Thank you, Mr. Chairman. No.

Qujannamiik. Thank you. Total operations and maintenance. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Under Intergovernmental Affairs, is there money for casuals?

Thank you. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. No.

Mahsi. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Under Corporate Services Division, is there money for casuals?

Thank you. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. $15 thousand.

Thank you. Cabinet Secretariat. We have Mr. Erasmus and Mr. Picco. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Was there any money in this area last year?

Thank you. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It was $53,000.95. Oh, not 95 cents, it was only $53 thousand. Thank you.

Thank you. The chair would like to recognize Mr. Picco, at this time. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, it seems we are nitpicking each individual line. For me, for example, I would like to continue on with the Department of Executive, so that we can get into other areas, like the women's issues, and so on. If Mr. Erasmus has these type of long questions and detailed questions, he could address them in writing and then come back to the committee of the whole later on in the next couple of days.

Thank you. Your comment is noted, Mr. Picco. We have Mr. Enuaraq.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Further to comments by Mr. Picco, which are understandable and very clear, I realize that Mr. Erasmus is posing questions at the pace that he is comfortable with. I am in agreement with Mr. Picco that we have to get along with the budget within the Department of the Executive but, at the same time, Mr. Erasmus' questions, I am sure, have some sort of clarification that he requires. I am sure there is some reasoning behind his questioning because other people, besides us, are interested in the operations of the government. Mr. Erasmus is posing questions to that effect and I think that is okay.

The only problem that I have, Mr. Chairman, is when the same question is being repeated a number of times, and it remains the same question. This is what I have a problem with but, like Mr. Erasmus, if he wants to ask questions, then he has that prerogative and so do we all as Members of the House. Our people that elected us are not aware of this information or the detail and maybe it is even better if we ask more questions than we do, so our people will have better information. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (Translation ends)

Thank you, Mr. Enuaraq. Although we would like to move along, this is a forum where we review and consider the government budget and we are not here to debate whether Mr. Erasmus has a right, or no right, to speak in this forum. In fact, every Member has a right to speak to ease our concern, to try and make the government accountable, at the same time, representing your communities in the ridings. I do not think we are here to be ... but we would like to move along but every and each Member should understand that every Member is given that privilege to speak. I thought Mr. Erasmus was within his rights to ask. If Members feel that a Member may be prolonging the process, he has the right to express that opinion, but we should understand that each and every Member has the privilege. Thank you. I would like to thank Mr. Picco and Mr. Enuaraq for bringing their concerns but, by the same token, everyone should respect everyone in this forum. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just wanted to indicate that I am not asking these questions lightly. I do have a reason why I am asking them. This is the only place we can get answers to a lot of questions, when we are in the House. During question period, we are only allowed four questions and, many times, we are given the runaround and you cannot follow up. So, this is the only place where we are able to ask questions and try to dig out certain things. I am going to move, in a few minutes, that we defer this area because I still have a lot of questions but I want to get this area on casuals out of the way first.

Mr. Chairman, the Premier indicated that in Corporate Services Division, there was $53 thousand spent in casuals last year. Were all those positions advertised as well?

Thank you, Mr. Erasmus. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As far as I know, yes.

Thank you. We are dealing with page 2-14, the 1997-98 main estimates, activity summary, Cabinet Secretariat. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Is it government policy, as well, that all casual hirings have to be advertised for two weeks?

Thank you. Mr. Premier.