Thank you. We will move on to 07-17, detail of work performed on behalf of third parties. Total department, $60,000.

Agreed.

---Agreed

Now we go back to the program summary, page 07-7. Safety and public services, total O and M, $7.241 million. Mr. Whitford.

Qujannamiik. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Structural, management and departmental change is an ongoing process. Sometimes we have to make decisions that have to respond to not only the reallocation of resources or priorities of this Assembly, but also the priorities of Cabinet. We've made an effort to respond seriously to the issue of safety. I think that's been our priority for the last several years. It's our belief, based on the fiscal situation and the financial problems that may arise, that we may have to reorganize ourselves to do the job better without reducing services or programs.

I can tell you, and I'll be very honest, that we are reviewing this issue. We haven't come to final conclusions about what changes may be. But, they won't be at the expense of safety or, for that matter, the delivery of services to workers. I want to say that there is still a major component that hasn't been dealt with that will eventually have to be -- not necessarily by this government, but probably the next government -- and that is the issue of labour. Labour issues and relations and the conduct of how we do business generally, in terms of our labour legislation -- all components -- have to be dealt with; not simply the Labour Standards Board and labour legislation.

It's a significant issue. The honourable Member asked about the conditions of the mining industry. The simple fact is -- and this is very important for people to understand -- most governments establish labour legislation to protect unorganized labour. That is their responsibility. Our labour legislation is outdated and I think that, at some time, we have to confront that matter. That is the way we are reviewing the issue.

Thank you. Mr. Whitford.

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To use the famous words of Mr. Whitford: "to assuage the fears of those who are in this Assembly," the fact is, we always go through a process of management review, of whether or not we are functionally doing the job properly or we have the right people in the right places. Just a simple little organizational change.

The question of labour services or worker services and safety. We have some functions that should be in the worker services that are presently in the safety component. That's the kind of stuff when we look at these issues to decide whether or not we're functionally doing the right job. In the end, I can say the decision has not been completed, but we need to do those things. We're doing more harm to the success of our organization if we don't continue to do that kind of work.

So I agree with the honourable Member. It's not our intention to create anxiety. Certainly it's our intention to be constructive about any management arrangements that are proposed by my deputy minister, because my view is I try to stay out of the daily management of my department as much as possible. I do want to deal with the whole issue of policy. I allow my department to function and the managers to do their work because I don't believe I should be stepping on their toes and telling them what they should or shouldn't be doing if they're doing their job the way you have said they have been doing it. I think that is gaining great respect in the communities in the Northwest Territories where the services are provided. So I take note of your concern and will not try to cause any more anxiety, but management reviews have that tendency, irrespective of whether or not you lay a person off. Reviews have that tendency of making those changes.

Program summary, total O and M, $7.241 million. Agreed? Mr. Koe.

In terms of total PYs, I know it's not a big department but there are 79 PYs, an increase of two. What's the ratio of aboriginal people in this department?

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

In the department, there are 92 positions, of which 20 are aboriginal, 12 are indigenous non-aboriginal and 60 are non-aboriginal.

Qujannamiik. Thank you. Program summary, we agree with $7.241 million total O and M. Agreed?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Do we agree on the left-hand side?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Thank you. Does the committee agree that consideration of Safety and Public Services main estimates is concluded?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Thank you. On behalf of the committee, I would like to thank the honourable Minister and the witnesses for appearing before the committee.

On the agreement of the committee, we shall go into the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. I would like to recognize Mr. Antoine before we proceed. Mr. Antoine.

Provision Of Funding To Social Envelope Committee

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Earlier this session, we deferred the four departments that belonged to the Envelope Committee. Based on a budget supplement that was just tabled today, there was about $3.2 million that was supposed to be allocated. Last week, we passed a motion telling the government to give earnest consideration to finding this $3.2 million from the budget reserve supplement.

Before we look at a member of this envelope committee, which is Education, Culture and Employment, I would like to ask the Minister of Finance if the government was able to give earnest consideration to the motion that we passed last week. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the government has indeed given earnest consideration and has accepted the recommendation from the Standing Committee on Finance. The money will be reallocated from supp reserves to the wellness fund. That is why I tabled the budget supplementary today. The documents will be changed in the books during the break, and there will be adjustments made to the bill at the end, as we're passing the bill, to adjust the different departments, Mr. Chairman. So, the money is there.

---Applause