Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Transportation and it's in reference to a
memo I got today with regard to the Department of Transportation establishing a plan for division. Apparently, the plan was approved by Cabinet and the Financial Management Board.
I would like to first make reference to the report by the Standing Committee on Resource Management and Development. In its review, the committee recommended that the department not proceed with the planned transfer of PYs to Nunavut until incremental cost negotiations were finalized with the federal government. The department responded by stating that no substantial costs would be incurred until negotiations were completed. The committee, in turn, recommended that the Department of Transportation not incur any costs related to the transfer of PYs to Nunavut until negotiations are complete.
I'm informed that staffing for the first two years of the plan, 1995-96 and 1996-97, is essentially complete and investments have been made in office and computer equipment. There were two reasons for this. The second reason was to avoid major staff disruptions prior to division, by starting early to take advantage of vacancies that occur in Yellowknife in order to staff positions in the East. An assistant deputy minister position has been established and two other corporate positions were established in preparation for division. I understand these may be in Nunavut already.
With the completion of staffing of the three remaining positions, the eastern headquarters can operate for 1996. I wonder if the Minister could tell me ... My understanding was that no transfers were going to take place and no staffing was going to take place with regard to division.