Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will look at what sorts of limitations there might be on training-on-the-job programs and advise the Member.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Public Works. It is in regard to his department and the whole aspect of contracts and how contracts are let go. Mr. Speaker, my question to the Minister is, is there a policy in place in regard to individuals or a group of individuals who may owe money to this government or have outstanding bills or whatnot with this government, from being able to bid on negotiated contracts, sole source contracts or public tenders?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at this time I am not aware of any rules that are in place if a construction company was owing funds to this government if they would be prohibited from bidding on any contracts that are open to the public. I would have to check on the specifics to get back to the Member. If he has a specific area of concern, I would gladly meet with the Member to try and address his concern and see what can be done about it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is more in line with the concerns that you have from employees or people who have worked for different contractors who have not been paid or who have had contracts with this government and who have not fulfilled them. There are a lot of concerns out there from people who have worked for certain contractors who may have moved south, but then were left with not being paid their wages for working for these individuals. I would like to ask the Minister also, is there a certain outstanding amount of money that is owed to this government by funds which are used for training individuals on certain projects that contractors may have taken on, on behalf of this government.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the area of funds being owed to this government, if they are to another department, I would have to look into that to see what kind of a relationship there would be. I know, for example, if it is to do with a contractor or if there is money being claimed against a contractor that is working for the government or has a government contract, there would be built into the contract on withholding a certain amount of dollars that could be put towards it, but that is on a specific project if they are working in that area.

I am unfamiliar right now and I will have to get back to the Member, as I said earlier, on the specifics. If he had some concerns that I could address with him later on, possibly after we rise, to get the specifics to see what area he is looking at. As it refers from one department to another, I am not sure if there are any agreements in place on withholding on public contracts are open to the public. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question will be for the Premier. Last week, I asked in this House from the Minister of Finance on the issue of equal pay benefits for excluded employees. At that time the Minister stated that he would consult with his Cabinet colleagues to see if they could extend the deadline to consider equal pay settlements for the excluded employees. Mr. Speaker, I have five more letters that I have received from librarians who are lumped in with wildlife officers into one classification code. The Minister explained last week that they would not be receiving benefits, or at least in letters it was explained they would not be receiving benefits, because they are in that classification code.

Now my question for the Premier is, the Minister of Finance agreed to consult his Cabinet colleagues and have some idea by today as to whether the deadline for these employees could be extended for consideration. Could the Minister tell us, the Premier tell us, if that meeting took place and if it will be extended? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It makes it very difficult for people that are out there to get some answer on this. Mr. Speaker, in one of the letters, and I can only paraphrase what I know, and that is that they did not even know or were not even aware of the possibility of being provided with equal pay benefits. I think we have a bit of a situation on our hands that

needs to be addressed. I had hoped that Cabinet would have addressed this issue by now. My question for the Premier is, will he, with all due respect, extend the deadline so there is fair treatment for those people out there who feel they have not been treated fairly in considering equal pay benefits?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Premier's interest in addressing this issue. Would he also commit to immediately e-mailing the employees that may be affected by this so that they understand what the decision on this may be? Also there is the concern, what about the excluded employees that are no longer employees of this government? My question is how does he intent to address the issue for them? Thank you.