Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am going to be very brief as well, although I can't promise to be as brief as Mrs. Groenewegen from Hay River South. Mr. Speaker, I just want to acknowledge two things. One is it's not usual for us to have a debate like this where we are mentioning a specific individual to maintain in the position. I think this is an extraordinary effort in that way.

I am also mindful that the Workers' Compensation Board is independent from the government and I respect that independence. Having said that, I am in support of this motion for the very reason that Mrs. Groenewegen so succinctly and so articulately stated: new legislation, new government.

This legislation we just passed, we just passed a brand new Workers' Compensation Act. It has been in the works for months and months, if not years. For the last eight years, the board has gone through tremendous workload, effort, issues, and we have worked through all of that. We finally concluded that yesterday and we are in our last 48 hours in terms of the session, even though the Ministers are in place. There is a new government coming in. I know Mr. Rodgers personally and he wouldn't be doing it if he wasn't a competent chair. I am going to say I support this motion regardless of who the person is in place. We are looking for stability and continuity. We have a new CEO now that we would like somebody who has been in the place throughout this legislation-making process to be there for just a few months after the next government comes in. Chances are there will be new Ministers getting assignments after the new government and the work can continue and the board and the staff have less changes than they are going to be facing if everybody changes. In

that spirit, I will be voting in favour of this motion. Thank you.

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Lee. To the motion. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the issues I have with this motion which has been included, is my concern that we do not have a policy that states that no appointments, especially serious appointments, where there is no emergency pending or falling before us, that we should not be appointing a position just before an election. Mr. Speaker, I wouldn't want anybody to compromise anybody's appointment by saying it's a political appointment to gain favour just before or after an election. So, Mr. Speaker, my concerns and points have been raised in this motion. I will be voting in favour with my other colleagues. Thank you.

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. To the motion. Honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Joe Handley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have considered this motion. There is a process in place for selecting a new chairperson. Mr. Rodgers' position doesn't expire until after the life of this government, I think it's October 12th or 9th. We have checked with the Workers' Compensation Board to see if there are any reasons with regard to quorums, workloads or activities that had to go on before the new government would be officially in place. There was none. So, Mr. Speaker, we find it very difficult to reach into the next government's responsibilities. Mr. Speaker, in spite of that, because it's a recommendation, Cabinet will not be voting on this motion. Thank you.

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley. I will allow closing remarks by the mover, Mr. Braden.

Bill Braden Great Slave

Succinct. Thank you. I am just digging around for my thesaurus but I couldn't find it. My colleagues have raised all the relevant issues. Mr. Handley has spoken to it from the government side. We recognize the process for soliciting ideas and nominations is already underway. We hope that the next government and our sister territory, Nunavut, accepts the discussion and recommendation in that spirit, as one of confidence and a positive outlook for the WCB in the future. With that, I welcome the vote, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Motions. First reading of bills. Second reading of bills. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Bill 7, Committee Report 4-15(6). By the authority given me as Speaker by Motion 9-15(6), I hereby resolve the House into Committee of the Whole to sit beyond the hour of adjournment until such time as the committee is ready to report progress, with Mrs. Groenewegen in the chair.

Jackson Lafferty North Slave

Mahsi, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the committee wishes to consider Bill 7, Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act; Committee Report 4-15(6), Report on Community Consultation on Proposed Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Legislation; and Committee Report 15-(6), Report on the Review of the Information and Privacy Commissioner's 2005-2006 Annual Report. Mahsi, Madam Chair.

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Mahsi, Mr. Lafferty. Does committee agree?

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you. We will do that after a short break. Thank you.

---SHORT RECESS

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

The first thing on our agenda is Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act. I would like to ask Minister Bell if he would like to provide the bill's opening comments. Minister Bell.