The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Handley.

Joe Handley Weledeh

Mr. Speaker, it will be my pleasure later today to introduce a bill to amend the Workers' Compensation Act. There have been no major amendments to this act since it became law over 25 years ago. This bill will be the first of two phases of amendments that will give the people of the NWT an entirely modern and effective workers' compensation system.

Members will recall that a legislative panel was appointed in 2000 to make recommendations for changes to the Workers' Compensation Act and the Safety Act. Made up of representatives from both the NWT and Nunavut, the panel's report Act Now, was received by me and the Minister responsible for the WCB in Nunavut the Honourable Kelvin Ng in January 2002, a little over one year ago.

The Workers' Compensation Board of the NWT and Nunavut is unique for both jurisdictions as it is the only remaining shared institution between the NWT and Nunavut. Although we have a shared board of directors, however, both jurisdictions maintain their own legislation.

Mr. Speaker, it is no easy task to develop legislative amendments for the workers' compensation system. First of all, as mentioned, the WCB serves two jurisdictions. In order for the board to maintain a unified legislative base, all amendments made to one government's act, should be reflected in the other jurisdictions. Secondly, by its nature, the legislation also serves two main interest groups - employers who pay for the system and employees who must access the system when an unfortunate incident occurs.

I would also like to note that this bill presents a first for both our Legislative Assembly and that of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut. The content of the legislative proposal was developed with input from both governments. The bill itself was drafted by the GNWT Department of Justice, with French translation provided by the Government of Nunavut. I am also pleased to report that the Honourable Kelvin Ng and I were able to discuss and agree on a number of issues, which have been included in the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to advise the House that the amendments I will be introducing later today, address over 70 percent of the 85 Act Now recommendations calling for legislative change. Many of the remainder of the panel's recommendations addressed operational and other issues not requiring legislative change.

Accountability is key for any system to work effectively. These amendments will clearly establish the roles and responsibilities of all the players in the system so that the public will know how it is to work and who is responsible for making it work.

The amendments will also establish, in legislation, the office of the worker's advisor to help injured workers with their claims. The appointment of the workers' advisory will change from the board to the Minister, as will the workers' advisory's reporting relationship. This will create a direct line of communication and accountability from the workers' advisor to the Minister.

When workers are injured, they need quick access to effective treatment so that they can return to work as quickly a possible. The proposed amendments will mandate the workers' healthcare provider, the worker and the WCB to cooperate in the process of the worker's recovery through early assessment, diagnoses and the development of a treatment plan.

From time to time, Mr. Speaker, there can be differences of medical opinions with respect to the treatment plan for an injured worker. The proposed amendment mandate is a cooperative, consultative approach to help resolve these differences. This will remove some of the adversarial nature of the current process.

The proposed amendments will also clarify major sections of the act and make it easier to read and understand. The amended Workers' Compensation Act will be much more user friendly.

As I mentioned earlier, this bill will address over 70 percent of the recommendations that were made in the Act Now report. These amendments will go a long way to improving the workers' compensation system in the NWT and Nunavut, but the bill we will introduce this afternoon is not the end of the process. A second phase of legislative amendments, including a complete rewrite of the Workers' Compensation Act, is needed to address the remaining Act Now recommendations. I expect these amendments to be ready for introduction early in the life of the next government; and I hope that the Members of the 15th Legislative Assembly will continue to support the completion of this important work.

I would like to thank the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight, who spent a great deal of time reviewing the legislative proposal. Our discussions with AOC were constructive and helpful and I thank them for their contributions to this bill. In closing, I would like to thank the members of the Legislative Review Panel who provided the foundation for the amendments that will be introduced later today. Mr. Speaker, they are Louise Vertes, chairperson; Shona Barkley, Dan Halldorson, Steve Petersen, David Simailak, Alex Stuit and Don Yamkowy. I would also like to thank the board and staff of the WCB and the Department of Justice for their diligence in developing this first set of amendments and the Government of Nunavut for their cooperation in ensuring that his bill would be ready to go forward during the life of our respective governments. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Michael Miltenberger will be absent from the House for the remainder of the week to attend the Ministers of Social Services meeting in Toronto. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Item 2, Ministers' statements. Colleagues, before I proceed to the next item on the order paper, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize in the visitors' gallery some members of the Esteem Team North program. They are touring the Northwest Territories, particularly the Beaufort-Delta region a little later on in the springtime, this week perhaps. With us, we have Mr. Joe Dragon, former Pittsburgh Penguin draftee, Ms. Sharon Firth, an Olympic cross country skier from the Delta; Mr. Jamie Taras, former BC Lions football player; Chris Wilson, Esteem Team Canada executive director; and, Mr. Rob Meckling, the Esteem North coordinator for Sport North. Please welcome them to the Legislative Assembly.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we all know the importance of infrastructure in our communities, especially our recreation facilities. Mr. Speaker, we've heard a lot about ensuring that we protect the government's assets, infrastructure, protection of people and assets, but, Mr. Speaker, coming from a small community, sometimes we lose sight of how important our recreation facilities are, especially with regard to the community of Aklavik. The Sittichinli Recreational Complex is an important place not only for meeting, dancing and other activities such as hockey programs. This facility is presently under threat because of the condition of the building. The roof is leaking and also they have done an in-depth report of the Sittichinli Recreation Complex in Aklavik with regard to the technical status evaluation. In that report, they've found there is damage to the recreation complex and there is violation of the fire marshal's code and the Canadian Building Code we have to follow.

