Charles Dent

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I understand it, the Financial Administration Act prohibits the Minister from providing any direction to the WCB that will impact on the accident fund. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s also important to remember that the Auditor General’s report pointed out that the Minister does not make policy. It’s the board or the Governance Council that makes policy. So the Governance Council has agreed that they are going to look at their policy. They are prepared to consult and make the changes and they have a policy in place that allows for a lifetime disability pension right now. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I always enjoy visiting the Member’s communities with him when given an opportunity to travel in the Sahtu. I would welcome the opportunity to join him in a visit to Norman Wells to address that issue in the not-too-distant future. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the long run, what I would hope to see is a new building that would be government owned that would accommodate the classroom space that we need to provide that community and that region with the adequate training space. In the short term, I think we are prepared to consider leasing a premises or whatever. I do agree with the Member that that facility is in dire need of being replaced. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I think that Justice Schuler's decision is quite clear. It says that the appeal shall be heard in a freshly constituted tribunal in advance of the Workers' Compensation Board having a new policy. She recognized that it would take some time to work out a new policy, and provided direction for the standards that should be in place for the rehearing. I understand, Mr. Speaker, there will be a preliminary hearing later this month for Mr. Valic's lawyer, and after some issues there are resolved we expect that the tribunal can be scheduled fairly shortly after that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think while Justice Schuler's decision did comment on the policy in effect as of 2004, the decision and the ruling was based on the policy in place as of 2001. So that was the reason that the WCB was considering having a constitutional look at the 2004 policy, to see if it would fit the test. In fact, I'm advised the WCB has decided that they are going to go out to stakeholders and take a look at redrafting the 2004 policy over the course of the next few months. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Wednesday, October 25th, 2006, I will move that Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Archives Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't believe that there are that many outstanding files, but I will certainly talk to the WCB to see what their intention is. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll certainly make the compensation board aware of the Member's interest and I have no doubt that they'd be interested in having Members participate in the consultation process. When I talked last to the chair of the Governance Council, the Governance Council is examining their options for consultation. They're looking for a process that will allow stakeholders some meaningful input and not one that would see them holding public hearings that perhaps nobody showed up to. So they hadn't really set the final process, but they're hoping to do it fairly quickly to have...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I said no such thing. I don't know where the Member gets that information from. The WCB has not applied to take an adversarial point of view at all in the Appeals Tribunal hearing. It has been five years since it has been reheard and I expect there will be some new medical evidence that will be submitted. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.