Brent Reaney
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (June 13/05) - The Workers' Compensation Board is proposing a higher assessment rate for mega-projects such as the Mackenzie Gas Project.

The board has yet to determine how much employers would need to pay, but it said the increased premium would be needed due to the high number of workplace injuries such large developments can bring.

Workers' Compensation Board president David Clark spoke to the NWT Chamber of Commerce, June 8 in Yellowknife. Among other things, Clark announced a potential special assessment rate for mega-projects, such as the proposed Mackenzie Valley pipeline, based on the increased number of injuries such large industrial efforts generally bring.

If the pipeline is approved, WCB estimates 14,000 migrant workers could flock north to work on the $7-billion project.

"If this occurs, it's a fairly safe bet that there will be major injuries and costs associated with the project," WCB president David Clark told those at the NWT Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting, June 8.

In Newfoundland, Clark remembers injury claims made by the offshore oil and gas workers years ago that are still being paid out today.

"We will not allow our Northern employers to be stuck with claim costs incurred by mega-project developers who leave the North following the pipeline's completion," he said.

Roy Dahl, a spokesperson for the Aboriginal Pipeline Group, called the idea "interesting."

"But we'll have to examine it more closely," he said, adding he expects the issue to be brought up during an APG board meeting this week.

The APG is owned by aboriginal groups and holds a one-third interest in the pipeline project.

Should a mega-project be completed with fewer accidents or injuries than anticipated, WCB said rebates could be negotiated.

"We're not here to make money," said WCB spokesperson Dave Grundy.

If approved at a WCB meeting in Hay River this week, the group will begin determining what qualifies as a mega-project and how high rates could climb.

Individual negotiations could begin with proponents this fall, Clark said.

All businesses legally operating in the NWT or Nunavut must register and pay fees to the WCB.

Imperial Oil has halted all non-regulatory work on the project, but a pipeline-related announcement is expected to be made in the coming days at the Inuvik Petroleum Show.