Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity today to draw attention to the need of the Minister and the governance council of WCB to take a strong leadership role. Mr. Speaker, the latest issue to hit the public attention is the plight of the franchises in Yellowknife who are in the maximum 25 percent assessment rate increase for the last four years in a row and are still looking for much needed reprieve prior to the deadline of February 28th, Mr. Speaker. This is just one big issue, but there are a lot more that needs attention of the leadership. Mr. Speaker, in reviewing the annual reports of the corporation over the last 10 years, it really shows a very alarming picture.

Mr. Speaker, we see that the assessment revenue has been steadily going up, but their investment revenue is going down drastically. We need to know why. We see that the assessment's steady decrease. Even the subsidy had to go up, Mr. Speaker, and the rates going up, the profit and loss statement shows a loss in 2003 and 2004 for the first time in the last 10 years, this coming from an over $20 million profit in 1997. Now, they saw a loss of $10 million in 2003, or I think it is more than that. They

are still showing a loss. Mr. Speaker, this is not because there have been more claims than before. In fact, the claim numbers have been going down. The costs of claims have been going down, but the rejected numbers of claims have been going up. There is a very alarming picture here because it appears that the employers are being asked to pay the cost of something that is not going right in this corporation, in my view, by looking at the annual reports. We need to find out from the Minister and governance council why it is that the WCB is in such a terrible financial situation. If they don't fix this, they are going to see that the employers are going to be continued to ask to pay for this. I would like to see the action on that front immediately. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause