Agreed.

---Agreed

At the top of page nine, vacation travel assistance

benefits, requesting an increase of $2.8 million. My question is with the amounts of staff we have, weren't these budgeted for? How come were so far out of whack in our budgeting? It's an employee benefit. I wonder why it wasn't budgeted for initially?

Mr. Chairman, this supp is a result of a base review of the vacation travel assistance because there was a base deficiency since the 1991-92 fiscal year. That amount, by the time we got to 1993-94, had grown to some $1.592 million.

There was also a four per cent, actually a 4.6 per cent increase in airfares, which attributed to $239,000. The amount of $127,000 of this was incurred in 1992-93 and was reflected in the base deficiency that I discussed earlier, the $1.592 million.

There was also an increase of some $396,000 because of a tenure increase. The average length of tenure of employees with the GNWT has been increasing and is resulting in more regional employees who are entitled to two trips per year. That resulted in an increase in VTA costs of $600,000 during 1992-93. That was also reflected in the base deficiency that I mentioned earlier. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Yes, Mr. Chairman, I wanted to mention the amount of $5,000, Department of the Executive, labour review process and the 1.5 person years. I believe I mentioned it in my opening statement and I will deal with that as we go through the bill. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, I think we provided the information to the Standing Committee on Finance on Thursday. This is done on a formula, based on the number of people in a particular region and actual costs. When you're apportioning how much a new employee is going to cost you or how much anything is going to cost you, you just go to this formula and you say well, this department is going to need this and these are the benefits, et cetera. I know that it sounds like a lot but that's based on a formula, as I said, on actual costs, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

(Microphone turned off)...repatriation of delivery of community mental health program in the Baffin. What's that program?

Mr. Chairman, the community mental health program mandate rests with the Department of Social Services. However, in the Baffin region, the Baffin Regional Health Board has delivered the program since 1987. That was done, Mr. Chairman, under a contribution agreement with the Department of Social Services. It is staffed by three health board employees. Funding is provided by the Department of Social Services in the amount of $162,000. That provides resources, salaries and benefits for two people plus O and M costs. The other person is covered by the Department of Health.

The Baffin Regional Health Board wanted to repatriate this particular program and send the delivery of these services back to Social Services. It was felt that Social Services, through the Baffin Regional Health Board, would be able to offer a more comprehensive service with the participation of other social workers and specialists available in the department. That is what is happening. The three positions are coming back in and going back into Social Services, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

I would like to go back to the bottom of page 8, a special warrant for $228,000 for pay equity dispute. There is 0.6 PYs and research staff. Are these contract or employee staff, permanent or part-time?

Mr. Chairman, these people are casuals. They were for support staff to perform specialized legal research for our lawyer, Mr. Juriansz. The $228,000 comprises the following items: 520 hours at $300 an hour for Mr. Juriansz, $156,000; casual legal researchers, there was 7 months of pay at $21 an hour and benefits for $28,000; the expenses and travel for Mr. Juriansz and those who have sworn affidavits was $44,000, for a total of $228,000. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

What is the status of this whole pay equity dispute issue?

Mr. Chairman, we filed and PSAC has asked if they can have until December 13 to file their documents. We are already there and waiting for the union to file on December 13. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.