Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The transfer of occupational health and safety from the Department of Safety and Public Services to the Workers' Compensation Board has been the subject of a lot of talk, a lot of comment and some controversy. The action has been criticized by both labour and business across the Northwest Territories. Editorials have been written in the newspaper about it. Petitions have been sent to us, as Members of the Legislative Assembly, and we have received letters from workers and businesses. Those letters outlined people's concern about the lack of planning.

The NWT Federation of Labour petitioned the Honourable Ron Irwin, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, to intervene in his capacity as Minister responsible for the NWT Act. The chairman of the WCB has publicly admitted that the transfer was not the idea of the board of directors of the Workers' Compensation Board. Unfortunately, the government has ignored the concerns and requests and proceeded with the transfer, even though the required legislation is not yet in place.

The concept of the Workers' Compensation Board was created by agreements between business and labour to establish a no-fault insurance program to cover the costs resulting from work-related injuries, fatalities and industrial diseases. The Workers' Compensation Board is funded by business. Therefore, there is a need for a critical, long-term success of the Workers' Compensation Board and in order to get that, the full participation and support from business and labour must be obtained when making major changes to responsibilities and policies.

I would like to mention that next week, May 15th to 17th, the Standing Committee on Government Operations will be reviewing the Workers' Compensation Act and seeking public input into this. I urge all those companies and organizations that have expressed concern about this to provide their input to the Standing Committee on Government Operations. I believe they will be meeting between May 15th and 17th.

Also, I will be pursuing this subject during question period, Thank you, Mr. Speaker.