Thank you, Mr. Picco. Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I do not know if the problem is unique to RWED or not, but essentially, we have a number of challenges before us as we staff. One is division. We would have to staff people in some cases to fill positions on a temporary basis until division happens. Second is, we have a number of positions that are temporary and some that are seasonal. Sometimes when we look at statistics it seems like we have a vacancy, when really, it is a seasonal position. It is not a vacant position, all year-round. Also, there are positions we have been holding back on staffing, particularly in Nunavut until the division plans were clarified. Now that there is a deputy minister who will be soon appointed to that position, then that should be resolved. I met with her yesterday, in fact, on this same issue. There are people who are probably uncertain about what the future holds and may not be applying. The kind of situation we are in is probably not unique given the status. We normally would expect about a 10 percent vacancy in a department of ours, but there is no specific reason why that happens, it is just regular turnover. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the department was waiting to staff up to full maximums in the Nunavut region based on the hiring of the deputy ministers for Nunavut which I think has been made public and is now in place. Has the department looked at using slippage monies to fund other positions not identified? For example, if you have not filled certain positions, could you reallocate that money for EDO positions, for economic development officers, in communities. I know in several Nunavut communities we have been requesting EDO and EDO support and we have not been able to identify dollars for specific communities. Have you been looking for something like that or would you commit to having a chance to look at reallocating funds within slippage of personnel dollars to maybe staff up EDO positions in communities? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Mr. Handley.

We have been looking at using the dollars that are available to hire additional positions to help us out where there is greatest need. I am not sure if any money has been used to hire extra EDO positions, but we do have quite a few, what we call, unfunded positions, throughout the department. We also have a lot more money going into casual positions than we would normally have in this circumstance.

Thank you. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just following up on the EDO positions. In Iqaluit, we do not have, to the best of my knowledge unless something has changed recently, a dedicated EDO position for the community of Iqaluit and Apex, we do have the regional office there. When people have concerns with EDO or economic development initiatives or business plans, they usually have to go to the private marketplace or to senior staff within the department. Has the department looked at placing a dedicated EDO position in Iqaluit? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Handley.

I had that discussion yesterday, with the person who is going to be deputy minister of the transition. In the 1998-99 business plan, we have indicated we are transferring the equivalent of 16 positions and $2.7 million to Nunavut. The decision on whether or not to hire full-time or part-time or where to place EDO officers in Nunavut, I will be doing in consultation with her as we prepare our detailed plans in 1998-99.

Thank you. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Moving onto the environmental issues, the cleanup of DEW Line sites. Is there an update from the Minister on the situation under corporate management and environmental issues? Is it okay there?

Thank you. Mr. Handley, Mr. Minister. Thank you. I advise Mr. Picco, you should be asking environmental aspects under environmental protection. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I had noticed on corporate management, there were environmental issues of concern and how the department developed policy, but I will hold that question until we get to environmental protection on page 11-8. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

With that, I thank you kindly, Mr. Picco. Corporate management, operations and maintenance, total operations and maintenance, $12.221 million. Agreed?

Agreed.

Thank you. On page 11-7, corporate management, acquisition of equipment, headquarters, total region, $25,000. Agreed?

Agreed.

Thank you. Total acquisition of equipment, $25,000. Agreed?

Agreed.

Total activity, $25,000. Agreed?

Agreed.

Thank you. On page 11-8, environmental protection, operations and maintenance, total operations and maintenance $1.791 million. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Under environmental protection, I had earlier talked about DEW Line cleanups as an area of concern. This project is continuing in our region with the Qikiqtaaluk Corporation involved in DEW Line cleaning. This past summer I spent sometime at Resolution Island, which by all accounts, is probably the most polluted site in the Northwest Territories. It has environmental damage estimated at approximately $40 million to clean up. Following this, there was a concern raised in the House by myself and a couple of other Members with DIAND and the Department of National Defence request. The Department of National Defence request was to bury PCB-laden paint from DEW Line sites into the ground and they wanted a clause to opt out of the regulations. I understand now, there may be some satisfaction that has resulted from this concern, that indeed, the federal department of the environment would not allow DND to opt out and bury PCB-laden materials in the ground at these abandoned DEW Line sites. I wonder if the Minister could update us on the situation regarding the burying of PCB-laden paint? Thank you.