Thank you, Ms. Craig. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. If I wasn't confused before, I certainly am now. What is the right number then for active positions for headquarters on page 69 for 2017-18? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Right now, the correct number is 26, from 30 to 26; and as Ms. Craig said, once we do the work and functional review, then we may come back again, but for the purpose of this exercise, the number is 26. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I guess what I'm hearing then is that positions are being cut in the budget. The funding is being cut in the budget, and they're going to do some sort of a functional review. They may come back. The Minister might come back at some point during the 2017-18 fiscal year for supplementary appropriation for additional positions. Is that what I'm hearing? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, while we wouldn't necessarily have to come back with a supplementary, we would just come back with an information item as to which positions may have changed. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Of course, I've never seen one of these information items, what it might look like. Is the Minister saying then that they might find the resources internally then to fill another position or two? Or how would the new money be found if the department does this functional review and they want to have more capacity? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, we would look internally. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I guess, once again we have a situation here where positions are being eliminated before there is actually a plan in place, the functional review, so to speak. It follows this pattern of the fiscal strategy driving cuts in the budget again rather than looking at the workload that the department has to deliver on.

I have talked about the workload. There are five pieces of legislation the Minister has said he is bringing forward. We have air quality regulations, that are now behind schedule; the Bathurst caribou range plan; climate change work; fire management; a number of other initiatives that the department has going on. The workload assessment, the functional review has not been carried out, yet we are eliminating the positions. It just does not make any sense. I don't know if I am going to get any further response from the Minister, but I am open to hearing it if he has any further justification for cutting these positions? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Anything further? Minister.

Yes, gladly, Mr. Chair, thank you. We had a plan. Because of attrition we have eliminated four positions, and that gives us an opportunity to work on a new plan, recognizing some of the workload that ENR is going to be facing. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Anything further? Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the response from the Minister, but I just do not think that these are wise reductions at a time when the department has a lot to deliver on in terms of its mandate, the mandate commitments that have been made, the announcements that the Minister has made. I just think that legislation and policy work, programs and services are going to continue to be delayed and not to the standard that our public deserves, so I continue to disagree with these cuts. I don't think I have anything further to say other than these are very serious concerns for me. I think they are shared by most or all of the Regular MLAs, and we just do not see how the department is going to be able to deliver on its mandate. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am looking on page 68 and finding this financial allowance quite consistent outside of corporate services, quite consistent, and I am glad to see that there is consistency there to support communities like Colville Lake who are very active in trapping. Everybody knows one of the best sable comes out of Colville. The youth there are working very cooperatively and very positively with the resource council and the band to get subsidies by them as well as this government and this department to continue that trade. I just point that out. I recognize the consistency, and I respect that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McNeely. Would the Minister like to respond to Mr. McNeely's comment? Nothing from the Minister. Seeing nothing further on this activity, I will call it. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would just like to ask the Minister just to clarify the four positions. The four positions, one is being retired, correct, and the three positions are not filled, so those three positions, is that money gone, or is that money just staying within the department? I am just trying to get a clear picture on this. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the money for the four positions is gone from the budget.