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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To be candid, the government's position right now, is that the WCB should stay as one. This is the current position. I do not think it will change at this time, although it is under review. There are a number of parties involved in this whole division issue and there are opposing points of view at this stage of the game with respect to WCB and where we are going with it.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Minister tell this House whether or not he has set up a timeframe as to when he expects we can finally get some answers and if the answers are that we do not stay as one, what he intends to do next? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I indicated to you, there is a huge difference of opinion between the two parties. What we need to do is to try to work out some compromise. I have instructed our negotiators, Mr. Bargery, who is now in charge from a bureaucracy perspective, to see if we can bring the parties together and reach an appropriate compromise. I have indicated that we have to get some direction within the next 7 to 14 days. If we cannot reach an appropriate compromise with the parties, then I will have to go back, as I have said to my Cabinet colleagues, to seek some direction there and advise the Members, the House and the public in general as to where we are heading with this difficult issue. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, given the fact that there has been no decision made, as of this date, regarding whether the WCB stays as one or is split into two, could the Minister explain why office space is being requested for the WCB in Iqaluit and also in Rankin Inlet? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is in relation to division. That is just an expansion of the current Occupational Health and Safety component of WCB and is an expansion of existing offices in the eastern Arctic. Thank you.

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, could the Minister tell this House how many staff we are talking about here? Also, if there is any consideration given to, once again, moving this new staff to some of the smaller communities in the eastern Arctic? Thank you.

Two questions, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is important to point out that it is a decision made by the board. I just want to get my notes. The board approved a plan to move six staff in Rankin Inlet and five in Iqaluit, up from the existing three staff in Rankin Inlet and two in Iqaluit. There has been no direction given by the board of directors to reallocate them to any other place than where they are currently allocated. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mrs. Groenewegen.

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

I can only tell you what I did as a responsible Minister at the time and I have indicated earlier on that, I want to settle pay equity and that we wanted to get it to the table. That is where it is at. I believe at this time, and I will say again for the record, the proposal that we put forward is fair and I cannot speak for previous governments. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my understanding is that the judge who brought down the ruling on Bell Canada made it very clear that not only did management, but also the union had the joint responsibility for the pay

inequities because they negotiated agreements knowing there were pay equity problems. The responsibility is a joint responsibility. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.