Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Can the Minister inform us on a different line of questioning here on their information systems section?

In that area, they say that they have done some, over the past two years, that division has been implementing major system changes. As part of the Case Management Administration System Project, new and replacement systems have been developed in income support, student financial assistance, apprenticeship and labour development careers, student records, and teacher certification.

So it basically sounds like the department has revamped its whole system. Does this new system work with other departments when it comes to sharing information when you have the same client? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Cleveland.

Thank you, Mr. Cleveland. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It has been brought up on a number of occasions in government, the history of the departments, how they have for quite some time operated in a stovepipe fashion, as some say. This is our area and this is what you are doing, but another department is doing the same thing.

We have heard much discussion of working together. Is there any time line? What activities might you start seeing this equipment interfacing with other departments' equipment? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, one example of an area that we can share the process would be in income support and housing harmonization. That has been an area that we have been working on. We are looking at implementation in June, providing...we are working as well on the security factors of that, when we do share with other departments.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That does seem to be an area of concern, when we talk about the security of personal information shared from one department to the next. I guess I share a concern by individuals out there that in fact we are one government and the security should be on a government-wide basis, not necessarily on a department basis.

I know there have been some problems that needed to have been worked out. Hopefully we are starting to work in those areas. As I heard in my previous work in the 13th Assembly, some of it is on the legislative side. Is there any work being done in those areas?

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Cleveland.

Thank you, Mr. Cleveland. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As we move down the road to self-government, as agreements are being signed in that area, I see this as an area that will need some attention. If existing legislation goes forward as it is, we will see further problems within regions. We are not a big territory when it comes to people. That is a concern. As we develop as a government and aboriginal governments come on-line as actual recognized governments, there needs to be the ability to take on new and improved legislation and ways of carrying on business. That is why I referred to the legislative side of it. Hopefully we will see some area there that is more than discussion, maybe some ideas and some places where we can start working on it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, it is a very good point. As a government, we are moving in certain directions that are showing the involvement of self-government areas, that are not moving towards self-government. There is some discussion taking place on the administrative level already in that aspect with regard to legislative processes. Certainly I can relate to that in terms of some of the programs we administer where there is a desire to run some of the programs. For example, it may be in income support, it may be in student financial assistance. Recently, we are already doing that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. We are on page 9-9, directorate administration, operations expense, total operations expense, $4.818,000.

Page 9-11, advanced education and careers. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Under the activity description for 9-11 on 9-10, one of the sentences intrigues me:

"In response to the demand for skilled trades people, apprenticeship and occupational certification will expand trades-related programs offered through junior and senior secondary schools, Aurora College and industry associations."

I certainly supported the move to expand the Schools North Apprenticeship Program and to bring trades training to younger people, get them started in trades earlier. I think this is an area in the North where we have tremendous potential for jobs and really rewarding careers. I think this is a fairly important initiative.

I would just like to get some indication from the Minister what they mean by expand trades-related programs. How much expansion are we going to see? Specifically, how many students in this current year do we have enrolled in programs like SNAP? How many do we expect to have in the next year? How many people do we have in junior schools now involved in trades programs and how many do we expect to have in this budget year? How many people are involved in the regular trades program this year and how many do we expect next year? What are the strategies we are going to use to get more people into the trades?

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will ask Mr. Cleveland to see if he might be able to address some of the information items the Member requested. Certainly our intent is to ensure that we expand the Schools North Apprenticeship Program. I understand that it has just been revised in Inuvik. Those are the types of areas we are looking at as a department to ensure we can expand it in various school programs throughout the Territory.

There was a reference by the Premier to fast-track our students into trades and occupations. We are still in the early days of that area to refine the programs, but it is an area we want to look at to ensure students do have an opportunity to enter into studies that would lead towards the trades area. Perhaps I could ask Mr. Cleveland to address the area of statistics which the Member asked for.