Ministers' offices, not previously authorized, negative $88,000.

Cabinet Secretariat, not previously authorized, negative $337,000. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I realize the total budget for the Cabinet Secretariat before this reduction is $10.176 million, but $337,000 will be cut this year. All 100 percent of that will come out of the maximizing northern employment program, which also has a program for the interns and summer students. The details the Minister has provided states that the number of available internship positions and summer student employment opportunities will have to be reduced. Refusal of the employment interested applicants could result in negative public reaction. So, Mr. Chairman, I'd like to know why is it that the entire reduction requirement, 100 percent of the reduction requirement under this secretariat, out of $10 million, came out of one of the most popular programs that this government put in in the whole entire Assembly.

Mr. Handley.

Mr. Chairman, the intern budget makes up almost half of the Cabinet Secretariat budget. The intern program is a program where there is some discretion on how many positions would be identified to that program. As we said, when we provided the targets, we wanted to ensure that there was minimal impact on the permanent staff in the government. So rather than doing things that would have impact on staff who are indeterminate, the decision by the Cabinet Secretariat was to reduce by a small amount the budget for the intern program. Thank you.

Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The amount of $337,000 is a lot of money for students and interns. Just the other day, I watched a TV add on CBC promoting and talking about, under the maximizing northern employment program, young people could get a job, and internship is a great opportunity for new graduates out of university to get their first job experience. Summer jobs for students are their lifeline. Anybody who has studied in postsecondary education knows that they couldn't possibly make their spending needs during the school year without a summer job. We know that summer jobs with the government is the cream of the crop. I would say, without doing any calculations or any analysis, that $337,000 could be as much as 100 jobs; sorry, 10 jobs. I don't know how much students make. I guess they'll make $5000 to $10,000, I think. My summer students in my office will make about $5000, so this is a lot of money. I think there should be a lot more comments and reactions in this House about this potential reduction. Mr. Chairman, does this mean that the summer student employment that is already underway has been impacted? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, on the internship program, has this reduction already come into effect? Are there any figures as to how many jobs we are looking to be reduced as a result of this reduction?

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Handley.

Mr. Chairman, these reductions don't come into effect until this bill is approved. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Is he saying that there are no government departments where they might not have taken... Is it safe to assume, Mr. Chairman, that departments have already engaged in some sort of reduction, because they are expecting to cut their budget and, obviously, the decision has been made already that one of the ones that will be cut is the summer student program? I'm assuming while the Cabinet Secretariat may have the budget in their books, it is different positions in different departments that these summer students or interns will be employed. Mr. Chairman, has it not been undertaken already?

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Handley.

Mr. Chairman, we're dealing with the Cabinet Secretariat, and the Cabinet Secretariat is proposing to reduce the intern and summer student budget by $337,000. I can't speak about other departments, it's beyond this item for sure. I would expect that in any case, deputies and their staff are managing their money very well. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Cabinet Secretariat, negative $337,000.

Public Utilities Board, negative $21,000, not previously authorized. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the impact statement here states that a high number of rate reviews in a given year could put a strain on PUB's ability to operate within budget. So there is an impact on this cut of $21,000 out of a $361,000 budget. Does the Minister have information directly from the board administration as to what sort of impact in more detail that this cut would have? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Handley.

Mr. Chairman, I don't have a crystal ball, nor does the Public Utilities Board. Again, as the detail says, we don't know how many rate reviews there will be for sure. If something unusual happens, then, yes, it could put a strain on it and they would have to manage within that. Thank you.