Terms actually go through a competitive process--terms over six months, to be precise. Casuals do not go through a competitive process, and because of that, they can only work 90 days for a department. Students, as I think you might be aware, go through a process as well. There is a huge data bank that the Public Service Commission keeps, and when you want to have a student, you can't just hire someone you want. You have to go through the Public Service Commission and it brings in a number of names who fit the criteria and you choose from those names. That's somewhat of a process. It's not as rigorous as an actual competition, but it's felt that for student employment the idea is to give people access to a job.
On April 17th, 2007. See this statement in context.