Sergeant-at-Arms, could you escort the witnesses in.

Mr. Minister, please introduce your witnesses for the record.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, with me are Penny Ballantyne, president of the Workers' Compensation Board; Diane Buckland, legislative counsel with the Department of Justice and Andy Wong, chairman of the Workers' Compensation Board. Thank you.

General comments with regard to Bill 24, An Act to Amend the Workers' Compensation Act. Detail. Clause by clause. Clause 1.

Clause 2.

Clause 3.

Bill as a whole.

Does committee agree that Bill 24 is ready for third reading?

Bill 24 is now ready for third reading. Thank you, Mr. Minister. Thank you, witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, could you escort the witnesses out.

The next bill we agreed to deal with is Bill 28, An Act to Amend the Workers' Compensation Act, No. 2. At this time I would like to ask the Minister responsible for introducing the bill if he has any opening comments. Mr. Handley.

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to present Bill 28, An Act to Amend the Workers' Compensation Act, No. 2. The bill proposes to give the Workers' Compensation Board the ability to purchase or construct real property. The Workers' Compensation Act does not permit this at present. Without the ability to acquire and dispose of real property, WCB must lease space for its operational requirements and is unable to take advantage of opportunities that might arise from ownership of property.

The bill before you requires the Workers' Compensation Board to seek the approval of the Commissioner in Executive Council to purchase real property that has a value exceeding $100,000; to construct or alter a building where the estimated value of the construction or alteration exceeds $100,000; or sell, lease or otherwise dispose of any of its real property that has a value exceeding $100,000.

This provides Cabinet with the ability to ensure that the Workers' Compensation Board is acting in the best interests of its stakeholders and in protecting the accident fund. Six of the nine Workers' Compensation Boards which have the authority to purchase and dispose of real property require approval from their jurisdiction's Lieutenant Governor in Council for property transactions or for property transactions above a certain value.

In closing, I look forward to hearing any comments and questions from the committee. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

At this time I would like to ask the committee responsible for reviewing the bill if they have any general comments. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight has completed its review of Bill 28, An Act to Amend the Workers' Compensation Act, No. 2. This act will give the Workers' Compensation Board that authority to acquire and dispose of real property. Individual committee members may have questions or comments as we proceed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

At this time I would like to ask the Minister responsible for the bill if he will be bringing in any witnesses. Mr. Handley.

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses in. For the record, Mr. Minister, could you introduce your witnesses?

Mr. Chairman, with me are: Penny Ballantyne, president of the Workers' Compensation Board; Diane Buckland, legal counsel, Department of Justice; and Andy Wong, chairman of the Workers' Compensation Board.

I would like to welcome the witnesses back. We are dealing with Bill 28, An Act to Amend the Workers' Compensation Act, No. 2. General comments. Detail?

Clause 1.