Mr. Handley.

Mr. Chairman, just to comment on the setting of priorities. Let me just clarify that while we are spending up to $11 million on Maximizing Northern Employment, we have not forgotten early childhood and in-school programs.

In fact, in this same supplementary appropriation, there is a request for $2 million for early childhood that we have included in here. We also have legislation in place requiring us to act on lowering the pupil-teacher ratio at the school level.

However, the reality is that we have jobs out there today, and this winter and next year and so on, that we have to prepare people for. I appreciate the Member's comments. We will keep in mind the need to balance out our spending and get returns. We also want to put an emphasis on investments that we will be able to measure and know whether or not they will be giving us early returns. If they are not, then we will cease those ones.

In terms of the costs for the Social Agenda Conference, the $225,000 is not the full cost. The full cost is estimated at $325,000. The additional costs were funded from within the existing appropriations of the Department of the Executive and from the social envelope departments. Our estimate right now is $327,000 for the full cost of the conference. Thank you.

General comments. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In the area of supplementary identified under here as special warrants at $3,456,000 as approved on April 5, 2001, my question is why would this be a few days after the main estimates were approved? Can the Minister inform us as to why this required a special warrant and was not planned for during the process? Thank you.

The Minister of the Financial Management Board, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Chairman, this amount was $310,000 for northern student employment programs and $3,146,000 for northern graduate employment programs. While we announced the initiative in the budget, we did not have the details worked about how this programs were going to be structured, but it was necessary to have early approval of these in order to not create delays in hiring graduates and in providing student summer employment. Thank you.

Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My recollection is that these programs were announced early in the winter. I believe in January some announcement was given as to these programs were being looked into and planning to take down and get involved with. At that time, why were some figures, even holding figures, not placed in the budget to establish them? Thank you.

Mr. Minister.

Mr. Chairman, we did have a $5 million holding figure for Maximizing Northern Employment in the budget. We did not have the detail of each of these programs. That was worked out later but too late to include in the budget. There was a $5 million holding figure. Thank you.

Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Under special warrants, where would you get the initial revenue for it for those expenditures?

Mr. Handley.

Mr. Chairman, I am not sure if I understand the question, but the funding for this would come out of general revenue.

Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. A little more specific in my question under special warrants. According to the Financial Administration Act, special warrants can be expended and approved and dollars can be taken out of certain areas, whether it is other projects or other identified dollars. Then, when approval is granted, I guess you can put the money back. Do I have the correct understanding of this process? Thank you.

Mr. Voytilla.

General comments. Mr. Dent.

Mr. Chairman, may I seek some clarification. I thought we were already in detail. I did have page 8 of this bill. Is that not the case?

We are under Executive, operations expenditures, Cabinet Secretariat, special warrant, $3,456,000, not previously authorized, $225,000. Cabinet Secretariat, special warrant, $3,456,000.

Not previously authorized, $225,000.