Department, Education, Culture and Employment. Appropriation authority required, $101,111,000. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Earlier we heard from the Minister’s opening remarks that this is a status quo arrangement for the first quarter of 2016-2017. I just want to ask, for ECE, for where income security programs are located. The Minister also mentioned that, on average, the first quarter spending for each of the departments is about 31 per cent, but can the Minister tell me whether income security is at that level or if there is any variance there. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, for that I would like to go to Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Minister Moses.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The money that the department is asking for, the $101.1 million to cover the operational expense requirements for the first three months of the fiscal year April 1, 2016, to June 30, 2016, was based on budget amounts from the 2015-2016 Main Estimates, which was $309,786,000, plus the approved fiscal year 2016-2017 amounts from Supplementary Appropriations 1 and 2. Overall, ECE's interim appropriation of $101.1 million is approximately 33 per cent of the 2015-16 base appropriations, including the interim appropriation as forced growth associated with the income assistance that the Member is asking about. In addition, the interim appropriation also increases adjustments to Student Financial Assistance Programs for student financial grant increases. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister Moses. Mr. O'Reilly.

Mr. Chair, I appreciate the Minister's response. Can he provide, then, some assurance that there is really no change in the income assistance and SFA programs in the first quarter for 2016-2017 as compared to the previous year? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister McLeod. Mr. Aumond.

Thank you, Mr. Aumond. Mr. O'Reilly.

Mr. Chair, I’m not sure I am getting my question across the best way I can then, perhaps. For income assistance, student financial assistance, what are the proportions of the total spending that we are looking at in the first quarter? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Mr. Kalgutkar.

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That is helpful. I guess now we are getting somewhere. We are talking about maybe 20 per cent of the income security envelope being spent in the first quarter. Earlier, in the Minister's statement, he mentioned that we are looking at about 31 per cent on average. Why are we at 20 per cent for income security as opposed to 31 per cent throughout the rest of the departments on average? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Mr. Aumond.

Thank you, Mr. Aumond. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Now that is starting to make some sense for me. Finally, to close it off then, we are not looking at any substantive change between what we spent in 2015-2016 in the first quarter for income assistance and student financial assistance as opposed to what is being proposed in 2016-2017. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Member is correct.

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly. Are there further comments or questions? Seeing none, we will proceed with the item. Department, Education, Culture, and Employment. Appropriation authority required, $101,111,000.