The department indicated that over the past five years Public Works and Services had diminished in size by approximately 60 percent. The committee is aware there is a functional review being performed government-wide and may affect the final number of departments.
Municipal governments and the Housing Corporation duplicate many of the maintenance functions performed by the Department of Public Works and Services. The committee had expected that the long-awaited program and functional review would supply direction in regard to this duplication of functions. However, indications are that the government's Senior Management Task Team, which was responsible for this review, has made little progress. Should this task team not make progress in the near future, the committee will recommend that a functional audit be performed on the department.