Mr. Speaker, these days with our economy and commodity prices in the poor state that they are in, unemployment numbers are, unfortunately, increasing. As 2009 progresses, I expect we will see more people in the North lose their jobs. That will force more people to apply for unemployment insurance for the financial assistance they need and deserve. But things do not always work out the way they should, Mr. Speaker, and sometimes a worker’s application for employment insurance is denied. In such a case, it is the right of the worker to appeal that decision to an employment insurance board of referees. Most provinces and territories have at least one board to hear appeals, but I was surprised to learn recently that the closest appeal board for the NWT is in either Alberta or the Yukon. These boards don’t travel to the appellant’s home for their hearings; the claimant must come to them.

The NWT is only one of two jurisdictions in Canada without its own employment insurance board. Consider the plight of a worker in Inuvik, for instance, who has had an employment insurance application denied. Although they have the right to

appeal that decision, it is highly unlikely that he or she would bother, knowing that they would have to travel to Edmonton for a hearing at their own expense. If they do launch an appeal, days of travel are required, again at large expense. This is for someone who has just lost their only source of income. The end result is an unfair situation for our residents at a very tough time in their life. Our workers deserve better, Mr. Speaker. They deserve the same access to an appeal as the rest of Canada. I know I am talking about a federal responsibility, but the NWT government, through the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, can request of the federal government that a board of referees be established for the NWT. The best part of that is that there is no cost to us, Mr. Speaker, because the employment insurance board costs are covered by the federal government. So I strongly encourage the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment to look into this situation post-haste and then contact his federal counterpart to see if we can’t get an NWT board of referees established as soon as possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will have some questions for the Minister of ECE during question period.