Thank you, Mr. Bell. The Chair recognizes Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would just like to ask some questions. I will take the Chair's direction in terms of the DCN itself, but in the activity description, on the third paragraph, the reference is that the department will continue to work on the major project of replacing all departmental computer systems with the new case management administration system.

When you talk computer systems, does that include all the programs as well, Mr. Chairman?

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Cleveland.

Thank you, Mr. Cleveland. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Could the Minister elaborate on this case management administration system, from the perspective to provide comfort, at least to myself, given the experiences that I have seen with the PeopleSoft system and its shortcomings, huge expense, and the fact that it shut down. It is a single-use system for the most part. Have the steps been taken to assess the system to make sure that it is affordable, that it is going to do the job, that it has the capacity to expand, and that it will be an effective, efficient and economical system and not a burden on the department? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Cleveland.

Thank you, Mr. Cleveland. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I have a strong interest as well across government on the informatics strategy. I am assuming that this whole area of discussion would fall under the department's informatics strategy, which in turn would link into the broad government informatics strategy.

I would like to ask the Minister for an update on their informatics strategy. Where is it in the completion process, or is it already complete? If it is, when would we get a chance to look at it, given the significant number of different systems, as was pointed out, that the department does have and the need to be able to integrate with other colleague departments as much as possible, like Health and Social Services and such? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will get Mr. Cleveland to address that.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Mr. Cleveland.

Thank you, Mr. Cleveland. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That suggestion by the deputy is one that I will take. I will defer any further questions. I would just like to point out, on the record, that the government informatics strategy is a planning process with no apparent end. I was with the government for almost 20 years, and I think half of that was trying to come up with an informatics strategy. I have been waiting for the government to come up with an informatics strategy for five years as an MLA, and we are still waiting.

Mr. Chairman, I would just like to touch on two other things on this particular area. First, I had some concern with a comment the Minister made about making sure we set our targets low enough that we can reach them. This is a comment that we have heard from other departments in the social program envelope as well. This causes me some concern, in terms of quality.

I think it was Milton who said, "our reach should exceed our grasp," and I think we have to extend ourselves as a government, as individuals, as a department. This was in reference to the issue of targets for teachers. I just wanted to say that I think we should set ambitious goals for ourselves. If we do not achieve them but we do a fine job trying and we are making good progress, then we can stand up when it comes to accountability, and say that we had very fine aspirations and they are still goals. We are not there yet, but by God, we are going to keep plugging away at this.

Would the Minister reassure myself and my colleagues that, especially within the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, which is a key department, a role model, he will continue to instill values that will speak to this issue and set goals in this department like we want our students and people to do? We are going to set goals for ourselves that are going to be lofty, but are good ones. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am not sure if I said that we need to make our targets low enough to be achievable. I believe what I said was that we need to set targets that are achievable, and I was speaking about the Teacher Education Program and the target that has been set. The target was set, of course, some ten years ago, and we are nowhere near getting to that target.

I firmly believe that target can be achieved, that it should be achieved and that should be the aim in this particular program. The question in my mind is can this be done by 2003? I have to be realistic. I am not going to suggest that we can set all sorts of lofty ideals. If they are not achievable then we are perhaps setting our sights on something that people will aim for perhaps to the detriment of other work.

I think targets need to be set across the department and we have to ensure that they are ambitious but also within the possibility of achieving. That would be my approach, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This would be an interesting point of debate and probably not in this forum. It may speak to some of the lack of success with some of the government initiatives.

My final question is in the area of interdepartmental cooperation. This is fundamental as we move into this Assembly and the Minister has a department where it is critical that he works hand in glove with housing harmonization, Health and Social Services, with healthy children, and youth.

A clear demonstration of this is working together on a regular basis and not just on an ad hoc piecemeal basis. This, to me, is going to be more and more fundamental, and the need for a possible, even joint business plan. I would like the Minister to speak to this issue as my time runs out. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We do not have a clock up front here, so we cannot see when the Member's time is cut off. So I have, supposedly, all the leeway in the world, since I do not have a clock.

-- Laughter

However, Mr. Chairman, that is an area that we are very involved in already. It will require a continued concentration on our part to ensure that it is there and because we have a number of areas here that are coming to the fore on a territory wide basis. We speak about the need for programs in the early childhood development area. That is an area that Health and Social Services is very involved in.

We speak about the need to address the whole area of employment and development and human resource development. We are working with and we are part of a committee, with the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. We are working on the harmonization of income support in the housing situation. There is a multitude of programs like this that we are involved in. Our officials are involved in discussions with each other. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. The Chair recognizes Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I have been listening to some of the discussion, the questions, and the answers that have been back and forth here. I must say that if we compare this to setting up for a race, it sounds like the Minister is happy just to finish the race, never mind gold, silver or bronze as targets. There is one thing to be said about finishing the race, but to quit running before you actually cross the line is something we need to really look at as a government. I do not think anybody should be afraid that because we aim our goals high that Members would use it as an opportunity to further bash the government.

I think that we would have to accept some of that not being able to meet the goals because we are pushing those goals higher. If it shows a significant achievement in that area, then I think we must be ready to accept that we have made good strides.

But to say we have made good strides when we are just set to finish the race is applaudable in that sense. We definitely need to be, I think, aiming high and coming in. Even if we come in at average, it is better than aiming just to finish the race and coming in dead last. I think that is something every department needs to focus on.

If we are going to push to set our goals high, then we also need to put the resources into training. That would also help us to achieve our goals. I know this is one of the departments that has been fortunate enough to get a fair bit of resources added to it when everybody else is squeezing a little tighter and some departments have lost. We should look at that and again, my statement earlier, speaking to the budget address, is that we need to see results now and not plan to try to achieve results. We need to start putting things into action somewhat differently.

Now, a little further on that, I have a question that is straightforward. Under the directorate administration, it talked about the departments involved. Its mandate covers strategic planning. I would like to know from the Minister what areas of strategic planning is the department involved in?