provides safety courses to stakeholders at no charge. This year, a claims management program will also be provided to help employers minimize the cost of accidents.

An increase in forecasted revenues for 1995 reflects increased economic activity in the Northwest Territories. It is anticipated that claims expenditures will also rise. However, the average assessment rate has actually been reduced.

Although medical aid and claims costs are expected to rise in 1995, it is anticipated that continued emphasis on "training on the job" programs and the implementation of the early intervention model will balance these increases.

The board does not expect to increase personnel in 1995. In fact, attention to overall efficiency has allowed the WCB to reduce its internal operating budget slightly.

Some of our counterparts at Workers' Compensation Boards across Canada have been forced recently to reduce statutory benefits offered to claimants and/or increase assessment rates to reduce their unfunded liability positions. I would like to emphasize to my colleagues -- those that are here this afternoon -- that this will not be the case in the NWT for 1995.

In 1994, the NWT Workers' Compensation Board implemented initiatives which will maintain and provide efficient and cost-effective services to employers and workers for several years. Mr. Chairman, three major initiatives were developed:

1. The industrial classification system was reviewed and several changes were made. Effective January 1, 1995, multiple-industry classification has been offered to employers that meet the criteria and several subclasses were amalgamated to increase their economic viability.

2. The safety incentive and rate reduction program was approved. Beginning in 1996, additional assessments will be collected from employers with poor safety records. This revenue will offset rates and enhance safety education programs for all employers.

3. An early intervention model was developed to manage claims more effectively and to promote the early and safe return of injured workers to their work sites.

Do you wish me to continue?

The Workers' Compensation Board is aware of its fiduciary responsibility to maintain a fully-funded accident fund. It is the board's intention to strive for better ways to serve their stakeholders, while remaining within this budget.

To that end, a number of objectives have been outlined in the corporate plan for 1995 to 1997:

1. Policies, procedures and training will be completed and provided to doctors, staff, employers and workers relating to the early intervention model, Mr. Chairman.

2. The communication of rights and obligations to complainants -- pardon me, I am so excited -- to claimants will be improved. A long-term strategy will be developed for information processing and a survey compiled to test whether the board is meeting the needs of all of its stakeholders.

3. The board will develop a medical aid cost containment strategy.

4. A comprehensive policy manual will be completed by December 1995.

5. The investment policy will be revised this year.

6. YMIR alternatives will be researched in the interest of stakeholders.

7. Finally, Mr. Chairman, the economic climate of the north has dictated the need for the Workers' Compensation Board to develop effective strategies for Nunavut and anticipated major non-renewable resource projects. These two issues will be addressed in 1995 and in the future.