Wendy Bisaro

Thank you for the answer. I guess that leads nicely into my next question. How long does it generally take to develop an education program, and when was this one first started?

Thank you, Minister. I don’t actually need a list of those programs, although it might be interesting to have a look at it.

I’m wondering if the Minister can advise on how thoroughly these programs are subscribed to. Basically, I’m wanting to know whether these programs are full all the time. If we have a listing of, say, 20 apprenticeship programs in Fort Smith, do they run all 20 every year? Do they run all 20 every semester? If we have 20 programs, how thoroughly are they subscribed to?

It’s my understanding that it does happen that programs are scheduled and they are then cancelled. I wonder if the Minister could advise under what circumstances apprenticeship programs are cancelled.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to reference the statement made by the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment yesterday in regard to apprenticeship and occupational certification and the review that was done. I’m very pleased to hear that a review was done. From my understanding of people who are involved in apprenticeship certification, it was a review that was well overdue.

The Minister stated yesterday that some of the changes that have been implemented are “streamlining activities, making the system more efficient for employers and trades people. There is evidence of results, with...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess I’d like to suggest that cancellation of scheduled programs has a huge impact on both the employer and the employee in this instance. We are concerned why we’re losing people to the South, and cancellation of apprenticeship programs is one possibility. I’ve heard of one instance where that’s happened. People plan their lives around scheduled programs, classes and courses, and when there’s a cancellation on short notice, it creates large problems for any number of people.

I’d like to ask the Minister whether or not there are any guidelines as to the amount of...

That’s good. Thank you.

Thanks for the explanation. It’s kind of what I expected. I would just like to commend the YK1 education board for keeping their schools in very good shape even though they may be aging.

I would like to ask a question with regard to another project that doesn’t show up and which was in last year’s capital plan, and that’s phase 2 of the expansion — I think it’s expansion — of École Allain St-Cyr. Could I get an explanation as to why this project is not in this year’s budget and, again, when it might reappear?

Can I get an explanation as to why this project has been delayed? I don’t remember what year it was scheduled for previously, but I believe it has been put back several years.

I won’t belabour this, but I do need to say to the Minister that I don’t think there’s much to be gathered. We haven’t raised the minimum wage, so I’m not too sure what information he feels needs to be gathered. Any expense we will incur by raising the minimum wage, I suspect we’re going to save in income subsidy and savings in various programs that we have.

I guess I’ll ask the Minister again: is there any possibility that even if we don’t do a comprehensive analysis or evaluation, we can get something to consider in the business plans in November?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the willingness on the part of the Minister to try and push things forward. I think that is something that is absolutely necessary. I’ve totally lost my train of thought. You could just say yes, Mr. Minister. Will you say yes?