The following was issued today by Percy Barrett, Minister of Works, Services and Transportation. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

I would like to clarify statements made recently about the temporary lay-off of employees in the engineering division of the Department of Works, Services and Transportation.

This year, 26 engineering employees will be laid off temporarily over the winter period, due to seasonal shut down of summer operations. These employees are primarily Engineering Aide II's, Materials Inspectors II's and Engineering Technicians. I would like to emphasize these are not permanent lay-offs. When construction projects resume in the spring, the 26 employees will be recalled. 

I would also like to point out that, depending on weather conditions and the nature of the project, it is quite possible some current construction projects may continue into the winter. If this is the case, some of these 26 employees will not be laid off and their lay-off notices will be rescinded. 

Over the past several years, because of the magnitude of road construction projects, it was possible for the department to assign some of these 26 employees to winter surveys and other work required to support new projects, such as planning and design work. Unfortunately, we are coming to the conclusion of the $640 million federal - provincial Roads For Rails Agreement, signed in 1988. The new projects, still to be done, do not require winter survey work and, therefore, the need for these crews no longer exists. In the past, we kept employees on when we could, but that may not be possible this year.

Seasonal lay-offs are an annual occurrence in Works, Services and Transportation, due to the nature of our projects. Again, I would like to emphasize these lay-offs are temporary and it is possible some of the notices could be rescinded if weather permits us to continue construction into the winter. 

Thank you. 

2001 11 21                             2:15 p.m.