Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yesterday, I asked the Minister about their plans for oil and gas training, and discussed the fact that the human resource strategy for oil and gas training has been produced. We were allowed to see it for a few minutes in committee. We have not seen it yet. We have asked the Minister for copies of this, and I just want to explain that this is really critical for us. There are Members on this side of the House who are very concerned, first of all, with the amount of money. Five hundred thousand dollars is not a lot of money. They want to ensure that it is put to the best possible use. It really is a drop in the bucket, but we would like to see how the department is planning to spend this money. Time is wasting. Our staff are not going to have much time to analyze this before we finish up the department. I thought that we would have it yesterday, and have a chance to review it yesterday evening and this morning.

We have not had that chance yet. I am wondering if the Minister can get that to us as soon as possible. It is getting late here and we would like to get through the department as efficiently and effectively as possible. Thank you.

Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We do have copies here and we can give them to the Clerk.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. It would be good to circulate that information so the Members can have a chance to look at it while we are still on this item. Mr. Clerk, can you circulate the information? Mr. Bell, general comments?

That would be great. I can discuss with my colleagues, at some point, depending on how much time they have to look at this. If they prefer to defer this section while they have a chance to analyze the plan and discuss how the department plans to spend this money. It is not a lot of money. We want to make sure that it is targeted and put to the best use, and has a broad overall focus: long-term, not just short-term types of jobs. The faster we get a look at that, the better.

I just had one other question for the Minister in this area. Some constituents have expressed some concerns about student financial assistance. I also mentioned that they have had some dealings earlier with the department in the spring, and had a hard time getting a quick response and getting information back from the department. It was explained to them to be patient, that the department is implementing a new computer system to deal with student financial assistance and are having some difficulties in certain areas. The students are asked to be patient. I am just wondering if the Minister can comment on the implementation of the new system and how it is going? Thank you.

Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. A number of changes have taken place. We did produce the manual for student financial assistance. I believe it was the first, and yes, it was long. It can use improvement, no doubt. It is also available on the web site, which students can access. The voice response system did have some problems with it, there is no doubt. That is an area that we have corrected.

There are a number of administrative areas that were brought to our attention that the department has been responding to. I have been meeting with the deputy minister to ensure that these issues that were brought to my attention were addressed. I believe that they have been addressed. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Bell.

Thank you, so any problems or hurdles that there might have been internally within the new computer system to administer student financial assistance have been looked at? The department is not receiving any more complaints and things are handled? Is that what the Minister said? Thank you.

Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will ask Mr. Cleveland to address this in more detail.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Cleveland.

Thank you, Mr. Cleveland. Mr. Bell.

I would like to thank the deputy for that response. I just have some questions about the voice response system, because there have been concerns raised with me in meetings with the students coalition about their inability to hook up, when they call in, with a live person. They feel that they get bounced around the department, or bounced around cyberspace in voicemail somewhere. Especially when it is concerned with funding and whether or not their funding has been approved, how much money they are getting, those kind of things. They cannot access a real person and have to leave messages. It is frustrating, especially since they are in class mostly during the hours of eight to five, so they are trying to check their own voicemail at home and get a hold of people. It is just inconvenient. I am just wondering if you can hit a number and automatically be forwarded to a person in the department who can handle emergency calls and direct your call that way, or do they only have a choice of leaving a message? Thank you.

Mr. Cleveland.

Thank you, Mr. Cleveland. Mr. Bell.

Can I ask the Minister or the deputy how long the department sets as a target to getting back to students? Thank you.

Mr. Minister.

Two days. It is identified on page 6 of the guide.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, the answer to the Member's question is two days. It is on page 6 of the guide. Thank you.

Mr. Bell.