Thank you, Mr. Chairperson. Mr. Chair, once again, we have a significant number of students who apply. Last year, we had 612 students apply, and we were able to hire 341 of them by the end of what is considered the summer students hire period. We are committed to hiring as many as we can. We do have money. There is money. It is not all coming from the departments through their vacancies. Through the progressive experience program, we have enough money to fund up to 80 positions. This is exactly what the Member is talking about. Through the progressive experience program, we bring back the same individuals who do the same jobs on a regular basis in order to build upon their education and continue to consolidate learning in a particular area. We have enough funding for 80 positions. To all the departments, funding provides a wage subsidy of $330 a week per place of employment to a maximum of $5,000 per student a year. The departments do have to come up with the additional money. The related experience is a little more focused. It is actually focused on 24 placements for Health and Social Services Authorities to provide a wage subsidy of $525 per week for placement to a maximum of $8,400 or 600 hours. This is mostly for individuals that are pursuing health careers. The intent there is also to bring back the individuals throughout their education, so they have an opportunity to consolidate learning for their education.
We are putting a good pot of money into supporting the departments already. On top of that, the departments do fund the remainder through their internal budgets. There isn't a pot of money just for hiring summer students outside of progressive or related experience programming. If the Committee Members feel this is something we need to invest in, this is a discussion we need to have as an Assembly as to whether or not putting dollars in there is something that we should be doing or whether we should continue just trying to utilize the programs that exist. I am sure that Cabinet is listening. I am listening. Happy to have the conversation if this is a priority of the Legislature.