Bill Braden

Mr. Speaker, thank you, and thank you, colleagues. I would like to continue to take up the issue regarding secondary diamond industry with the Minister, Mr. Bell. In our exchange a little earlier today he suggested that maybe I was a bit behind in my homework and my communication with the principals involved in this, and I was no where up to speed on this as he was. Mr. Speaker, I would like to be able to refer the Assembly to an appointment that I had last week, I believe it was last Thursday. I spent an hour and a half with the owners and managers of Arslanian and Polar Ice Works. Mr...

Mr. Speaker, I share the Minister’s hope that we will find new mines and continue on in the future, but what I don’t see, Mr. Speaker, are cutting and polishing factories banging on the door out there looking for authorization and ways to get involved. This industry is not one that has a very optimistic future and that’s why I’m asking these questions, Mr. Speaker. The Minister referenced the National Diamond Strategy, also something that we abandoned. Now Saskatchewan and Ontario are next to become Canadian producers. Their economies of scale are much bigger; their pockets are a lot...

Mr. Speaker, I share the Minister’s hope that we will find new mines and continue on in the future, but what I don’t see, Mr. Speaker, are cutting and polishing factories banging on the door out there looking for authorization and ways to get involved. This industry is not one that has a very optimistic future and that’s why I’m asking these questions, Mr. Speaker. The Minister referenced the National Diamond Strategy, also something that we abandoned. Now Saskatchewan and Ontario are next to become Canadian producers. Their economies of scale are much bigger; their pockets are a lot...

Mr. Speaker, I’m wondering if what the Minister is telling us is that now the diamond unit has been collapsed and things are better without it, I really can’t have that kind of decision. So, you know, now that the expertise that had been assembled over some time has now been dissolved or dissipated, just what is the government doing to grow and enhance this industry, Mr. Speaker?

Mr. Speaker, I’m wondering if what the Minister is telling us is that now the diamond unit has been collapsed and things are better without it, I really can’t have that kind of decision. So, you know, now that the expertise that had been assembled over some time has now been dissolved or dissipated, just what is the government doing to grow and enhance this industry, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The following summarizes progress on committee’s other priorities.

Effective April 1, 2006, a new Department of Human Resources was created, with the committee’s support. The committee will continue to monitor the new department closely to ensure that it does result in a more efficient and accountable system. In particular, we would encourage the government to task the new department with re-examining the affirmative action policy and bringing forward options for discussion within the life of this Assembly.

The Joint Cabinet/AOC Working Group...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The following summarizes progress on committee’s other priorities.

Effective April 1, 2006, a new Department of Human Resources was created, with the committee’s support. The committee will continue to monitor the new department closely to ensure that it does result in a more efficient and accountable system. In particular, we would encourage the government to task the new department with re-examining the affirmative action policy and bringing forward options for discussion within the life of this Assembly.

The Joint Cabinet/AOC Working Group...

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the answer, but it is quite consistent with the kind of responses we’ve had from the WCB on such a range of issues. There is never any issue of whether or not there may be some fault or some lack of consideration or process at the WCB. The ability of the WCB to put a fresh panel forward is really what’s at question here. So we’re now coming up to six months, Mr. Speaker, for this process to grind its way along. Now I’m hopeful that qualified tribunal members will come forward from this latest process, but I anticipate that there’s going to be training and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the February session, I spoke of the ongoing difficulties of an injured worker, a 51-year-old man whose life has been shattered by a 19-year-long battle with the Workers’ Compensation Board. Mr. Ivan Valic is one of some 40 injured workers that I know of, Mr. Speaker, who have experienced a never-ending appeals treadmill with the Workers’ Compensation Board Appeals Tribunal system.

Mr. Valic is angry at the system. His oft repeated question is who is responsible? Who is accountable? Why doesn’t the Minister do something? Why doesn’t the Premier do something? Who...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the February session, I spoke of the ongoing difficulties of an injured worker, a 51-year-old man whose life has been shattered by a 19-year-long battle with the Workers’ Compensation Board. Mr. Ivan Valic is one of some 40 injured workers that I know of, Mr. Speaker, who have experienced a never-ending appeals treadmill with the Workers’ Compensation Board Appeals Tribunal system.

Mr. Valic is angry at the system. His oft repeated question is who is responsible? Who is accountable? Why doesn’t the Minister do something? Why doesn’t the Premier do something? Who...