Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to report to the Legislative Assembly that Special Committee on Nunavut Legislation has reviewed Bill 30, Nunavut Power Utilities Statutes Amendment Act, and wishes to report Bill 30 is ready for committee of the whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the honourable Minister. Will it be by January 15, 1999? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Supplementary to the same honourable Minister. How soon is as soon as possible, by January 1, 1999? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Having learned from the past that having a time frame for requesting funding and so on, will the Minister respond to the Kitikmeot Leaders Forum by January 1, 1999? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of MACA, my honourable friend, Ms. Thompson. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement, I recognized the excellent work the volunteer fire department in small and large communities across the board have done in the past years. I am sure every Member of this House recognizes their unique help in a community. I indicated in my Member's statement when I attended the Kitikmeot Leaders Forum, we have indicated that they wanted to see the funding of the full-time fire fighters in the Kitikmeot region in every community, that is recognized and have major infrastructure in that community, like school, health centres and so on.

My question to the honourable Minister, Mr. Speaker, is will the Minister look seriously at the possibility of funding the full-time Fire Chief Program in communities in the Kitikmeot region? I think we have about six communities in that region. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Also, my condolences go to the Lindell family. Mr. Speaker, the Kitikmeot Leaders Forum recognizes and understands the actual work being done provided by volunteer fire departments throughout the north and throughout the Nunavut area. Mr. Speaker, I think we all recognize and acknowledge the importance of volunteer fire departments across the north. We will continue to rely on their services and their expertise, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the Kitikmeot Leaders Forum also recognizes the Kitikmeot communities are continuing to grow in both population and infrastructure. Mr. Speaker, we recognize that these developments require specialized training and planning, but are beyond the capabilities of volunteer fire departments. We need to seriously look and support the provision of funding for full-time fire chiefs in the region. I think that every Member of this House who represents small communities understands and recognizes that you need a full-time fire chief in small communities, remote communities, regardless of the size, where you have major infrastructure. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Special Committee on Nunavut Legislation's review of Bill 26, the Nunavut Workers' Compensation Statutes Amendment Act, had its meeting on December 4, 1998. The committee would like thank the Honourable Goo Arlooktoo and the Honourable John Todd and their officials for presenting the bill and responding to issues raised by the committee.

Mr. Chairman, Bill 26 amends the Nunavut version of the Workers' Compensation Act. The NWT has the legislative authority to amend laws for Nunavut under section 76.05 of the Nunavut Act. As required by that act, the Interim Commissioner has recommended this bill to the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly and NTI has confirmed that it was consulted with respect to the bill and the bill is appropriate for Nunavut.

The amendments will allow the NWT Workers' Compensation Board and appeals tribunal to function as the board and appeals tribunal for Nunavut during the transition period from April 1, 1999 to December 31, 2002. Corresponding amendments will be made to the Northwest Territories Workers' Compensation Act by Bill 25, the Workers' Compensation Division Measures Act.

Bill 26 authorizes the Minister to enter into a transitional service agreement with the Northwest Territories. The agreement will set terms and conditions under which the Northwest Territories Workers' Compensation Board and appeal tribunal will carry out their duties in Nunavut. Mr. Chairman, the agreement must also set out how the assets and liabilities of the board will be determined when the agreement has ended and how the assets and liabilities will be divided between the NWT and Nunavut. When the agreement ends, the assets and liabilities must be divided as set out in the agreement. The transitional service agreement will last until at least December 31, 2002. As long as the transitional service agreement provides for it, the board may administer the Northwest Territories and Nunavut accident funds as if they were a single accident fund.

Over the transitional period, the assessments, costs, and payments paid into and out of the fund will be tracked for each territory. Bill 26 also makes consequential amendments to the Nunavut Public Service Act to ensure that employees of the board are not considered to be members of the Nunavut public service. The employees will continue to be members of the NWT Public Service until the transitional agreement ends. At that time, the transitional agreement provides that employees in Nunavut will be transferred to the Nunavut board, with their seniority and benefits protected.

Mr. Chairman, the special committee recognizes that the arrangement is the result of the extensive negotiations between the Interim Commissioner, NTI, GNWT and the Western Coalition. The transitional agreement is clearly necessary to ensure stability while two new governments continue their discussions to allow for a fair division of assets and liabilities and to enable Nunavut to establish its own Workers' Compensation Board. The special committee supports this bill Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, Members of the committee may have additional comments on the bill as we proceed.

This concludes the special committee's comments on Bill 26 and Nunavut Workers' Compensation Statutes Amendment Act. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like my colleague, Mr. O'Brien, and I am sure every other Member of this Legislature, I have no joy, not at all, in dealing and debating the past week what is in the motion, Mr. Speaker. I believe that every person in this country should be given the opportunity to an appeal. I believe that is recognized by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom. I believe that Mr. Morin, in his own right, has the right to an appeal. I believe that the panel of judges are independent and they seem to be independent. The judge is part of the impartial tribunal. I believe that any judge will recognize that in that scenario. We talk about, Mr. Speaker, that we have put Mr. Morin and his family through a lot of pain and also Mrs. Groenewegen and her family and friends. In order that we come out as a majority of the public expects us to come out, I will be supporting this motion. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good evening to you, Mr. Speaker. Your committee has been considering Tabled Document 37-13(6) and would like to report progress. I move that the report of the committee of the whole be concurred with. Thank you.