Ms. Lee.

So does that mean that the government's decision is based mostly, if not solely, on the basis of the work, that is the union characteristics and professional requirements of the work because that is all I heard from what the witness gave us earlier and it was not based on any financial analysis of the cost implications. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Minister Handley.

Mr. Chairman, I do not like repeating myself too much, but we are doing it as cost-effectively as possible by hiring someone on a retainer who will be paid for the days they put in this position. We will provide an office space and the support that is necessary for them as they carry out the job. We do not know whether it will be one day this month and six days next month and then nothing for two months. That is all pretty hard to predict at this point. In terms of the other reasons, of course, there is the technical nature of equal pay, as Ms. Woodward has said, the specialized skills that are not usually found in the general human rights staffing and commissioners, and then of course the changing and dynamic environment that this person has to work in and keep up with the changing information. Thank you.

Just to notify the Members, if we can have some order in the House and for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment to quit throwing his pencil around as he might injure his colleague next to Minister Allen. So if we could have some order. Ms. Lee.

I believe the Minister had his hand up to give more information. Thank you.

Minister Handley, you have something to add?

Yes, Mr. Chairman, I was just going to add that we recognize, of course, that it is going to be the Speaker's decision of exactly how this will be structured, but this is clearly our proposal of hiring someone on a retainer and using them as necessary, as cost-effectively as possible. Thank you.

Clause By Clause

General comments. Clause by clause. Clause 1. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Before clause 1 there is a principle provision here and may I ask the Minister, for the information of the general public that is listening to this and for the record, to read what it says and why it is there? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Minister of the Financial Management Board Secretariat, Minister Handley. Clarification. The rule of the House is that the preamble is dealt with after we have gone through clause by clause. So that is the point in time when the question can be asked to elaborate on the preamble. Clause 1. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for that ruling. May I then ask the Minister to read for the record clause 1 and say, I guess it is quite self-explanatory, but in the interest of the public who is listening to the debate of this House may I have him read clause 1 into record? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

That is page 1, clause 1. Minister Handley.

The Public Service Act as amended by this act.

Clause 1.

Clause 2. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Understanding that Members have had quite a bit of time reviewing this and other legislation right from the legislative proposal stage to the committee reviewing it, but I do believe that we pass a lot of laws here and often it is not clearly stated as to what it is that we are passing. So I will be asking these questions on every clause. So with that, I would like the Minister to read section 2 and explain what that section is purporting to amend in the Public Service Act. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Minister Handley, could you elaborate on clause 2?

Subsection 1(1) is amended by:

(a) striking off the period at the end of the definition"Staffing Appeals Committee" and by substituting a semi-colon; and

(b) adding the following definitions in alphabetical order:

"employees' association" means an association of public service employees incorporated by an act empowering it to bargain collectively;

"teacher" means a teacher as defined in the Education Act who is an employee.

These definitions currently exist in section 41(1) of the Public Service Act, but apply only to that part of the statute that deals with the collective agreements. Moving them to the general definition section allows them to apply to the whole statute, including the proposed equal pay sections. Thank you.

Clause 2. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate that information. So am I to understand that...

Excuse me for that, Ms. Lee. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate that answer and the Minister indicated that currently this section is in section 41 something of the Public Service Act and he is moving this into section 1 of it. So subsection 1 that we are talking about here is the Public Service Act as it stands now. Is that correct?