Social Services Committee — Department of Education, to give further detail to the Social Services Committee with respect to the budget items regarding education for the year 1998-1999. I understand, having been here before, that a brief introductory comment is usually appreciated. We have so much news this year that I would really like to have about an hour or so of your time, but I will try to shorten it and allow for more questions; noting as well, I am sure, that myself and Mr. Hodder, as the Opposition Education critic, will explore more of these matters in detail in subsequent Question Periods and things of that nature. There were two or three things. Before I go into them, I will just introduce the staff I have with me today. On my right is Mr. Wayne Green, who is the Deputy Minister. I think many people in this room would know Mr. Green from his many years in the public service, his many different involvements in many different departments. Most recently he has been the Deputy Minister of Government Services and Lands, before moving to Education early in the new year, and had prior service and experience in the Department of Education in a previous administration when there used to be two departments, one for K to XII and one for post-secondary. Mr. Green was in that particular department - I think it was career development and advanced education at the time - (inaudible). We also have Mr. Bob Young with us, who is our Assistant Deputy Minister for Finance and Administration. Many in the room would again know Mr. Young from some of his experiences - in the last few years in particular when he was with Treasury Board and actually, before he came to Education, had been the Director of Budgeting for the Province in the previous budget exercise we went through a year or so ago. He also had extended involvement with federal government agencies and the private sector as well. I am joined, as always - the government doesn't like for me to go very far without my Dir