Madam Speaker, I have another return to oral question. I would like your permission to continue. This is a return to a question asked by Mr. Ningark on March 16, on the status of departmental amalgamations.

In order to promote the efficiency and effectiveness of government, a number of departments and programs were proposed for transfer or consolidation. The consolidations are some, but not all of those recommended by Strength at Two Levels.

These consolidations were announced in 1992 as one aspect of Reshaping Northern Government, which also included decentralization, privatization, reorganization of the central agencies and increased roles for MLAs in decision-making.

Of the announced consolidations and amalgamations, the following have been completed to date:

1992-93: Education and Culture and Communications; Government Services and Public Works; Justice and corrections; and, Intergovernmental Affairs and Aboriginal and Constitutional Affairs.

1993-94: Employment with Education and Culture; and, reorganization of centre.

In May 1993, mandates of central agencies were clarified to streamline decision-making and the central machinery of government, and to rationalize the roles of Comptroller General, the Department of Finance and the Financial Management Board Secretariat.