Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Economic strategy update, Mr. Speaker, I will try to make it short and succinct. We have a draft report that the working committee is looking at, that is, the deputies. The Ministers will be given an opportunity to take a look at. It is a working document. It is not complete by any means. I have looked at it myself and there are, as other Ministers have told me, some loopholes in it. We intend to add to and subtract to the report as it currently sits. We hope that we can conclude in the next couple of weeks. I apologize for it taking so long, but there have been a great deal of difficulties which have occurred in the last little while that have involved some of the people. We hope to, in the next couple of weeks, get a working document put together that we can then communicate with the stakeholders out there as a working document, seek their ongoing input and eventually put in place a document that this government and future governments, hopefully, will move forward in advance.

The overriding emphasis, if you want, at least from my perspective, and I believe from my colleagues, is that there are four or five critical components to the way in which we do government. I have said on a number of occasions I really feel that perhaps economic strategy is not quite the appropriate way to describe it. Maybe it is investment north, I do not know. The four important ingredients are, as we said, in the west particularly, getting governance right and that is an important issue for the aboriginal and non-aboriginal constituency. We need a new fiscal relationship with Canada and in particular, in my opinion anyway, on the non-renewable resource side. I will be talking about that later on today and in the tax window. We need to take a look at the infrastructure needs in partnership with the federal government which includes all the Ministers, Mr. Antoine in Transportation; Mr. Dent in Education, Culture and Employment; Mr. Ng, et cetera, in his field and of course, Mr. Kakfwi, who is very active in economic programs. Our intent is to advance that agenda, at the end of the day, both north and south.

In my opinion, if I may, Mr. Speaker, there really are two audiences here. Obviously, you have an audience for domestic consumption as they say, and we need to do a self-analysis of what we are doing. I think that is a healthy thing to do. That is what we are currently doing and see if, in fact, the current programs that we are doing, we could do better. Mr. Kakfwi is working aggressively on a new economic agreement. I am optimistic, as others are, that we will be able to conclude, hopefully, soon, with the federal government, an understanding that additional dollars will flow. There have to be an examination internally if you want to know what we are doing. There has to be significant discussions with the stakeholders out there to ensure that we have a balanced point of view. Ultimately, the second audience is the federal government. That is the Minister of DIAND, Ms. Stewart. All of us are working very aggressively in that field and we need to, at some point, bring Mr. Martin into the equation so that we can get at least his tacit support on entering a new fiscal relationship in the tax window.

There is a great deal more to it than that, but in brief, in summary, as they say, I am working along with my Cabinet colleagues to move as quickly as I can to make sure the report encompasses both the large agenda, as well as a community-based one. I am optimistic that in the next two weeks, three weeks, we will be able to conclude that so that we can then get it out there to the constituency at large. Recognizing - let me be clear - that this is a working document and there has been - I freely admit - limited discussion at the stakeholder level; and we need to ensure that we find a mechanism or process to do that. I am confident we can. At the end of the day I hope that the document will be one document of many that will help guide and provide some advice to the remaining three months of this government, and more importantly, to the new government should they choose to take the document and move forward on it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the Minister responsible for the NWT Workers' Compensation Board, it will be my pleasure to table, later today, the board's corporate plan for the years 1999 to 2001 in accordance with subsection 91(1) of the Financial Administration Act. The corporate plan, which will guide WCB operations over the next three years, is prepared annually as a result of joint planning sessions involving the WCB's board of directors and its management team. This corporate plan reaffirms many of the strategic issues identified in the board's previous plan. Improving workplace safety, in particular, remains an important objective for the WCB. Education and inspection activities will target those industries with high accident frequencies, and partnerships with workers and employers will be actively promoted in 1999. The WCB will provide ergonomic training and education to employers, and will develop initiatives aimed at small business, youth and the changing workplace.

Mr. Speaker, the WCB remains committed to excellence in the areas of program and service delivery. This commitment is reflected in a number of initiatives designed to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of its operations, including an evaluation of on-line-access reporting for employers, enhanced return-to-work incentives and a case management model which will provide better and more timely service to injured workers.

Mr. Speaker, as recognized in the board's previous corporate plan, an effective board governance structure is crucial in ensuring that the financial, legislative and program challenges facing the WCB are dealt with in a responsible manner. Effective stakeholder-board interaction is a top priority, as it is every year. Mr. Speaker, the WCB is also proud to be hosting the Association of Workers' Compensation Boards of Canada's 1999 Congress here in Yellowknife.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, the board is committed to protecting the interests of all WCB stakeholders during the division process and post-division. By acting as a resource during the negotiation of an intergovernmental transition agreement, the board is well positioned to support whatever decisions are made at the political level with respect to its structure after division.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to conclude by congratulating, as I have many times, the board of directors, staff and management of the WCB in their efforts to continually improve workers' compensation in the north. These are uncertain times and the WCB has responded to the challenge. Thank you.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chairman. On my immediate left is Mr. Gerry Meier who is the CEO of the Worker's Compensation Board. On my immediate right is the ever present sensitive negotiator for the division secretariat, Mr. Richard Bargery, Assistant Deputy Minister.

Thank you, Madam Chairperson. I am pleased to be here today to review the Workers' Compensation Division Measures Act.

This bill and its companion legislation, the Nunavut Workers' Compensation Statutes Amendment Act, under the proposed Workers' Compensation Transitional Agreement between the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Interim Commissioner of Nunavut, are the result of a long series of negotiations concerning the Workers' Compensation Board. These negotiations included the Government of the NWT, the Office of the Interim Commissioner, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, and the Western Coalition.