Mr. Speaker, we heard a lot in the House about certain reasons this government had to replace certain buildings and also accommodation for certain constituencies. Mr. Speaker, I think it's important that we have to keep in mind that we do represent some 30 communities and that we have to be fair. Mr. Speaker, it's important that we know, as a government, we are not above the law and whenever we find ourselves violating building codes and are in contravention of the fire marshal codes and orders, that we follow them. I feel that in this report that has been done with regard to the Sittichinli Recreational Complex, it's important that this government does something to not only protect this asset, but to ensure we extend the life of this asset in the community of Aklavik. Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be asking the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs about the Sittichinli Recreation Complex in Aklavik.

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in 1993, the Minister of Renewable Resources stood in the Assembly and said that a comprehensive review of the Wildlife Act had been underway for a year. Here we are, 11 years since the review started and a new Wildlife Act has not been introduced. In fact, Mr. Speaker, a couple of weeks ago, the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development told the House, in answer to a question by Mr. Krutko, that a new wildlife bill would not be introduced during the life of this Assembly. Surprise, surprise, surprise.

Mr. Speaker, since the last election, no fewer than three Ministers of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development have promised we would see new wildlife legislation done in a timely way by this Assembly. After the last election, the consultation process was started again by Mr. Kakfwi, who was the first Minister responsible for RWED. It was carried on by Minister Handley after he took over and lastly by Minister Antoine during his tenure. Mr. Speaker, all three Ministers have noted that one of the main driving forces behind the need for revision was to deal with provisions of settled claims. Well, as Mr. Krutko noted, it's nearly 10 years since the Gwich'in claim was signed, nine years or so since the Sahtu Dene-Metis claim and here we are, nearly at the end of another four-year Assembly mandate with no legislation coming forward.

Mr. Speaker, last year, I brought forward a private Member's bill that would have reduced the waiting period for NWT residents to apply for hunting licences. That bill was killed by Cabinet when they refused to let it come out of Committee of the Whole. The reasons? The Minister said it was because a comprehensive wildlife bill was coming forward within the life of this Assembly and items like my amendment should be dealt with as part of the overall review. So, since the review was underway and it would result in new legislation in the fall of 2002, the private Member's bill should not receive consideration. Mr. Speaker, as Mr. Krutko noted, the government has promised for a long time that we would see a new Wildlife Act. Now, they say we have to wait for a new Assembly. I have tried to deal with the issue of a two-year for resident hunting licences in the 12th, 13th and now the 14th Assemblies, to no avail. I am always told that, since a new Wildlife Act is coming forward, I should be patient and wait for changes as part of that new act. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Krutko expressed the frustration that he and his constituents feel over the time it has taken to see this new legislation. My constituents are frustrated as well. It's now been more than 10 years since I raised the issue. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his Member's statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays, Mr. Dent. You may conclude your statement.

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, honourable Members. Mr. Speaker, the only positive note that I can point to is that in the latest progress report on new wildlife legislation sent out by the Minister of RWED in January, I see the government proposes to reduce the residency requirement for a hunting licence to one year. A flicker of hope, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I guess I am going to have to confer with my colleague from Mackenzie Delta on this issue. Perhaps we should collaborate on a new private Member's bill to move the whole process along. Perhaps we could bring it forward in June. At least one Cabinet Minister said he would support my private Member's bill if a new act wasn't going forward. It may be time to put that commitment to the test. Mr. Speaker, given the speed with which this process is moving, that may be the only way that we will see any action on a new Wildlife Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Mahsi, Mr. Nitah. Members' statements. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Lafferty.