Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Thank you, Mr. Erasmus, for pointing that error out. I will now carry on with the report on the review of the 1999-2002 business plans and the 1999-2002 Main Estimates. The next heading, Madam Chairperson, is affirmative action stipulations for training. During the Main Estimates review, the Standing Committee on Social Programs was surprised to learn that there are no aboriginal trainees in the Sirius Diamonds training program. Sirius Diamonds has received government funding for training. The Standing Committee on Social Programs was concerned that perhaps insufficient efforts were made to acquire applications from individuals of aboriginal descent. The Minister will pass this concern on to the company. In the future, government should review how funding for training initiatives could be more closely linked to affirmative action policies of the Government of the Northwest Territories.
Building maintenance. The Standing Committee on Social Programs would like the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to determine if there has been less preventive maintenance being performed on its buildings in small communities, since the department of Public Works and Services no longer performs those duties. The concern was raised, during the review of the Main Estimates, that when contractors go into the communities to perform maintenance, they only perform the maintenance they are contracted to do. When DPW performed the maintenance of government buildings in small communities, it was not limited by a contract. Often, DPW personnel would perform more tasks than were listed on their work orders. The Minister agreed to follow up on this issue.
The final one on page 33, Madam Chairperson. Funds spent on administration. The Standing Committee on Social Programs noted that administration costs are involved in the delivery of programs and in the functions of the district education authorities and the department's directorate. The department has agreed to do an evaluation of its operations to determine the total amount of money spent upon administration and provide its findings to the committee.
Madam Chairperson, with your indulgence I would like to pass the report back to my colleague from Yellowknife North, Mr. Erasmus.