Does that conclude your report from the finance committee? Mr. Ng.

That concludes our comments from the Standing Committee on Finance for Safety and Public Services. Thank you.

Thank you. Before we call for general comments, would the Minister like to bring in witnesses on this particular department?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, if they are here.

Thank you. For the record, Mr. Minister, would you please introduce the witnesses?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On my left is the director of finance, Mr. Henry Dragon. On my right is the deputy minister for Safety and Public Services, Mr. John Quirke.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Welcome to the committee, Mr. Quirke and Mr. Dragon. The floor is open to general comments. Do we want to go page by page? Agreed?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Line By Line

Directorate

All right. Page 08-8, directorate, total O & M, $838,000. Agreed?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Consumer and corporate affairs, total O & M, Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Thank you. What I can tell you, Mr. Chairman, is that there was a report on the proposal for the introduction of video lottery and tele-theatre betting completed. It has been drafted and submitted to me for my review. Once I've completed that, we will then submit it to Cabinet for their consideration. If I might, I would like to ask Mr. Quirke to be more specific about the response about how we're going to be doing the assessments. If we are to proceed, it would be more on a pilot initiative rather than opening the concept of gambling to every community and every public location where that might be requested. It would be more specific and more regulated in terms of how we apply it. We would make our assessments based on the use, the kinds of situations and expenditures that are being made. Maybe I could ask Mr. Quirke to add to that.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. One of the things the Minister would have to do in presenting a decision paper to Cabinet for their consideration -- and if Cabinet did approve the introduction of a video terminal program -- is that before any type of public assessment would be done we would have to change the Liquor Act. The present Liquor Act prevents the introduction of these types of machines in licensed premises. One of the recommendations of the report is that if we do go with this program, during the first phase we would introduce these machines in an age-controlled environment. One of the best age-controlled environments we have right now are the licensed premises.

But, before we could do that we would have to change the Liquor Act. It would require an amendment by the Legislative Assembly and at that particular time, that process would be taken over by the Standing Committee on Legislation. In that way, depending on the communities' desires, you would get back public feedback assessment. They would have the first kick at the cat, so to speak. That is where we are in the report. While we explore options in terms of pilot projects, the number of machines, the number of places and the communities, one of the key things to do is to change the Liquor Act to allow for that type of pilot project to go ahead. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Mr. Dent.

Minister of Safety and Public Services.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think the points that the honourable Member has raised are important ones for us to consider in terms of reaching a final decision. We have not reached a final decision on this. Part of the assessment that was required was the whole question of social impact as a result of the gambling that we're proposing. I think the advice that the honourable Member has given to us about assessing the existing impacts, for instance in Alberta, Manitoba or, for that matter, in the short-term in Nova Scotia, would be very helpful in terms of how we deal with this particular matter.

Thank you. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There have been no additional resources to increase the number of workers' advisors in this particular budget. There is still work being done on the matter of performance measurement and whether we are getting the best results from the program and from the incumbent. That is generally where we are at at the moment, with the view, of course, of ensuring we are providing the most appropriate service. Once we know that, I think we will be able to better judge whether there are additional requirements. From there, we go through the process of approaching Cabinet to see if they are prepared to provide the resources.