Floyd Roland

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, this situation started back in January 2000. The Federation Franco TeNOise filed a lawsuit in the federal court claiming that the GNWT, the Legislative Assembly and the Official Languages Commissioner failed and continue to fail delivery of services in French at a level adequate to meet its alleged obligations under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. So that is what started this process. To date, including what we have estimated for 2004-05, we are looking in the neighbourhood of just over $800,000. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am pleased to present the Department of Public Works and Services main estimates for the fiscal year 2004-05.

The estimates propose a department operations and maintenance budget for 2004-2005 of $44.6 million and a capital acquisition plan of $2.9 million. This is a one percent increase over the 2003-2004 main estimates.

These resources will be used to provide critical support services to departments and communities including:

Operations and maintenance of infrastructure;

Technical support in the provision of community drinking water;

Management of capital...

Thank you, Madam Chair. There are four communities that we are directly involved with in the facilities maintenance end. We also do have some involvement in the other communities depending on the level of assistance required from communities. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Again with that, the idea of the training to occur was we've taken an individual who was working within the system and through other efforts of trying to staff up the higher level position, we weren't successful, and we felt that with this individual we could take that person and have them come in for training, and have the position that they are being trained for work out of here in Yellowknife. But again working with the individual who has not relocated to Yellowknife, but is coming on a regular basis for that training, being trained by an individual here in...

Thank you, Madam Chair. We don’t have a flat rate, it is per minute, but we do have a discounted rate, which gives us a deal on the tariff.

Thank you, Madam Chair. With pulling the position in for training here in headquarters we have not let any duties go or delayed any other work that is occurring, so we're functioning at the level prior to that. That was one of the reasons of having to bring that position in to headquarters to receive some of the training to move up to the next level. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I will give an opportunity for Mr. Rattray to get on record here and he can give you some detail.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The training period is going to take two years. So in two years' time that position will be back to Fort Simpson. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. It would include items such as the phone bills and the telephone system rentals. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. There are two active employees within headquarters. Thank you.