Thank you, Madam Chairperson. My question is in regard to the whole area of the human resource sector and also the affirmative action where we seem to still have a problem especially in seeing the benefits of decentralizing the Department of Personnel, allowing the managers to basically manage and also to do their own internal hiring. I feel that there has to be more in-depth review of the possible implications of that move and also concerned with regard to the affirmative action, especially at the upper levels of government in the senior management area, deputy ministers and also in the manager

area of government. I feel that it is essential that we do have a reflective government and bureaucracy with regard to the people it serves. I feel it is very disheartening when you hear of individuals who were employees of this government and were laid off and now because of the hiring freeze within the government, are unable to get employment with this government. I am talking about individuals who were former employees of the Department of Personnel and also employees who may have taken layoff packages because of the downsizing of government and also the implications of division.

I would like to have some assurances that this government is doing something in that area and also working to improve the employment opportunities in this government, especially for individuals who have gone off to university, received their bachelor degrees, political science or even degrees in other areas. In regard to the shortages we are seeing in the Department of Health, Education, teachers, and also that there has to be a more open government when it comes to allowing the government to grow and bring in new people with new ideas and new energy and new initiatives. Madam Chairperson, I would like to leave it at that to make the Minister or Premier aware that I do have concerns in that area and I would like at the appropriate time to ask questions on those matters.