Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am advised that under the Public Service Act it would be necessary if the employees in the NWT Power Corporation bargaining unit did wish to have separate representation, would write to me proving unconditional support among the members for a new bargaining agent. We would then consider amendments to the NWT Public Service Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would be somewhat surprised if the UNW were to write the letter, because it would be on behalf of a group of employees asking to replace them. I am unsure if there would be any costs involved. However, in a previous answer, I indicated that the workers should show unconditional support for a change, when in fact, I meant unequivocal. There should be some clear method of demonstrating to me that the entire group of employees, or a significant majority of them, do favour a change. I do not know if there would be any costs associated with doing so. However, it may be necessary to demonstrate that it had been a free choice for everybody. I cannot think of any tremendous costs that would be involved in demonstrating such support. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would certainly consider that a clear indication of the signatories' support. However, before receiving such a petition, I will not make a commitment as to how I would respond. Basically, if I receive a formal request I would advise Members of the Legislature that we would consider amendments to the Public

Service Act. The issue would also have to come to the floor of this House for amendments to the act before it could be addressed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is an issue that I believe all Members are aware of, they have all been copied the same letter that I received. Currently the legislation that governs WCB prevents WCB from paying widows' pensions to a widow if she remarries. However, there is currently a court case underway. Other jurisdictions have already gone to court and this has been deemed unconstitutional and has been changed. There is a court case currently underway in my understanding in the north, that may, in fact, bring the same change to us. Otherwise we are looking at a change in the legislation of the WCB which Members all know now that we are tied with our colleagues from Nunavut. Right now we are precluded by the legislation, but it is a need that has to be addressed. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Minister please confirm whether or not the NWT is the only Canadian jurisdiction which now terminates survivors' benefits where the spouse is remarried?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can confirm that we are a jurisdiction that currently does that, whether we are the only one in Canada, I cannot tell the Member that. I can commit to get that information for her though.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do believe that we are the only jurisdiction in Canada that has this legislation in place and I think this is probably rather archaic in this day and age. I do not understand why we would have legislation that is out of step with what other provinces had proved to be unconstitutional and not in keeping with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. I would like to ask the Minister, why are we waiting as a northern jurisdiction for the results of a court case if this has already been proven to be unacceptable in other jurisdictions?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In fact, the WCB has been working on a rewrite of their legislation in anticipation of the political time when it could be brought forward because there are a host of areas like the widows' pensions that should be brought up to date. I am just on my way out, in fact, at 3:00 p.m., for briefings with the Minister from Nunavut responsible for the WCB. This is one of the issues on our agenda, the need to, in fact, bring forward, at least on a temporary basis, legislation that would change that particular issue in regard to widows' pensions. I ask the Members to keep in mind that we now have to work through two jurisdictions, so it is going to be critical that Nunavut agrees as well to go ahead with identical legislation. It is an issue and we are going to do our best to resolve that in the short-term. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will refrain from mentioning that and just speak about the anticipated updating of the legislation then and would ask Mr. Miltenberger if it is the WCB's intention to amend this legislation and when they do that, will they make this legislation retroactive to widows who may have lost their pension in previous years while this legislation was in effect? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.