Madam Chairperson, before I get into the specific elements of the bill I would like to provide some context for the transitional agreement and, may I stress, transitional agreement. As Members will recall, the negotiations surrounding the WCB began with the proposal by the GNWT on a long-term continuance plan that was provided to all parties early in 1998. It became obvious in June, in the subsequent discussions with the parties on this proposal, that a long-term continuous plan was not likely to be achieved prior to division.

The result was the need to consider the transitional agreement that would one, ensure stability of workers' compensation services in both Nunavut and the NWT in the short-term, provide the opportunity for two new governments to re-examine their relationship with respect to the services to determine if they wish to continue with a shared arrangement, set a clear determination date for the joint board, allow sufficient time to ensure a fair and equitable division of the assets and liabilities of the current WCB and allow for a reasonable period of time for Nunavut to develop a stand-alone Workers' Compensation Board.

Madam Chairperson, with these principles in mind, the GNWT developed a proposal that was presented to the parties in the fall. Negotiations with the parties continued up until earlier this week. The result is the legislation and draft agreement that constitutes the components of this transitional agreement. This agreement, Madam Chairperson, is designed to maintain the status quo in the short-term. The transitional period set out in this agreement with both Nunavut and the NWT to consult with the stakeholders to determine how workers' compensation services are to be delivered in the future. The key elements of the transitional arrangements are intended to one, provide the terms and the conditions and how the WCB will operate in Nunavut and NWT for a transition period to December 31, 2002, to authorize the current Workers' Compensation Board to operate in Nunavut during the transitional period, to allow the Nunavut Minister responsible for the WCB to nominate two members to the board and to ensure consultation by the NWT Minister with the Nunavut Minister prior to filling any vacancies that occur on the appeals tribunal.

In addition, Madam Chairperson, there are specific provisions in this arrangement that one, provides for meetings to take place between the Nunavut and NWT Ministers responsible for WCB in order to complete administrative duties such as receiving the WCB's annual report and corporate plan for tabling in their respective Legislative Assemblies and ensures each party only exercise its authority under the Workers' Compensation Act with the consent and approval of the other party; allow the appointment of statutory officers to fulfil the responsibilities in both territories, ensures that the WCB employees in Nunavut will remain members of the NWT public service through consequential amendments to the Nunavut Public Service Act, ensures the transfer of WCB employees to the Nunavut agency after the transition period with full rights intact and provides for continuation of the Accident Fund during the transitional period as a singularly-administered fund, authorizes the transfer of the post of Accident Fund of $20 million or 20 percent of benefits liabilities, whichever is less, to the Nunavut government on request; to allow for the creation of a successor Nunavut agency allows for the tracking and recording of individual claims in each new territory which will serve as the basis for the division of claims and pension liabilities at the end of the transition period;

- ensure the agreement of the Government of Nunavut to be bound by the terms of the Hunters and Trappers Program, with respect to claims arising from it;

- sets out a formula to divide the assets and liabilities of the WCB in proportion to the benefit liability attributable to each jurisdiction on the termination date; and finally,

- provides a dispute resolution mechanism to address any disputes that may arise during the transition period.

I think it is also important to point out the invaluable contribution of the staff of the Workers Compensation Board under the direction of the board and its president for the work they have done on this important agreement. Thank you, Madam Chairperson.

Yes, thank you, Madam Chairperson. I have with me on my immediate right, the ever present, Mr. Mark Aitken who is with the Department of Justice.

Yes, thank you, Madam Chairperson.

Thank you, Madam Chairperson. I am pleased to be here today to review the Division Measures Act, No. 2.

Similar to the provisions in the first Division Measures Act, the primary purpose of this bill is to address any legislative consequences that arise with the division of the NWT on April 1, 1999. I want to, if I may, Madam Chairperson, go through some of these amendments.

The Psychologists Act has been amended to remove an obsolete reference to the nomination of the Association of Psychologists of the NWT as the association responsible for the registration and discipline of members in the territories. In addition, it allows the Minister to designate another person or body to perform the duties of the association in the event that the association ceases to operate. This will facilitate the recognition of the association under the Psychologists Act of Nunavut.

Amendments to the Legal Services Act have been drafted to permit the Minister to appoint additional members to the Legal Services Board. This will permit the Minister to appoint representatives of the regional committees in Nunavut to the board. The Minister has also provided the authority to enter into agreements with the Interim Commissioner or the Government of Nunavut for the provision of legal services and for the division of assets and liabilities of the Legal Services Board.

Amendments to the Labour Standards Act, Maintenance Orders (Facilities for Enforcement) Act, and the Reciprocal Enforcement of Judgements Act can be broadly grouped together. Changes to these acts have been drafted to ensure that any judgements, orders, certificates that may be issued by either Nunavut or the NWT, can ultimately be enforced in the other territory.

In conclusion, Madam Chairperson, I want to thank the Department of Justice and the Psychologists Association of the Northwest Territories for the work that has been done in the development of this legislation. Thank you.

I would like to think, Mr. Speaker, that is, as my honourable colleague said, a hypothetical situation. I am confident that common sense will prevail, that we have made the concessions that were required, we have taken pay equity off the table. That was their request not mine. The offer we have is fair and that the union at the end of the day will see their obligation and responsibility to allow the membership to vote on it. I have not even, at this stage of the game, thought that we would get to that situation. That is what mediation is all about. We try to mediate a fair settlement. We are trying to get more money into the hands of our employees as quickly as we can. Some of us would have preferred prior to Christmas, through unfortunate circumstances that has not occurred. We are in mediation and it would be inappropriate for me to determine how mediation will ultimately unfold. Thank you.

No, I will not, Mr. Speaker.