Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to briefly raise some concerns about the Workers' Compensation Board. During the 13th Assembly, there was intense debate about what should happen with NTPC and the Workers' Compensation Board. I have always been and still remain a proponent that we should have our own Workers' Compensation Board and we should have our own NTPC -- which, in fact, is going to happen -- and that they should be split.
My concern, Mr. Speaker, is that the Workers' Compensation Board is going to remain as one organization, one institution between Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. I do not think this is in the best interest of the Northwest Territories.
The other concern I have is that in the Northwest Territories, the government is sitting by and letting Nunavut decide the future of our institution. It was Nunavut who decided to split NTPC, not this government. It was Nunavut who has now decided that they do not want to split the Workers' Compensation Board, and we are docilely going along with that particular direction, which I do not think is in our long-term best interests.
I would hope that this government would in fact take a critical look at what is in the best interest of the Northwest Territories. I know from personal experience of trying to deal with a board that overlaps in the two Territories is very difficult. There are different agendas, different political realities. It is very difficult and it is impossible to try to get together to make any meaningful decisions. There is so much compromise and watering things down that we do not get what we want in the end anyway.
I would have no problem if we split the Workers' Compensation Board, Mr. Speaker, if in fact we provide it as a contract basis service to our colleagues from Nunavut. I would hope that as part of this broad legislative review that is going to be undertaken and looking at updating the legislation for the Workers' Compensation Board, that this will be one of the issues that is put on the table.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, on this particular issue, I was disappointed to see that all of the Northwest Territories representatives for this very important review of legislation are all based in Yellowknife. While I recognize the realities of having labour and business on this particular panel, there is life outside of the capital. In the hinterland, there are many people who are concerned about this particular piece of legislation.
Mr. Speaker, today during question period, I will be asking the Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board why we do not split the Workers' Compensation Board and why we are letting Nunavut set the direction for this Territory. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause