Social Services Committee — Department of Human Resources and Employment, along with my officials, to try to respond to questions that may be raised by the members of your Committee relative to the Budget Estimates for our department. Just to give you a brief overview with regard to the operations of the department: as you would all be aware, and I know most of you have had occasion to deal directly with the department, the Department of Human Resources and Employment is mandated to provide programs and services to low income individuals and families in helping them meet their financial needs. In addition, the department also offers a range of career and employment services, with special emphasis on assisting persons facing barriers to labor market participation to acquire the skills, expertise and supports needed to obtain employment. For the upcoming fiscal year 2001-2002, the department has a budget of approximately $262 million, with a staff complement of some 600 providing programs to clients from forty-eight district offices located throughout the Province. During the fiscal year 2000-2001, on average, the department served approximately 54,000 income-support clients monthly. In addition, during the year, we assisted approximately 3,500 clients with labour market programming. The department is divided into three branches: the Corporate Services Branch, which provides services such as finance, human resources, social services appeals board; the Programs and Regional Services Branch, which provides clients with employment and career services and income support; and the Policy and Planning Branch, which assists in identifying and improving client services. Since April 1, 1997, when the former Department of Social Services split to become Human Resources and Employment, HRE has been working on people development, an important part of economic development. I am sure that you would be aware as well that the Minister of Human Resources and Employment is also the lead