Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On behalf of the Standing Committee on Finance, I would like to make a report with regard to Personnel.

The Impact Of Reorganization

As we noted last year, Personnel has essentially been stripped. Three functions remain. These functions are recruitment, workforce adjustment and staff housing. The staff housing function was originally scheduled for transfer to the Housing Corporation by April 1, 1994. However, that transfer has been delayed to April 1, 1995.

The Premier indicated that further changes to the department were imminent. In any case, committee Members feel that the issue of the department's future should be resolved quickly.

Student Summer Employment Program

For many years, Mr. Chairman, the government has provided an employment program for students in the summer months that is the best in the country for both aboriginal and non-aboriginal students. This program has provided northern students with work experience which was relevant to their course of studies and increased the usefulness of the student when they completed school and began permanent work. Within the program there has been a priority system to ensure northern students received the available jobs rather than students from the south.

Last summer, as a result of mishandling the situation by the department, the program unfortunately became the centre of a controversy which had strong racial overtones. The committee feels that the situation was not handled as well as it could have been and a simple misunderstanding became a major issue.

For the coming summer, the committee expects the department will provide clear direction so the public and students understand the program, its objectives and how it will operate.

Video Recruitment

In response to recommendations of the committee, the department has begun using video conference calls for job interviews rather than flying southern candidates north. This provides a major cost savings. About five years ago, NorthwesTel promised it would implement enhanced technology in the north. This technology would have assisted departments such as Personnel in reducing travel and meeting costs. However, the proposed technology has never been fully implemented. The committee urges the government to continue pressing NorthwesTel to implement technology which would allow all northerners to communicate more effectively.

Mr. Chairman, that concludes the comments from the Standing Committee on Finance. Thank you.