Thank you, Mr. Dent. There is a motion being circulated. I think everyone has a copy of the motion in front of them. The motion is in order. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a number of questions under this particular activity as well. I would like to start on a very specific area. There is a mine training, or there was a mine training committee that existed that worked with industry and education to develop such programs as the Mine TAP course they delivered at the college to get students, young Northerners ready to take apprenticeships.

I was wondering if the Minister could indicate what his plans are for that committee. I think it was a very successful venture. I am also wondering, given the fact that it met its mandate, it had a positive role to play. With the expansion of oil and gas, is he anticipating any kind of similar forum with the oil and gas people? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, the Mine TAP was delivered at the College. It is a committee that works with the College and we are envisioning a similar setup in the oil and gas. I spoke about that earlier, the work being coordinated with the Gwich'in, Inuvialuit, and the Liard all the way down the Mackenzie Valley. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Could the Minister outline the vision he has transmitted to this committee, which basically works for him? These committees, both are for the mine training committee, what has he sketched out for them? What would he like to see them accomplish in the next few years?

With the oil and gas committee, could he indicate what vision he has left out for them, the course of action he would like to try to accomplish in the next three and a half years? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have not had a chance to meet with any of these committees yet, but the staff are working with the committees and proceeding with the direction that was provided before. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Could the Minister just share with us his thoughts on when he meets with these folks, what he would see as a Minister at this point, having had six months to get his mind around some of these issues? What does he see as some of the key areas he would like both of these committees to work with?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Certainly how we can link industry with employment and the role that the committee can provide, in terms of providing areas of employment potential, and then linking it back to how industry can participate with our areas of training, literacy as part of the training, with the development of modules that may be delivered for employment. Thank you.

Could the Minister indicate when he anticipates he can have his first meeting with these committees? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We are working with industry, for example, we are working with Diavik. The one committee has not been established, the oil and gas, but I cannot give the Member an answer as to when I might meet with the particular committee because I am not sure what the availability of the committee itself might be. Thank you.

I would just like to switch the focus of my questions. I have questions regarding monies that were lapsed in apprenticeships and the public service training program. Given the discussion for the need to work with industry, the shortage of 500 skilled workers a year, as Mr. Dent indicated, I see there is a Mine Tap Access Program starting October 23, 2000. Could the Minister speak first to the issue of the apprenticeship budget and what the plans are to make sure that it is maximized, that industry is fully involved, and that these apprenticeship funds are used to the maximum benefit possible? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe the Member is addressing his question to the lapsed funding, and what do we intend to do about it. In the apprenticeship training, there was a lapsed amount. We received an agreement from Human Resources Development Canada late in the year to charge some expenses to the Labour Market Development Agreement. That was about $200,000. We have the manager of the career centre looking at freeing up staff to work closer with industry to address the issue of apprenticeship training and the availability of the funding there. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is a critical area. Trades are in short supply across Canada. Could the Minister indicate, are there sufficient resources in that budget in his opinion, should NCPC come on board and say they are willing to take on ten apprentices? If there is increased uptake on demand for apprenticeships, is the department able to meet that demand and be able to do the necessary work to support them? Thank you.