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Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to stand today and announce the appointment of Mr. Rick Hunt as the new President and Chief Executive Officer of the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission, effective yesterday October 2, 2023. This morning I met with Mr. Hunt and officially welcomed him to the position. 

Mr. Hunt is joining the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission or WSCC after almost 20 years of service with Nunavut’s Qulliq Energy Corporation. His experience and depth of knowledge in the occupational health and safety field is extensive and we are very pleased to bring him on board.

Mr. Speaker, this will mark the first time that the WSCC’s President and CEO will be based in Nunavut instead of Yellowknife. I am very proud of the partnership we have formed with our territorial neighbour and welcome the opportunity to work together to advance workplace safety across both territories. Nunavut Minister Responsible for WSCC, Margaret Nakashuk and I are equally supportive of Mr. Hunt’s appointment and trust that he will do right by both jurisdictions. This is an exciting time that will allow us to form an even deeper bond with our partners.

We are also excited to have Mr. Hunt lead the WSCC through the next phase of our organization as we begin a new five-year strategic plan that will guide us through annual planning and reporting processes until 2027. The new strategic plan, called Paths Towards Safety, which I previously tabled, identifies a number of pathways to improving safety culture through shared responsibilities.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Hunt is a champion of respectful workplace culture who values
his colleagues’ and employees’ wellbeing at work. He is a strong advocate for collaborative and supportive relationships across all organizational levels. As a public servant, he also recognizes that he works for and is ultimately accountable to the public. Understanding the needs and expectations of the public is a vital piece in providing quality service, and Mr. Hunt works diligently to achieve this.

Since its inception in 1977, the WSCC has covered the same geographical territory. When Nunavut was created in 1999, the Governments of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut agreed to continue forward as a common agency. Maintaining this partnership between our territories is a key element in supporting the safety and care of workers in the NWT and Nunavut. I remain very proud of this partnership and our shared commitment to workplace safety. I hope this historic appointment for the WSCC, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut benefits workers in both territories for years to come.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.