Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister had indicated that the letter indicating his term was ending was returned. I was wondering if the Minister would be kind enough to table the envelope stamped "return to sender". Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Todd.

Mr. Speaker, I want to ensure my honourable colleagues that I did, in fact, see the envelope that came return to sender. That is an old Elvis Presley song. And if it is still available in the file, I will be only to happy to table it tomorrow to reassure everybody that everything is being done in accordance with the way in which I responded to the question raised earlier this week, and my response to question taken as notice. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions, Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Todd.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think I responded earlier in the month, a recommendation is going from this government, along with the recommendation from

the President of NTI, and it is my understanding that the appointment of an interim commissioner is imminent which in political language means, I hope, within the next two to three weeks, sooner rather than later, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, once again considering the limited timeframe, is it possible for the Minister responsible to give us a better indication as to when we can expect that this position, or that this person, when he or she will actually commence their responsibilities. Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think that it is important to point out that we give our recommendations, the same as NTI. The ultimate responsibility for the appointment lies with the federal Cabinet through the Minister of Indian Affairs, the Honourable Ron Irwin. Again, my understanding of the discussions that are underway, is that the appointment is imminent. It will have to go to federal Cabinet and hopefully, we will get a clear indication when that appointment will take place within the next two weeks. I am optimistic that within the next two weeks. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you. The honourable Minister for Financial Management Board, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think I indicated on numerous occasions that, in fact, in our earlier negotiations with respect to the collective agreement, our position was that if we took students, not necessarily out of the agreement, but if we defined, if you want, an hourly rate or a weekly rate for students that was less than, if you want to call a mature adult, I do not know whether that is the right term, but for a permanent position, in fact our desire was to do that and try to create more jobs not less jobs. Unfortunately, there was not, for a variety of reasons, concurrence on both parties. So what I said earlier, I believe, in the House was that we are looking at a possibility in our job strategy of the potential of a student job strategy for this coming summer, along with some other areas that both Mr. Dent and myself are looking at, on this issue of student employment.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you. The honourable Minister for FMB, Mr. Todd.

Thank you. Mr. Dent has advised me, Mr. Speaker, that, in fact, there was a federal program last year related to student employment that partnered up directly with the private entrepreneurs and private employers, and we had no direct involvement in that initiative. Thank you.

Thank you. Second supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, as I indicated last week in response to a variety of questions by a variety of Members as it relates to affirmative action in our northern job strategy, we intend to bring that to committee, I am hoping as soon as I can. I am not trying to delay this. I will get it to the committee as soon as I can, seeking their council, advice and direction. Part of that job strategy, affirmative action strategy will hope to include at the end of the day, a student job strategy. I would hope that we would be able to get some consensus on over March and April, move forward with it in May, or the late May/June budget, and implement it in July of this coming year. Thank you.

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Ootes.