Mr. Chairman, I was on the Standing Committee on Finance before Christmas when the main estimates were reviewed. It was supported on the basis of the initiatives, but transfer was not mentioned or discussed. In your consultation with the Standing Committee on Finance, did the Standing Committee on Finance support this initiative, or were they consulted on the basis of the intention of the department to transfer to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment Programs?

Thank you. Madam Minister.

Mr. Chairman, the transfer of the program to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment Programs was in the recommendations of the Strength at Two Levels report. It was conveyed to the Standing Committee on Finance at the beginning of February. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Zoe.

Thank you. Family and children's services. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am going to ask some general questions. One of the goals and objectives of the department is item eight, alternative to financial assistance

for employable individuals who are receiving social assistance are provided. It is a brilliant idea, Mr. Chairman. I would like the interpretation of this item from the honourable Minister.

I have a second question. Is it working? Is the program being utilized by individuals who are, in fact, receiving social assistance but are employable and therefore entitled to other programs? Thank you.

Thank you. Madam Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will let the deputy minister respond to the Member's question.

Mr. Dunbar.

Mr. Chairman, the program which Mr. Ningark is referring to is part of the community and family support services activity, which we have not got to. In terms of answering that particular question, each region has SARS projects, the employability enhancement agreements that we operate together with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment Programs. Applications for these funds are reviewed by a regional committee and they approve the particular projects for that region. It is a $1.5 million fund at the present time and it is a joint project between Social Services, Education and the Canada Employment and Immigration program. It is a territorial/federal joint initiative.

Thank you. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Does this program also involve training for the individual so the individual will be able to get a job somewhere and will be dependent upon his own initiatives thereafter? Thank you.

Thank you. Madam Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes.

Thank you. Family and children's services, total O and M, $13.861 million. Mr. Gargan.

What is the purpose of transferring this day care program to Education? I know you have preschool programs, but is there a rationale behind this? I am sure there is.

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Mr. Chairman, if the Member concurs, I do not have that documentation here, but one of the things we tried to do is rationalize the program and clarify where they can be best delivered and where the best fit is. I

have some paper on that. I would be willing to provide it to the honourable Member, I just do not have it here at this time.

Thank you. Mr. Lewis.

This idea has been around since about 1977, just after the Education Act was passed. There is a section in the Education Act which provides for kindergarten to be delivered in the school system even though kindergarten is not technically part of the system. It really begins at grade one. You do not legally have to send a child to school just because they are of kindergarten age. There is no legal requirement. The other argument is, every community has a school, a building, which is heated. You have an infrastructure in place. There was a suggestion in 1977 that that is where it should be. It all makes sense. I think it is a good move and long overdue.

Thank you. Family and children's services, total O and M, $13.861 million. Agreed?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Alcohol, Drugs And Community Mental Health

Thank you. Page 13-10, alcohol, drugs and community mental health, total O and M, $11.772 million. Mr. Dent.