Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member's statement today, I spoke about the need to keep the Workers' Compensation Board in the central core to help maintain community focus on our downtown in Yellowknife. I would like to ask the Minister if there is any contributing factor to the urgency of the Workers' Compensation Board in building their own building outside of the downtown core. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Finally, I would expect the Minister responsible for the WCB to show some leadership and commitment to the people of Yellowknife, and provide direction to the WCB to keep their operations in the downtown core. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. I would suggest that, if WCB needs to build a building, it had better be by a utilitarian type of office building, because they are doing nothing for themselves but building a simple monument for their representation and wasting the money paid to them by employers across the NWT. Employers already complain about the cost of premiums. This has only justified why they are so high.

Free parking is the rumour out there for employees, Mr. Speaker. That is all I seem to hear. MLAs don't get free parking, so why should their employees? We need to end those types of rumours.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to reiterate that the WCB, to relocate outside the downtown core, would be establishing a precedent for this government to end their departments and corporations that follow. I would go so far as to call it dangerous, and it must stop now in its tracks. I believe that adequate space exists in government buildings downtown, or other buildings or other lots downtown, that could be utilized immediately.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I would like to speak on the need to keep the Workers' Compensation Board in the central, downtown core of Yellowknife. I believe that if this government allows the Workers' Compensation Board to build outside this core, it will contribute to the continued diminishment of the viability of our downtown. Many downtown businesses have made a significant investment in Yellowknife. What message does this send to them? It appears to be nothing but a slap in the face. But what message does it send to industry? They can only wonder what is happening to our city. Many of these businesses have been part of the growing downtown for a number of years, but this shows no continued support and does not stand by them. Removal of 150 employees does nothing for the restaurants, the coffee shops, the clothing stores, et cetera, downtown, to keep our vibrant downtown hustling and bustling.

Mr. Speaker, these same businesses have made concentrated efforts to revitalize the downtown core. Take, for example, the City of Yellowknife. It has done much to clean up the landscape. The RCMP, in its recent drug bust, is, clearly, a testament to cleaning up the downtown. Where is this government's support?

Mr. Speaker, we only have to look at the effects that moving government offices out of the downtown core contributed to the cities of Edmonton, and even Winnipeg. I know that Edmonton had to really struggle to encourage investment back into their downtown core. Everybody knows that, in the '70s, after 6:00, it was, truly, a virtual ghost town.

So I say, Mr. Speaker, I do not want our capital city to suffer in this way. We have the ability and, indeed, we have the responsibility, as a government, to help the downtown core retain, and regain, its vibrancy as a central role in the life of our community, Mr. Speaker, before we start seeing the problems associated with an inner city.

I am not going to argue whether it makes business sense for the WCB to own and operate its own building. We all know that they presently own their own condo space, but I suspect it would be the same argument as the territorial courthouse. There is probably a business case there somewhere. However, Mr. Speaker, I will argue that the WCB does not need a prestigious address, looking over a lake or any other special area, to serve injured workers and their employers. In fact, Mr. Speaker, I would suggest to you that, if the WCB builds any building, it should be a utilitarian office. Mr. Speaker, may I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement?

I'd like to move that committee report progress. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I would like to report progress.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think we continue to avoid the fact that we're spending money that doesn't belong to us, and we've negotiated it into an interest-free loan, by avoiding it and putting it as a burden on the next government. So my awe-inspiring question to the Minister of Finance, whom I have a lot of respect for, is, what, then, will the Minister do to ensure that this government will conduct its finances with integrity and true responsibility, and we don't leave the next government and the next Assembly with any type of burden from our willy-nillyness on dealing with interest-free loans? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. But we have to consider most loans are paid over 20, 25 or 30 years. This has to be paid back within four years; almost $300 million. Mr. Speaker, this government can never be taken responsibly, until we show that we can deal with overpayments like this in a responsible manner. So we need to be seen as a responsible government, cleaning up the last government's mess. Would the Minister have his officials at least conduct an inter-jurisdictional review of best practices of how federal overpayments are done, and received and taken care of in their provinces? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To put it in perspective, almost $300 million is approximately 30 percent of this government's budget. By redrafting a fiscal management policy, still doesn't speak to the fact that we're spending money that does not belong to this government. So, Mr. Speaker, if the Minister will not commit to a fiscal policy that stipulates that overpayments be set aside and returned promptly, will the Minister consider a fiscal policy which stipulates that if any overpayment is to be treated as an interest-free loan, as he just pointed out, that money must be specifically voted on in this House by way of a formal motion? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.