Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. At this time I’ll ask the committee responsible for overseeing the bill if they have any comments.

Mr.

Chairman, the Standing

Committee on Social Programs conducted its public review of Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Employment Standards Act, on February 18, 2008. The committee would like to thank the Minister and his officials for appearing before the committee.

This amendment to the Employment Standards Act will return the definition of “week” to seven consecutive days, as is contained in the current Labour Standards Act. The Employment Standards Act as passed by the last Assembly will come into force on April 1, 2008, and defines a work week as running from Saturday to Saturday midnight. It was determined that this would result in a loss of flexibility for some employers and may result in some employees losing money because of the way

the new definition of a work week would impact on making overtime calculations.

Following the committee’s review, a motion was carried to report Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Employment Standards Act, to the Assembly as ready for Committee of the Whole.

This concludes the committee’s opening statements on Bill 3. Individual Members may have additional questions or comments as we proceed. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. At this time I’ll ask the Minister responsible for the bill if he’ll be bringing any witnesses.

Yes, I will, Mr. Chair.

Is the committee agreed that the Minister bring in his witnesses?

For the record,

Mr. Minister, could you introduce your witnesses, please.

Mahsi, Mr. Chairman.

I have Blair Barbour, Administrative Policy Advisor, Department of Education, Culture and Employment; and Lana Birch, Legislative Counsel, Department of Justice.

Welcome, witnesses.

General comments in regard to the bill? Is the committee agreed with the detail?

Could you switch to tab 3 of the bill, Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Employment Standards Act.

Clauses 1 and 2 approved.

On the bill as a whole.

The bill as a whole approved.

Does the committee

agree that Bill 3 is ready for third reading?

Bill 3 approved for third reading.

I’d like to thank the

Minister and his witnesses.

At this time I’ll ask if the Minister responsible for the Interim Appropriation Act, 2008-2009, will be bringing any witnesses.

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

Does the committee agree that the Minister brings his witnesses?

For the record,

Mr. Minister, could you introduce your witnesses?

Yes, Mr. Chairman. To my right is Ms. Kathleen LeClair, the secretary to the FMB, and to my left is Mr. Sandy Kalgutkar, the director of budgeting and evaluation.

I’d just like to recognize people in the gallery. I believe they’re here with the Senate committee from Ottawa. I’d like to welcome you to the House. Enjoy our proceedings.

When we left off, we were dealing with item 6 on page 6, Education, Culture and Employment, appropriation authority required: $21,546,000.

Page 6, Education, Culture and Employment,

$21,546,000 approved.

Dealing with item 7,

Transportation, appropriation authority required: $39,415,000.

I’m sorry, Mr. Chairman. We’re on item 7, Transportation?

Yes.