Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation, Mr. Todd. Earlier today, my honourable colleague from Thebacha referred to this legislation as being draconian. Mr. Speaker, I would add the word archaic also. My question to the Minister is, when was this legislation last looked at? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mr. Speaker, maybe I missed something on the way to the Assembly today. Is this not the same WCB that has a fully-funded accident and pension fund? Is this not the same WCB that has reduced the rates to an all-time low in the Northwest Territories to the employers?

--Applause

Is this not the same WCB that has increased the benefits not only to the workers but to pensions? Archaic? I would probably say it is state of the art in terms of its ability to function.

--Applause

In response to my honourable colleague's question about when were the last changes made to the Workers' Compensation Board legislation, I do not know. I will have to look into it. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is nice to hear a nice, calm Minister for a change. I am not sure if he referred to state of the ark or state of the art. Mr. Speaker, my reason for asking the Minister about how long it has been since this legislation has been revised, he talks about this organization that is financially healthy. No one can dispute that. It is in great shape. Mr. Speaker, it seems to be able to collect finances from employers and also, it seems it can also get finances from employees. When I refer to the legislation as being archaic, this is the only legislation in the country which allows the Workers' Compensation Board, an organization set up for the protection of workers, to take members that it is supposed to protect, to court. I am wondering, will the Minister consider giving direction, as he had earlier on today, for his board to take a look at this act from the point of view of trying to bring it into the 21st century where it is meant to protect the people it is set up to serve? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Just a warning to the Members, I have been requested to start applying the rules of the House more stringently. Just as a warning that I intend to do that. I will ask the Members that when they do ask their question, that they have a preamble and then, three supplementaries to that preamble. I will cut-off the Members if they continue with their preamble into their second, third and fourth questions. Mr. Todd.

Yes, Mr. Speaker. In fact, the Workers' Compensation Board has been looking at legislation and clearly understands the need for significant changes because there has not been change, I suspect, for close to ten years. I want to be accurate in responding to the crown jewel of the Northwest Territories government. They have a significant amount of money, and a certain amount of work on the need for legislative change. However, as my honourable colleague knows, there are 14 months left. We have some important legislation that we have to get through on that. Sure, a major change, if it was significant in legislative change to the WCB, would be able to get on the legislative agenda at this time because of other priorities. I can tell my colleague, and I am prepared to share with him if he wishes, some of the changes that the WCB have recommended to me that they feel are required to bring the Workers' Compensation Board legislation into the 21st century.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Henry.

--Laughter

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister did give a lot of information, but I am not sure whether he insisted or suggested he would have the board take a look at that legislation. Could I ask the Minister to clarify if he would, indeed, have the ministry look at the legislation as a whole from the points that the previous Minister asked?

Mr. Todd.

To cut a long story short, Mr. Speaker, in fact, the board of directors have looked at the legislative change that they feel is necessary to bring the Workers' Compensation Board into the 21st century. What I was saying was, given the short time left in this Legislature, and given the Legislative agenda that we have that is choked right up, it has been my decision at this time not to bring it forward. I will discuss the matter with my honourable colleague. Frankly, given the time we have left and given some of the serious priorities - and I am not suggesting this is not one - but there are other ones that are of greater priority we have had to leave this one in abeyance. Certainly, if there was the will out there to move forward, the desire to cooperate and the time available; we would only be too happy to move that legislation forward. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Roland.

Can I ask the Member to rephrase his question. The question is asking the Minister to confirm or deny a report that was heard on the radio this morning. Perhaps you can rephrase your question. Mr. Roland.

The Minister for the Financial Management Board. Mr. Todd.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think I would like to answer it this way. Yesterday, I tried to clearly point out to the public, the UNW and to northern residents what this government thinks is a fair, affordable settlement that puts money in the hands of our employees that rightly belongs to them. It is clear as far as I am concerned anyway if, in fact, $25 million as has been stated is ten percent of what the union believes is an appropriate settlement, then they are talking $250 million. Frankly, Mr. Speaker, it is just simply not on.